OIL FLOOD: SECOND THOUGHTS

Abstract from NYTimes.

Now that according to the British Petroleum (BP), the raw oil flood has been controlled (April 22, 2010) in the Gulf of Mexico, important reflections have emerged, as those of Henry Petroski (Engineer historian/University of Duke) who in their book : Success Through Failure, assures that as in previous disasters, procedures for extraction of petroleum in deep waters will be reanalyzed, improved and will not be repeated again. Let us remember the Hindenburg's explosion which forces to replace Hydrogen for Helium (less inflammable) and that after the collapse of the suspension bridge Tacoma (1940, Tacoma Narrows Bridge), because of ferocious up and down ondulations induced by strong winds, suspension bridges were built but big, with suspensors but rigid and a second deck.

Gary Halada (State University of New York, Stony Brook), assures that this type of catastrophes impels innovations. In 1967, the engineer Eric H. Brown, said : Engineering of structures, is the art of modeling materials that we don't understand to forms that we don't analyze completely, that mobilizes forces not valued completely in constructions with potential dangers that the public doesn't suspect. For the forensic engineer David W. Fowler (Texas University), will be improved the devices of prevention of escape of submarine petroleum (blowout preventers), the same ones that located above the wells will impede the exit of raw oil in emergencies. Although many will want that no longer submarine petroleum be extracted it won't happen. The BP will continue perforating wells in deep waters, in the gulf of Mexico, Brazil, West Africa and Egypt. In order to have money for these projects, the BP has just sold part from their passive capital to Apache company.

REFLEXIONES SOBRE EL DERRAME DE PETROLEO

Ahora que según la British Petroleum (BP), se ha controlado el desbocado fluir de petróleo crudo (iniciado el 22 de Abril del 2010) en el Golfo de México, han emergido importantes reflexiones, como las de Henry Petroski (historiador de Ingenieria/Universidad de Duke), quien en su Libro:Success Through Failure, asegura que al igual que en desastres anteriores, los procedimientos para la extracción de petróleo en aguas profundas serán reanalizados, mejorados y no volverán a repetirse. Recordemos que la explosion del dirigible Hindenburg obligó a reemplazar Hidrógeno por Helio (menos inflamable) y que tras el colapso del puente de suspensión Tacoma (1940, Tacoma Narrows Bridge), a causa de feroces ondulaciones hacia arriba y abajo inducidas por fuertes corrientes de aire, se construyeron puentes de suspensión más grandes, con suspensores mas rigidos y un segundo piso.

Gary Halada (State University of New York, Stony Brook), asegura que este tipo de catastrofes impulsa innovaciones. En 1967, el ingeniero Eric H. Brown, manifestó que la ingenieria de estructuras, es el arte de moldear materiales que no comprendemos a formas que no analizamos del todo, moviliza fuerzas no valoradas del todo, en construcciones con peligros potenciales que el publico no sospecha. Para el ingeniero forense David W. Fowler (University of Texas), se mejoraran los dispositivos de prevencion de escape de petróleo submarino (blowout preventers), los mismos que ubicados encima de los pozos impedirán la salida del crudo en emergencias. Aunque muchos querrán que ya no se extraiga petróleo submarino eso no sucederá. La BP continuaré perforando pozos en aguas profundas, en el golfo de México, Brazil, Africa Occidental y Egipto. A fin de tener dinero para estos proyectos, acaba de vender parte de su capital pasivo a la compañia Apache.