Sorry if this has been posted already, but everyone should see this.

[Skratchez]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oaf998FwQVI

Quick summary: the Deepwater Horizon was tasked to drill TWO wells. One failed, but was not leaking. The second one was the one that failed catastrophically and was the blowout that sank it (and the Gulf of Mexico.) On July 23rd they had to unhook the repair and containment operation and when they hooked it back up, surprise, their fixes worked and the oil was contained. One minor note, the coordinates displayed on the ROV repair robots had changed from the leaking BOP to the coordinates of the abandoned failed (but not leaking) former drill site.

The implication is that the other one has been completely abandoned or is still being worked on but covertly so.

I've never even tried posting something other than a comment but I want to see what other people think of this.

Is it a fraud, or is this the biggest, scummiest, lowest common denominator of a cover up ever.

If it's true shouldn't it be in the MSM, shouldn't this be what's being forwarded to all of your friends and family?

Seriously I hope this is fraudulent tinfoil hat wearing nonsense.

[MineralMan]

1. Yah, it is fraudulent tinfoil hat wearing nonsense.

Who created the video? What are the underlying facts? What are the sources?

[Skratchez]

2. Drilling permits and coordinates from the ROV live videos.

BP has proven that they have a horrible and clumsy record of dealing with technical issues regarding their video feeds and photoshopped images.

If the coordinates aren't lying, and DWH was working on two wells and suddenly the happy success story is coming from the wrong location then it really sounds like a clumsy cover up, MineralMan. I take it by your username you're an industry guy or want people to think you are so I'll either bow to your expertise or get out the Reynolds Aluminum and huddle in my basement.

Edit: if they aren't fraudulent all sources are BP's. The video and the documents filed with the former MMS. I realize that youtube.com is not a "trusted source" and I'm trying to see if theoildrum.com has any information or opinions on this.

Edit the second: thanks both of you for easing my paranoia. Should I close this thread?

[jaxx]

3. I saw this discussed at TOD

and they said it was false. The major reason was that there were not two drilling rigs there with all the backup boats needed....somebody just made it up and threw it out there to the unsuspecting public. Plus the Macando was the only permit.

[FedUpWithIt All]

4. There is video of one of the men from the Deepwater Horizon who says that they abandoned the "A"

well. He goes on to describe the "B" well explosion.

[bvar22]

5. As a former Directional Driller in my younger life,

I drilled as many as 60 wells from the same rig on the same location.

This story may be false, but NOT for the reason you cited.

[Skratchez]

6. I found the post from theoildrum.com

There is a brief explanation here which further puts my concerns to rest: http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6820#comment-697078

*snip*

Well location A, X: 1202803.88 Y: 10431617.00
Well location B, X: 1202514.00 Y: 10434194.00

The DougR post you're referring to was about the positions of ROVs, not the well itself.

Drilling a well requires an API#. There is one and only one API#. The drilling was begun by Transocean Marianas. It was damaged by a hurricane and drilling was abandoned in November 2009. Drilling was re-commenced in February 2010 by Deepwater Horizon. At that time the API# received a -01 extension to reflect the second attempt, but the location was identical.

The video you're referring to begins by assuming that two wells were drilled. That's wrong and the video is intentionally misleading.

*snip*

john - One fact might help put your mind at ease. All drilling rigs, onshore and off, are required to have a well identification sign posted when they are drilling. Offshore the signs are huge so they can read by MMS/Coast Guard inspectors passing by in a chopper. The sign has the well name, operator, MMS lease number and the well's API number. I suppose if an operator could talk a drilling contractor into poking a hole without a valid permit it could happen. All the driller has to be willing to do is have the rig manager arrested, his $700 million rig confiscated and lose all rights to work in US waters. Wonder how much an operator would have to pay a drilling company to take such a risk.

*snippety*