Rig Blast/Fire Nick Chime in.....

[scootertrash]

Ok, so I am just reading what I can of this on the internet and so far sounds like Kenny, and Ted are safe. Has anyone heard from Nick? I think that was his rig he works on correct? Any updates about his where abouts?

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/04/21/search-missing-workers-la-oil-rig-blast/

Praying Nicks alright, I am sure Jules phone is blowing up. But will keep Nick and her in my prayers.

[Juice]

Been trying to get Jules all morning with no luck.

[Juice]

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/4143/1001012v.jpg

[Juice]

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/4143/1001012v.jpg


http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/4112/1001014a.jpg


http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1636/1001019r.jpg

[scootertrash]

What did you post pics of, damn work computer won't show them... all I see is little x's? Is it Nick on a raft drinking a cold PBR?

[Ritten]

There's not much word coming into the office yet this morning. The workboat ride out there is at least 12 hours, so if they left the location around midnight to 3am, it wouldn't be until this afternoon before we get to hear from them. I'm sure families and companies will be called first, but if I can

[Juice]

Pictures of the fire.
What did you post pics of,

[scootertrash]

Thanks Ted, any news would be greatly appreciated... I forgot how damn slow those crew boats can be..... just a waiting game now.

[2Evil4U]

Mutha-fucka. Obviously y'all already knew that was Nick's rig. Praying for the best.

From FoxNews: The Deepwater Horizon rig is shown operating in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Authorities were searching for missing workers after an explosion at the oil drilling platform off the coast of Louisiana.

From New Orleans News: The rig was under contract to BP PLC. BP spokesman Darren Beaubo said all BP personnel were safe but he didn't know how many BP workers had been on the rig.


http://www.dualsportridersoflouisiana.com/forums/showthread.php?4853-Dwwpwater-Horizon&p=46261&viewfull=1#post46261

[Juice]

Just got word that Nick is ok.

[Ritten]

Praying Nicks alright, I am sure Jules phone is blowing up. But will keep Nick and her in my prayers.

I see Dirk just posted up on Facebook that Nick is ok! Looks like they heard from him.

[2Evil4U]

Thank goodness.

I can't imagine what families of off-shoremen go through when shit like this happens.

[Ritten]

Now that we know Nick's ok, keep those prayers coming. There are still some guys missing and a LOT of family members are calling in wondering.

[NitroX]

Oh wow just saw this. Prayers being sent from here.

[opus68]

Just got a call from my mom that a guy I went to high school with was on it and has a broken arm and leg.

[Ritten]

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2010/04/people-found.html


The Times is reporting that the parish president claims the 11 people who were missing are found alive and well.

[Redbird]

Great news! On both Nick and the missing crew.

[2Evil4U]

Absolutely excellent. Does that put them back to no fatalities? The original estimate was 12 missing, but i know that first reports are generally incorrect.

I remember when I was in high school. A lady that my mother taught school with's husband was lost on the Piper Alpha. That was the first failure investigation I ever really dug into.

[lovethewater72]

I'm glad our guys are safe, but prayers to the family and friends of the ones still not heard from.

[2Evil4U]

WTF?

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63K4I920100421

Coast Guard has not found missing rig workers

[Redbird]

NOLA.com (http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2010/04/people-found.html) is reporting the same thing now. They say Parish President Nungessor shot his mouth off early.

[Ritten]

#$@!%$@# polititians!!!!

[scootertrash]

I will continue to pray for those that haven't been found, however huge relieft that Nick is safe and sound. Thanks everyone for the updates, I am somewhat distant from my old stomping grounds. But many of you have grown to be an extended family over the years.... however a disfuctional distant family I still care about you fuckers!

[Ritten]

Guys, I just got word that two of our guys are part of the 11 still missing. Things are pretty tight lipped now, but I can say that much. We're hoping for the best.

[thedrizel]

Prayers for everyone.

[bigtattoo79]

Very sad day. Prayers sent.

[thedrizel]

Dirk's facebook says he is going pickup Nick right now.

[nickatnite]

i'm home.....

tired beaten and seen hell first hand..

im going to bed

i dont have me phone. pm me numbers and i will call later..


it's bad, just really fucking bad...

[Dirty_Sanchez]

Hugs to you man- We're all glad you're safe and are pulling for the missing and injured.

Dirty

[Shaq Diesel]

Glad to hear you made it out OK Nick.

[Doug]

Welcome home Nick.
Prayers for you and your friends...

[2Evil4U]

Just saw a report saying the rig has sunk.

[Redbird]

Good to hear from ya Nick. Glad ya made it home.

[2Evil4U]

Best picture show I've found so far. At the Christian Science Monitor of all places.

Story doesn't seem too bad, but probably premature for a bit of the commentary.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0422/Amid-search-for-Deepwater-Horizon-oil-rig-survivors-What-happened

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0421/Transocean-Deepwater-Horizon-oil-rig-explosion-shows-new-risks

[Flying Low]

glad to see that you are home safe Nick. prayers for those still missing.

[Navaho6]

i'm home.....

tired beaten and seen hell first hand..

it's bad, just really fucking bad...

I can't even imagine. Just glad you're alright.

[king4456]

Nick I told my brother what you said and he is on the cajun express and asked me to pass this along to you.

"Damn, I feel for him, And we are Hoping the best for the rest of the crew. write him if you would and tell him that the Cajun Express is wishing them well, Thanks"

[scootertrash]

Good to hear your alive man!

[Klantz]

Glad you're alright Nick, I can't even imagine...

[Rocky]

Glad to hear that you are home safe Nick.

[Swampy]

Glad you made it back safe Bro.... Sorry for the others that didnt ...

[Juice]

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[Redbird]

WWL was showing a clip from their weather satellite loop yesterday, and you could see the fire on the satellite footage.

I couldn't find it on WWL's website, but here's a link to the footage I found on Google...
http://twitpic.com/1hbe5d/full

[dannyt]

That must have felt like "floating hell". Nick, glad you are OK.

[opus68]

Stole these from my cousin's facebook page. His rig was 40 miles NE. I don't know if he took these or not.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii309/opus599/25599_1172253245567_1805124004_3488.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii309/opus599/25599_1172253285568_1805124004_3488.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii309/opus599/25599_1172256845657_1805124004_3488.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii309/opus599/25599_1172256885658_1805124004_3488.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii309/opus599/25599_1172256965660_1805124004_3488.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii309/opus599/25599_1172257005661_1805124004_3488.jpg

[Swampy]

If he did ... He has one bad ass lense...

LOL

[scooterhose]

I hear DHS is getting involved. What's going on???

[URLOOZN]

Hey ya'll. Sorry I haven't replied here until now. I heard from Tiffany that she was keeping everyone posted about me. I was actually on my way out when the incident happened. She called me like every two minutes until I fussed at her to stop. Now that I think about it that was a pretty shitty thing to do to her and I really should apologize. Anyway, I'm safely on the Thunderhorse and none the worse for wear. Well, that ain't really true either. In the middle of a massive turnaround and working my fat ASS off this hitch. That's why I haven't been able to post up until today.I'm glad that everyone we know and love are OK but still saddened that everyone isn't.

[Juice]

Be careful out there Kenny!
Hey ya'll. Sorry I haven't replied here until now. I heard from Tiffany that she was keeping everyone posted about me. I was actually on my way out when the incident happened. She called me like every two minutes until I fussed at her to stop. Now that I think about it that was a pretty shitty thing to do to her and I really should apologize. Anyway, I'm safely on the Thunderhorse and none the worse for wear. Well, that ain't really true either. In the middle of a massive turnaround and working my fat ASS off this hitch. That's why I haven't been able to post up until today.I'm glad that everyone we know and love are OK but still saddened that everyone isn't.

[Redbird]

Be careful out there Kenny!

Werd!

[bigtattoo79]

Very sad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P16TDF9qEKo

[Juice]

Jindal declares state of emergency

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=12379728

[2Evil4U]

I'm sure THIS will be a big fucking help.

President Barack Obama is stepping up the government's response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill by sending three Cabinet members to oversee the effort.

[Juice]

Wow, thanks Lance!
Very sad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P16TDF9qEKo

[Save-the-Manatee]

This issue isn't Louisiana's problem, this rig is outside Louisiana waters, this is a federal issue and the Obama administration should have been all over this. I think the administration used this as a political tool, by letting the oil slick get out of hand, this will play into the Democrats hands to not allow offshore drilling. This has more to do with the administration allowing the Big Oil to go unchecked, not only with their monopolistic pricing of fuel at the pumps, but also with the lack of safety procedures and quick response to spills. This is a sad day

[scooterhose]

This issue isn't Louisiana's problem, this rig is outside Louisiana waters, this is a federal issue and the Obama administration should have been all over this. I think the administration used this as a political tool, by letting the oil slick get out of hand, this will play into the Democrats hands to not allow offshore drilling. This has more to do with the administration allowing the Big Oil to go unchecked, not only with their monopolistic pricing of fuel at the pumps, but also with the lack of safety procedures and quick response to spills. This is a sad day


They have already gone for a ban on new drilling.

[Ritten]

This has more to do with the administration allowing the Big Oil to go unchecked, not only with their monopolistic pricing of fuel at the pumps, but also with the lack of safety procedures and quick response to spills. This is a sad day


While I agree with most of what you said, your statement of allowing Big Oil to go unchecked isn't very accurate. The policies of the MMS are followed in deepwater drilling to a T and there are severe penalties and fines that are enforced when they're not followed. Coast Guard policies and restrictions are also closely followed. You would be amazed at the amount of money spent to adhere to, audit, and enforce safety systems, back up systems, and protocol procedures set forth by the government, the International Association of Drilling Contractors, and self-imposed rules and regulations. As a third party contractor I can say whole heartedly that BP is one of the worlds best when it comes to rig and well site safety.

Gas price increases are hardly a result of monopolistic pricing and with the number of times the CEO's proved it to the dumbass liberal congress members during the summer of '07 should say a good bit.

It is a sad day though. It's sad that hard working Americans lost their life in a tragic accident and the ecological repercussions of this are multiplying daily. I'm NOT saying that BP, Transocean, or anyone else is not at fault or that shortcuts weren't taken. What I'm saying is that IF they were, it most certainly wasn't because of a traditional lack of policy, regulation, oversight, or proactive intentions by the companies and regulatory agencies.

[Dusty]

While I agree with most of what you said, your statement of allowing Big Oil to go unchecked isn't very accurate. The policies of the MMS are followed in deepwater drilling to a T and there are severe penalties and fines that are enforced when they're not followed. Coast Guard policies and restrictions are also closely followed. You would be amazed at the amount of money spent to adhere to, audit, and enforce safety systems, back up systems, and protocol procedures set forth by the government, the International Association of Drilling Contractors, and self-imposed rules and regulations. As a third party contractor I can say whole heartedly that BP is one of the worlds best when it comes to rig and well site safety.

Gas price increases are hardly a result of monopolistic pricing and with the number of times the CEO's proved it to the dumbass liberal congress members during the summer of '07 should say a good bit.

It is a sad day though. It's sad that hard working Americans lost their life in a tragic accident and the ecological repercussions of this are multiplying daily. I'm NOT saying that BP, Transocean, or anyone else is not at fault or that shortcuts weren't taken. What I'm saying is that IF they were, it most certainly wasn't because of a traditional lack of policy, regulation, oversight, or proactive intentions by the companies and regulatory agencies.
Ritten, can you please tell me what caused the explosion? They must not want us to know cause I have yet to hear and explanation.

[Ritten]

Ritten, can you please tell me what caused the explosion? They must not want us to know cause I have yet to hear and explanation.


No, I can't. Nobody knows (or may never know) for sure, but the obvious answer is a "blow out". A blow out is caused when pressure from the formation (oil, gas, or water) finds it's way into the wellbore (deep hole/tunnel in the ground). Think of a lava lamp.....light fluid will bubble up and heavier fluid will sink. The fluid that fills the well during drilling operations is called mud (I design mud) and it's as much as twice the weight of water. Gas, Oil, and water is lighter, so it "bubbles" up. As it travels up the wellbore, it expands because the hydrostatic pressure of the mud above it is getting less and less. Kinda like going from the bottom of a swimming pool to the surface, there's less pressure. At some point, if it's gas hydrocarbons, it will VERY RAPIDLY turn from liquid to gas form. There is a HUGE pressure release inside of a few inches pretty much turning the open end of the pipe on the rig floor into the muzzle of a shotgun filled with heavy fluid. The "explosion" of pressure will rip metal apart and send hundreds of tons of metal pipe, beams, and anything around it flying. Metal hits metal......sparks fly.......sparks ignite the hydrocarbons coming out of the well.......and it all happens so fast that it's called an explosion.

In the old days of drilling on land they didn't know how to control this pressure so they just let the wells blow out when they struck hi pressure pockets....those were called gushers and gave most Americans the stereotypical idea of a derrick with oil gushing out of the top. At 30,000' below the ground the pressure can be as high as 50,000psi. BOP's or "blow out preventers" were designed to hold back this kind of pressure through a series of rams and valves, but unlike a producing well where pressures stay fairly consistent and you can automate the system, in drilling you are constantly adjusting the pressures due to pumping down hole, getting well information, and other activities so knowing when to close the BOP's has to be a human's decision.

There are still a lot of questions surrounding what went on, what did they do when they started to see pressure, and why the shear rams didn't (or weren't) activated. It's all hear-say, I'm sure things are being reviewed and clarified, and when the report comes out hopefully it will all be made public so we can see what went wrong and learn from it.

[BigJohnD]

I did see an article...which I found curious to say the least...that they are putting SWAT teams on rigs in the gulf.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/04/29/obama_announces_he_will_be_sending_swat_teams_to_o il_rigs.html

[Shaq Diesel]

I did see an article...which I found curious to say the least...that they are putting SWAT teams on rigs in the gulf.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/04/29/obama_announces_he_will_be_sending_swat_teams_to_o il_rigs.html

The article does not define what the acronym SWAT is.

[Shaq Diesel]

No, I can't. Nobody knows (or may never know) for sure, but the obvious answer is a "blow out". A blow out is caused when pressure from the formation (oil, gas, or water) finds it's way into the wellbore (deep hole/tunnel in the ground). Think of a lava lamp.....light fluid will bubble up and heavier fluid will sink. The fluid that fills the well during drilling operations is called mud (I design mud) and it's as much as twice the weight of water. Gas, Oil, and water is lighter, so it "bubbles" up. As it travels up the wellbore, it expands because the hydrostatic pressure of the mud above it is getting less and less. Kinda like going from the bottom of a swimming pool to the surface, there's less pressure. At some point, if it's gas hydrocarbons, it will VERY RAPIDLY turn from liquid to gas form. There is a HUGE pressure release inside of a few inches pretty much turning the open end of the pipe on the rig floor into the muzzle of a shotgun filled with heavy fluid. The "explosion" of pressure will rip metal apart and send hundreds of tons of metal pipe, beams, and anything around it flying. Metal hits metal......sparks fly.......sparks ignite the hydrocarbons coming out of the well.......and it all happens so fast that it's called an explosion.

In the old days of drilling on land they didn't know how to control this pressure so they just let the wells blow out when they struck hi pressure pockets....those were called gushers and gave most Americans the stereotypical idea of a derrick with oil gushing out of the top. At 30,000' below the ground the pressure can be as high as 50,000psi. BOP's or "blow out preventers" were designed to hold back this kind of pressure through a series of rams and valves, but unlike a producing well where pressures stay fairly consistent and you can automate the system, in drilling you are constantly adjusting the pressures due to pumping down hole, getting well information, and other activities so knowing when to close the BOP's has to be a human's decision.

There are still a lot of questions surrounding what went on, what did they do when they started to see pressure, and why the shear rams didn't (or weren't) activated. It's all hear-say, I'm sure things are being reviewed and clarified, and when the report comes out hopefully it will all be made public so we can see what went wrong and learn from it.

In my dealings with the failure of safety systems, you never get the true story right as it happens. For both the upstream and downstream side of the oil/gas business you have industry lead consortiums that drive a good bit of the safety regulations. You're putting the most knowledgable people in these various industries together to build safeguards so that ultimately people "Go home the same way they came to work".

When freak incidents like this happen, people can spout theories till the cows come home but they are just that, personal thoughts of what happened. Until you get the right people looking at the failed equipment and modeling and reverse engineering how the failure could of recurred, making it repeatable, as Ted said, everything is hearsay.

[BigJohnD]

The article does not define what the acronym SWAT is.

Kinda screwy to have Department of homeland security and department of defense in this...what could they be doing to avoid another accident.

I just get the feeling there is something they are not saying at this point...

[I_FLY_LOW]

WTF is going on?
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63T55Q20100430

[Juice]

Fox News proclaimed that it could take up to 3 months to cap the well and stop the oil flow. Can you imagine the devastation if this turns out to be true?. Every beach from Florida to Texas will be closed for years. Louisiana would geaux bankrupt without our tourism, oil & seafood industry. Guys this is really starting to scare the shit out of me.

[Shaq Diesel]

Kinda screwy to have Department of homeland security and department of defense in this...what could they be doing to avoid another accident.

I just get the feeling there is something they are not saying at this point...

Can you think of another organization that has the manpower and machinery to cover the total amount of area that is going to be involved? I can't think of any private organizations that have those types of naval and air assets.

As the owner of the well, BP is responsible for cleaning up the accident. They took the initial lead and due to the ultimate severity it seems they could not keep up with the leaks. So now every available asset is being tossed on the table, especially since this is going to have effects on more than just oil production.

[sooper doodie]

bp doesnt own the rig, they're leasing from Transocean for $500,000 per day

[Rocky]

Best explanation i have seen!


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[scooterhose]

I understand they close one of the three leaks. It does not slow the total amount leaking though.

[Redbird]

Has anyone talked to Nicknack since he's been back?
I know he's home, and alive... but How's he doing?

[bigtattoo79]

http://www.marklevinshow.com/Article.asp?id=1790422&spid=32364

[I_FLY_LOW]

That was an extremely interesting interview.
Thank you for posting that up, Lance.

[bigtattoo79]

That was an extremely interesting interview.


I also think so. I dont think we will get much more of the truth for a long time. I really feel it cleared up a lot of BS being passed around on the net.

[sk8rlee]

Kinda screwy to have Department of homeland security and department of defense in this...what could they be doing to avoid another accident.

I just get the feeling there is something they are not saying at this point...

In case some of you didn't know, the Coast Guard now falls under the department of homeland security and I'm sure they're at least a little bit involved with everything going on which would explain why DHS is involved.......DOD though, not really sure why they'd be involved other than like Shaq said, manpower. It can't be they really think terrorists had something to do with it, huh?

[I_FLY_LOW]

There was a video somewhere, from someone in a fishing boat, that happened to catch the rig's initial explosion.
Did anyone see it, or know where it may be posted?
We looked for it on youtube, but it's been removed...

[opus68]

There was a video somewhere, from someone in a fishing boat, that happened to catch the rig's initial explosion.
Did anyone see it, or know where it may be posted?
We looked for it on youtube, but it's been removed...


http://www.mudinmyblood.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6104&highlight=explosion

[thedrizel]

I would imagine the FBI, BP, Transocean, and a host of others have interviewed this guy and his people. That is a story for the grand children.

[mcinfantry]

I would not have admitted being in a shitty, sparking boat at the rig..... Just me though

[2Evil4U]

Transcript of the Mark Levin interview:

Link (http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=92765)

[I_FLY_LOW]

Man... They can't win, for losing...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100508/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gulf_oil_spill
Ice crystals form inside oil box, cause problems
AP – The containment vessel is lowered into the Gulf of Mexico at the site of the Deepwater Horizon rig collapse, …
By NOAKI SCHWARTZ and HARRY R. WEBER, Associated Press Writers Noaki Schwartz And Harry R. Weber, Associated Press Writers – 14 mins ago
ON THE GULF OF MEXICO – A BP PLC official is saying icelike crystals formed inside of an oil containment box when it was placed over a massive oil leak and that crews have had to move the contraption away to study the problem.

Chief operating officer Doug Suttles said Saturday that he is not saying that the box has failed. But he did say what they tried Friday night did not work.

Suttles says the buildup on the specially constructed box made it too buoyant and clogged it up and they've set it to the side to study the problem.

Officials had cautioned that they would meet challenges during this unprecedented attempt to divert oil spewing into the waters.

[I_FLY_LOW]

Anyone read much on this?
Should i don my tinfoil hat, now?
http://leemarchetta.newsvine.com/_news/2010/05/06/4250028-korean-attack-cause-of-gulf-oil-spill

http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index1367.htm

[Ritten]

Think of it this way...

IF a torpedo would have hit the riser, then it would have parted below or at the rig, fell to the see floor, and the rig would have floated away. No loss of life, no rig on fire for two days still attached to the riser.

IF a torpedo would have hit the rig, the rig would have listed (or sank right away) without the blowout...

Conspiracy theorists are just spewing information without having any idea of what's going on. The rig didn't blow up.........the well blew out. Gas and oil had to come from somewhere and it doesn't come up just because the rig is on fire! The rig is on fire because it came up.

[I_FLY_LOW]

I tend to side with the ones saying it was a freak accident...
I find most of that (links posted) sort of thing humorous...

[king4456]

http://www.deepwater.com/fw/main/Blow-Out-Preventer-(BOP)-1079.html
very well explained here.