BP Was Aware of Deepwater Horizon Problems in February

June 23, 2010 (LPAC)—Filings at MMS (Minerals Management Services, a branch of the U.S. Interior Dept.) show that BP was aware of problems with well cracks as early as February. The first crack took 10 days and three different slurries pumped into the well before it sealed. This is highly unusual, since most cracks are sealed in a matter of hours, according to an engineer quoted by Bloomberg News. Left unchecked, leaks can allow buildup of explosive methane gas, but cement and "mud" used to fill them is expensive, and BP was all about the cash flow. "Once they realized they had oil down there, all the decisions they made were designed to get that oil at the lowest cost," said Peter Galvin of the Center for Biological Diversity. Bloomberg even notes that (Greenie punching bag) Exxon Mobil actually abandoned a Gulf well-drilling project in 2006 because of similar instabilities.

In hearings last week, Henry Waxman scored Tony Hayward, saying they could find no evidence that he (along with COO Doug Suttles and exploration chief Andy Inglis) was in any way aware of "the tremendous risk BP was taking" in this experimental well.