RobJenks

This 100 Tonne steel and concrete structure that has been fabricated is going to be really difficult to accurately position over the leaking pipe.
Given the water depth is 5000 feet , water current ,zero water clarity and no natural light the operation if successful will be quite an achievement.
ROV's have limited capability in handling large suspended loads underwater - I believe they are primarily for observation .
I see this whole operation by BP a red herring ,gives them PR time while they mobilise a drilling rig for the new well.

Leslie

Its going to cost them billions and also the ecology of the Bay has been seriously affected probably on a semi permanent basis.

Les

Jaybird-UK

and all in the name of feeding our addiction to the black stuff!

SJ_Skyline

Les,

I largely agree with what you say here, BP's share price dive over the last week bears testament to the perceived clean-up costs and fines they can expect in the US courts.

The area affected however was already under extreme ecological pressure being part of the Mississippi Dead Zone. What I suspect is that all of the ills of the area will be placed squarely on the shoulders of BP which I think is a little unfair.

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

I agree, BP is a UK company and they are going to get stamped on very hard by the US. They have nothing to lose, so may as well fine them as hard as possible.

Lets hope they get it sorted out soon, after all we don't need another excuse for higher pump prices.

Leslie

I saw an article which says that the oil is rolling about on the sea bed now in ***** which are being ingested by the creatures which the fish feed on thus passing the toxic effects on. Whatever, its a pretty bad situation.

Les

David Lock

I understood that current US legislation limited damages claim to $75m. They now want to change this to several billion which is, of course, more realistic but not sure this can be retrospective.

Bit rough on BP I feel as they are not involved in actual operation of the rig.

What is water depth on typical North Sea rig?

dl

kingofturds

iTrader: (1)

Get a couple of Blacburn buckaneers in there an naplam the lot

RA Dunk

Averages around 80-100 meters IIRC, water depth west of Shetland can go quite deep though about 5000 feet, they have been drilling up there for years now and even have a platform permanantly located up there.

mrtheedge2u2

You may find that BP/the operator of the rig have quite a decent liability shield in place, like a lot of oil tanker companies, and that when the fines are dished out, someone will pay, it just wont be BP.

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

No, it will ultimately be us lot at the pumps. even with record profits, BP will still find a way of passing the extra costs involved to us the consumers with the UK govt taking a nice healthy cut as usual