They were just trying to save a buck:
Costly, time-consuming test of cement linings in Deepwater Horizon rig was omitted, spokesman says
BP hired a top oilfield service company to test the strength of cement linings on the Deepwater Horizon's well, but sent the firm's workers home 11 hours before the rig exploded April 20 without performing a final check that a top cementing company executive called "the only test that can really determine the actual effectiveness" of the well's seal.
Meanwhile in other news and developments:
- The EPA has ordered BP to begin using less-toxic dispersants within the next 72 hours.
- NYT reports scientists say the Federal government is not doing enough to study the extent of damage caused so far by BP's spill. Says one: “It seems baffling that we don’t know how much oil is being spilled...that we don’t know where the oil is in the water column.”
- The NYT report reflects many of the concerns raised Tuesday by Dan Froomkin.
- The more we learn, the greater the magnitude of the disaster.
- Oil has hit the Louisiana wetlands, covering 35 miles of coast -- and growing. Fishing has now been banned in nearly one-fifth of the Gulf of Mexico.
- The oil hasn't reached Florida's beaches -- but a portion of the slick has now entered the loop current, putting Florida's coastal communities at risk.
- The livestream of BP's oil leak, which they promised yesterday to make available at globalwarming.house.gov, still is not publicly available.
- Pictures: Times-Picayune (New Orleans); Huffington Post.
- BP will attempt to seal the well on Sunday or Monday using the "top kill" procedure.
- A key WH ally is running an ad urging the passage of energy reform, accusing Republicans of doing big oil's bidding.