Top BP Exec Still Says Spill Flow Rate Doesn’t Matter

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.propublica.org/ion/blog/item/top-bp-exec-still-thinks-flow-rate-doesnt-matter


It’s day 66 of BP’s Deepwater Horizon disaster and even after estimates of the flow have soared <1>, top executives at BP don’t seem to have changed their tune.

In an interview published today, BP COO Doug Suttles told The Times-Picayune once again that flow rate is imprecise, “has never impacted the response <2>,” and “we didn’t think it was relevant.”

But as we’ve pointed out in earlier posts <3>, BP’s own Oil Spill Response document for the Gulf of Mexico said that determining the size and volume of a spill was “critical to initiating and sustaining an effective response <4>,” and that measuring the spill is “the priority issue <5>.”

The Times-Picayune also pointed out that in previous letters to the Coast Guard, Suttles himself suggested flow rate is important. Here’s the Times-Pic <2>:

In his response letter June 13, Suttles seemed to acknowledge that knowing the scope of the spill was in fact relevant. Whether BP’s efforts would be sufficient “will also depend on the actual flow rate,” Suttles wrote. “The systems outlined here are designed based on the current best independent assessment of flow from the FRTG (the group of scientists estimating the flow of oil). We will continue to adapt our plans as more is learned about the flow-rate from the well.”


More at the link ---

[LisaL]

1. Meet the new boss, same as old boss.

[Nikki Stone1]

2. Absolutely fucking full of shit

.

[spin]

3. Good thing BP is not in charge of a nuclear reactor. (n/t)

[me b zola]

4. Maybe a nurse or doctor won't find it important to know how much he is bleeding

Anyone from BP, or anyone that defends them, can f-off. Seriously, they can go Cheney themselves.

[amborin]

5. why does our gov't allow these criminals to remain in charge? BP lies, covers up, denies, etc....

[cwydro]

6. Suttles is one smooth talking sonovabitch.

Total scum.

I want to vomit everytime I listen to him.

Of course the flow rate doesn't affect the response; they have no response.

[TheMadMonk]

7. Disingenuous, but true enough, nonetheless.

All their response plans assumed a worst case flow rate of around 5k BPD.

Anything past 10k BPD, which they knew they had right back at the beginning made no real nevermind to what they could do in response.