ETHICS AND VALUES Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico SMBS, VITU

GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL DEEPWATER HORIZON

A DISASTER IN THE MAKING

 DRILL SHACK: The crew calls the bridge about a well control situation and then tries to stop the blowout. Someone here may have later tried to activate an emergency shutdown of systems on the drilling floor, but it does not prevent the explosions. None of the workers in the shack survive.  BRIDGE: Gas sensors go off but the bridge does not activate emergency systems that might have prevented gas from spreading or igniting. The crew members on the bridge also do not immediately sound a general alarm to start evacuation. While they inform the engine control room of a well control situation, they tell them nothing about the erupting mud or gas alarms.  ENGINE CONTROL ROOM: A chief mechanic and three others in the engine control room are aware of gas on the rig but do not activate an emergency shutdown. They later say that the protocol is to wait for instructions from the bridge. Engines 3 and 6 are believed to be at the center of two major explosions. The four men are caught between the blasts, but all survive.

EXPLOSION AND OIL SPILL

 At 9:45 P.M. CDT on 20 April 2010, a geyser of seawater erupted from the marine riser onto the rig, shooting 240 ft. (73 m) into the air.

 Followed by the eruption of a slushy combination of mud, methane gas, and water.  The gas component of the slushy material quickly transitioned into a fully gaseous state and then ignited into a series of explosions and then a firestorm.

 The blowout preventer failed.

EXTENT OF OIL SPILL

According to the Flow Rate Technical Group the leak amounted to about 4.9 million barrels (205.8 million gallons) of oil exceeding the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill as the largest ever to originate in U.S.-controlled waters

CONSEQUENCES
Ecological Eight U.S. national parks are threatened. More than 400 species that live in the Gulf islands and marshlands are at risk. 6,814 dead animals had been collected, including 6,104 birds, 609 sea turtles, 100 dolphins and other mammals, and 1 other reptile. Factors such as petroleum toxicity, oxygen depletion and the use of Corexit dispersant were the main causes of damage. Fisheries An emergency shrimping season was opened on April 29 so that a catch could be brought in before the oil advanced too far the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration closed commercial and recreational fishing in affected federal waters between the mouth of the Mississippi River and Pensacola Bay. On May 24 the federal government declared a fisheries disaster for the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Initial cost estimates to the fishing industry were $2.5 billion

CONSEQUENCES
Economic At the time of the disaster it was said that there were only 3 companies able to insure risks of such size According to Willis Group Holdings, BPs total losses could amount to $30 billion, of which estimated total claims to the market from the disaster, including control of well, re-drilling, third-party liability and seepage and pollution costs, could exceed $1.2 billion. Political BP is a British company, the disaster was seen by some as a cause for strain on US-UK relationships. The US Department of State, however, stated that the issue will not affect US-UK relationships , it insisted that the UK was the closest ally to the US.

BLAME GAME

CONCLUSION

This disaster occurred due to a combination of the following factors : Poor decision making skills.  Inefficient analysis of situations.  Hesitancy in following protocols.  Pressure from parent company to reach deadline.

In The End

SINCERE THANKS TO: