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What makes the 2 Gulf oil explosions different?

AP -- Here are some differences between the Deepwater Horizon rig disaster April 20 and the oil production platform explosion Thursday in the Gulf of Mexico:

TYPES OF STRUCTURES

, Deepwater Horizon, owned by Transocean Ltd. and leased to BP PLC, was a semi-submersible drilling rig, exploring for oil and natural gas.

, The structure that exploded Thursday, owned by Mariner Energy Inc., was a stationary platform, producing 58,800 gallons of oil and 900,000 cubic feet of gas per day from a proven reservoir using several wells.

SITE OF OPERATIONS

, Deepwater Horizon was drilling in 5,000 feet of water in a deepwater region of the Gulf.

, The platform was operating in 340 feet of water in a shallow area of the Gulf known as a major source of gas.

CREWS

, The Deepwater Horizon

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Submitted Sep 03, 2010 By: MidNJ

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Foxt Champion Author Minnesota Posts:2,921 Points:1,559,190 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 9:06:47 PM Ignore Foxt Report Abuse And the point of this article is what?
djtdi Champion Author San Jose Posts:2,829 Points:523,805 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 9:01:55 PM Ignore djtdi Report Abuse Post gives the obvious,not what caused it.
cssco Champion Author Virginia Posts:4,916 Points:1,288,020 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:52:03 PM Ignore cssco Report Abuse These differences are truly astonishing and will reflect on the rotation of the earth for some time to come.
Ramaniac Champion Author St. Louis Posts:11,368 Points:1,951,365 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:46:56 PM Ignore Ramaniac Report Abuse YOU MEAN THERE IS RISK INVOLVED????
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:16,298 Points:2,252,665 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:46:56 PM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse Who cares?
TBRR Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:2,173 Points:364,915 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:35:48 PM Ignore TBRR Report Abuse keeping things in perspective, there are 3,400 oil platforms in the gulf, 2 accidents, thats .0006% accident rate.
Insuremn Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,596 Points:567,390 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:35:44 PM Ignore Insuremn Report Abuse Thanks for stating the obvious.
DonKofAK All-Star Author Anchorage Posts:869 Points:591,185 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:33:54 PM Ignore DonKofAK Report Abuse The point is clear: These two industrial accidents were quite different. Too many casual observers and registered voters are likely to misinterpret the situation, perceive a problem wrongly, and insist on a solution that does nothing constructive. Bertrand Russel said, "It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this." I've never seen good decisions based on public clamor. [Edited by: DonKofAK at 9/3/2010 8:35:17 PM EST]
Bonanza Champion Author Boston Posts:9,294 Points:2,086,055 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:31:08 PM Ignore Bonanza Report Abuse Thankfully no fatalities in this one.
BigDogOH Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:6,128 Points:1,340,920 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:29:08 PM Ignore BigDogOH Report Abuse wear were federal inspectors?
captngasTN Champion Author Tennessee Posts:2,523 Points:900,905 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:26:59 PM Ignore captngasTN Report Abuse Looks like I can make details say what I want.
badbonita Champion Author Syracuse Posts:3,841 Points:886,930 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:24:31 PM Ignore badbonita Report Abuse One comment the local newspaper picked up on was that ever since the Deepwater horizon exploded and did all the damage to the environment and economy of the Gulf, media as well as the public are much more aware of the damage that these oil rigs can do. As well as fires on the rigs are 'relatively' common and are dealt with with little publicity.
WilW Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,865 Points:2,211,860 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:24:15 PM Ignore WilW Report Abuse The "fail-safe" device worked in this instance. Not a problem.
dollarwatcher Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:5,560 Points:1,068,420 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:17:13 PM Ignore dollarwatcher Report Abuse So what's the point?
TXGasPriceSpy Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:5,324 Points:1,010,350 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:14:03 PM Ignore TXGasPriceSpy Report Abuse Both incidents need to be investigated to find out exactly what went wrong.
carefrey Champion Author Orlando Posts:3,357 Points:718,450 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:13:02 PM Ignore carefrey Report Abuse Who's cutting corners now?
mmene Champion Author Houston Posts:4,347 Points:938,970 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:07:07 PM Ignore mmene Report Abuse There is a universe of difference between deepwater drilling and near shore drilling on the continental shelf. Even if there was a leak it would have been very easy for divers to go down to the well rather than using submersibles.
DirtDauber Champion Author San Antonio Posts:4,415 Points:1,162,350 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:06:54 PM Ignore DirtDauber Report Abuse I am not terribly impressed by this kind of journalism. Ask a question in the headline, and then give simple answers that are not very informative.
Ray_10589 Champion Author New York Posts:2,799 Points:739,495 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 8:01:59 PM Ignore Ray_10589 Report Abuse So what shortcuts were taken?
BazooQC Champion Author Montreal Posts:7,331 Points:1,172,480 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 7:52:57 PM Ignore BazooQC Report Abuse Just goes to show there are risks. Despite the fact that companies won't always acknowledge them.
swrestler Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:3,785 Points:1,105,475 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 7:48:21 PM Ignore swrestler Report Abuse This was good to know.....
saleboss Champion Author Phoenix Posts:2,857 Points:964,560 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 7:45:36 PM Ignore saleboss Report Abuse No new deepwater rigs, please!
TopGunn Champion Author Baltimore Posts:6,821 Points:2,150,355 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 7:45:28 PM Ignore TopGunn Report Abuse Biggest difference was almost a mile.
bbthegun Champion Author San Diego Posts:4,539 Points:1,263,515 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 7:44:44 PM Ignore bbthegun Report Abuse You could feel the disappointment with the State-run media when there was no significant oil spilled. They were itching to push for the moratorium to continue...
warlord1 Champion Author Georgia Posts:3,114 Points:605,025 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 7:44:11 PM Ignore warlord1 Report Abuse An Explosion is an Explosion it doesn't matter how they are different they shouldn't happen.
fordfan1 Champion Author Indiana Posts:6,731 Points:1,424,115 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 7:42:52 PM Ignore fordfan1 Report Abuse With no cause found in either explosion we cannot rule out terrorism! And most likely it was our own left wing idiots who did this too!
ItisAJeepThing Champion Author Tucson Posts:15,385 Points:1,684,680 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 7:38:19 PM Ignore ItisAJeepThing Report Abuse Drilling wells and producing crude oil and natural gas at 340 feet is proven technology. Safety systems worked, very little oil was spilled and nobody died. Keep On Drillin!
YLHandyman Champion Author Orange County Posts:5,008 Points:930,140 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 7:34:52 PM Ignore YLHandyman Report Abuse Both had some lax to criminal negligence safety violations.
danny999 Champion Author Florida Posts:6,350 Points:1,172,160 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 7:32:36 PM Ignore danny999 Report Abuse EDUCATE AMERICA,AND BETTER IDEAS WILL COME FORTH.ALWAYS SOMEONE WANTS TO BUILD A BETTER MOUSE TRAP.
LexusLS400 Champion Author Orange County Posts:6,026 Points:1,214,965 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 7:18:30 PM Ignore LexusLS400 Report Abuse I disagree; it's good to know the differences & details. I like details.
Doosie All-Star Author Anchorage Posts:786 Points:513,010 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 7:11:58 PM Ignore Doosie Report Abuse Kinda of a stupid question if you ask me...just read or listen and you'll know...unless like in everything else we need to have the answer handed to us?!?
sit Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,896 Points:1,471,015 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 7:11:57 PM Ignore sit Report Abuse Need to drill./
ifallsguy Champion Author Minnesota Posts:4,425 Points:1,213,780 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 7:08:58 PM Ignore ifallsguy Report Abuse difference: this one was a production platform and the safety equipment worked
SSchmidty Champion Author Illinois Posts:6,958 Points:1,324,710 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 7:03:11 PM Ignore SSchmidty Report Abuse The pig-oil was contained in the 2nd, in fact was a v. limited exposure ... enough said
jwduke1 Champion Author Iowa Posts:13,855 Points:2,723,765 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 6:58:45 PM Ignore jwduke1 Report Abuse Interesting!
amearly Champion Author Michigan Posts:9,755 Points:2,004,630 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 6:57:41 PM Ignore amearly Report Abuse Better shut everything down until the choosen one says it okay,meanwhile thousands more get layoff.
regasaz Champion Author Phoenix Posts:3,661 Points:842,760 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 6:46:51 PM Ignore regasaz Report Abuse One was a disaster leading to loss of life and natural resources, the was a potential disaster but was contained. Both resulted from failure to heed safety precautions.
hibsaw Champion Author Mississippi Posts:5,671 Points:1,215,065 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 6:38:36 PM Ignore hibsaw Report Abuse This story will make gasoline go up.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:24,650 Points:1,879,585 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 6:38:08 PM Ignore tomok Report Abuse The first one was a disaster waiting to happen. The second one was an oil and gas producing well rig in shallow water, it was a fire not an explosion, it did not have loss of life and no large amount of oil was spilled or leaked into the gulf waters.
1988MR2guy Champion Author California Posts:4,406 Points:716,655 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 6:27:44 PM Ignore 1988MR2guy Report Abuse Basically this article is a waste of bandwidth. It should GO. Just like OBAMA, REID, and PELOSI!
aarrrt Champion Author San Diego Posts:5,427 Points:1,212,265 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 6:21:13 PM Ignore aarrrt Report Abuse Whats the point?
benjy Champion Author Chicago Posts:6,864 Points:1,364,965 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 6:20:57 PM Ignore benjy Report Abuse and what???
Broncos Sophomore Author Honolulu Posts:195 Points:337,310 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 6:16:11 PM Ignore Broncos Report Abuse one was drilling and one was not!
caddilac Champion Author Ontario Posts:13,787 Points:1,673,555 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 6:13:01 PM Ignore caddilac Report Abuse Why point out their dissimilarities when what is relevant are their SIMILARITIES. And the main SIMILARITY is that both had some fire which must have been caused because of a lax in safety. Fires don't take place because safety precautions were enforced and adhered to.
cudatim Champion Author San Antonio Posts:2,186 Points:1,081,880 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 6:11:40 PM Ignore cudatim Report Abuse OK, so that's suppose to make it less of a concern?
LilRedWagonIN Champion Author Indiana Posts:5,416 Points:1,104,850 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 6:10:43 PM Ignore LilRedWagonIN Report Abuse The first HAD a conspiracy theory that a submarine sabotaged the underwater well, the second WILL have a conspiracy theory that the explosion and fire were caused by eco-terrorists.
TheSnowstorm Champion Author Montreal Posts:6,817 Points:1,474,250 Joined:June 2005	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 6:06:37 PM Ignore TheSnowstorm Report Abuse Comparisons don't matter, what does is that safeties and regualtions were probably overlooked.
anissa_469 Sophomore Author Utah Posts:179 Points:40,110 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 5:57:54 PM Ignore anissa_469 Report Abuse it's easy they are all idiots!!!
CRAZYEDDIE2010 Veteran Author Ontario Posts:294 Points:204,185 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 5:55:33 PM Ignore CRAZYEDDIE2010 Report Abuse IT'S A REAL SHAME OUR PLANET HAS TO SUFFER FROM THESE MORONS.
MG_Sputnik Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:5,154 Points:1,501,905 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Sep 3, 2010 5:48:26 PM Ignore MG_Sputnik Report Abuse Either way, it was big KABOOM!