But not so fast, don’t
panic, as you have plenty of time to get out of harm’s way without
cause for hysteria. Isn't that a disease? And don't drink the water.
See, it’s bleeding real slow like, so this attack progresses at a
snail’s pace. I am talking the oil leaking out of the
Trans-Alaska-Pipeline. Look, you may not see glarbs of goo, like when
that John Wayne wannabe went crazy with his piece and back-hand
pistol whipped that pipe to failure, thus allowing crude oil to belch
for hours upon hours upon the tundra. See, I am talking small
fractures in the 35-year old pipe that has endured with some success
that same amount of thaw cycles – brutal cold to luke warm then
back again. It has taken its toll on the structural integrity which
was designed for a 10-year life cycle, now approaching 3-times that
design limit and nature wins out in this case no matter how hard man
tries to trump normalcy. Sure all those hazardous chemicals injected
to thwart off internal erosion have worked to some extent, but it
isn't a bulletproof plan of attack and like occurred at Pump Station
#1, wherein all the below ground pipe was cast in concrete so leaks
would never happen, guess what, that design failed after only 5-years
in operation. It wasn't supposed to ever happen! And the entire
Atigan Pass followed the same failed design! So let’s be real, of
course there are leaks in that line, possibly hundreds of hairline
cracks that are today under ideal conditions weeping crude oil day in
day out, once again at a snail’s pace car one drop at a time. But
it's under pressure, so why isn't it squirting out? True, but when
that oil flows to the mountain tops, we find pinch-points wherein the
pressure can be equal to the outside pressure, “zero”. So in this
case, the oil would be allowed to bleed out one drop at a time and go
undetected for, well years! I once worked for the pipeline gang, so
have a good idea of the cover-up. Now small leaks would go
un-noticed, go undetected by the finest of technologies, with the
loose oil getting carried away far and away following the proverbial
out-of-sight-out-of-mind mindset - especially when the spring
break-up commences. That pipe underneath the SAG river, bye bye oil,
see you in the whale calving fiords! And even though contrary to
popular attorney client confidentiality wherein the operator tries
to convince the regulators – and laughs all the way home after a
good day of deceit – it don’t have a working system that can
detect leaks. Case in point. Just the other day a tank of reducing
agent went missing, crawling down the pipeline like a giant snot. Had
the operator had a working system, it would have been detected and
something would have been done before the big snot ended up at the
Koch Brother's refinery over in Santa's Land. Wait just a minute,
maybe this was payback from the Obama office, a giant bugger for
Charlie! OK, enough of the childish stuff, as this is serious
business. But the “Giant Snot”, it went unnoticed and screwed up
all the transport accounts. Yet not to worry, as this circus employs
a magician. This guy reminds me of Phineas J. Whoopee on steroids or
Viagra as with the stroke of a magic wand and with help from that
3DBB, he can make everything balance out and erase any discrepancies
that would warrant shutting down the line – like for a true leak.
And that magic wand has been erasing those hair-line crack leaks for
years. And the air surveillance to detect leaks from planes or
helicopters traversing the 800-mile long pipe from Prudhoe Bay to
Valdez with sophisticated eavesdropping instruments, it don’t work
any longer because the ground is colder then the stuff in the pipe,
and in some places during the year at the same temperature - so it
don’t work. It can't work and that was always the operator's trump
card, oversight by humans that kept the regulators at bay with
respect to questioning the integrity of the system designed to detect
leaks and protect the environment. Bottom-line, the TAPS does not
have a system that can detect small leaks. And because the leak
detection system is “Sectionalized”, it is a loss cause. Many
hairline cracks would go about their business of bleeding out the
crude as a nasty benzene ridden crapathon, drop by drop and finally
be deposited far and away from the pipe proper. So it isn't a Joe
Hazzlewood type of atrocity, but a real slow like disease that will
some day show its ugly face. Bottom-line, without the oil traveling
fast and maintaining enough heat so infra-red technology can pinpoint
a leak through “optical temperature difference imaging”, there is
no way in hell that the operator can detect a leak unless it is
spraying on the tundra. The sad thing, the ROW permit says do or die.
So the fact that the pipeline is still in operation without such a
system, goes to show who wears the panties in this goat rope! And
when I threw this scenario out to the regulators questioning the
integrity of the LDS – NOT Latter Day Saints but Leak Detection
System - at first they were receptive to a dialogue, until they found
out I understood their bluff and that stopped all correspondences.
Now there is a simple solution that could have rested my case. See,
the operator shall be required to perform a “void test” which is
pretty common in the normal pipeline industry – down in the lower
48 where regulators fear not for performing their duties. Basically,
it works like this. Oil is directed away from the line at a
controlled rate, say from a valve to a tank, or “sucker truck”.
Then the regulators watch to see if the “Leak Detection System”
catches a leak based on time intervals and loss of product. In this
case, the regulations require the system to detect a leak of 1% in a
24-hour time period. If it fails, guess what, the regulators place a
“Red Tag” on the line and give the operator some limited time to
fix the problem. So if so easy a test to test the integrity of the
system that is required by law and state statues, what gives to
denying my request to protect the environment, why not go along with
a simple “void test”? Because, it doesn't work even when a void
test could be accomplished tomorrow by short circuiting the oil
through the meters at the North Pole facility, it would amount to
almost no effort at all to perform such a test. In fact, it could
prove me wrong and work, case closed. And we all know why not by now.
Imagine a regulator telling Parnell the money spigot was shut-off!
So maybe I should re-title this write, to “Hide Regulator Hide”.
For Our Environment ~ Uncovering Public Trust Doctrine Violators on Alaska's Frontier
THIS SITE HISTORICAL:
In 2008 through 2010, an "Independent mom & pop" oil company violated the "Alaskan Public Trust" doctrine, allowing malfeasance and environmental atrocities upon the "Last Frontier". This "blog" is dedicated to follow the outcome of the illegal activities that have now become front and center attention before the regulators in charge of making sure the "Public Trust" is upheld, as a centralized forum to make sure Alaskans and others are kept abreast of penalties and fines upon those that feel Alaska is the "Last Frontier Dumping Grounds".
The above image depicts a crude oil well flow-back test, wherein for days hydrocarbon saturated "wet" natural gas was allowed to vent to the atmosphere out a safety relief valve, with temperatures and ambient conditions such that the "wet" vapors most likely condensed and fell upon the pristine waters of Harrison Bay of the Colville River delta, a place so far removed from man-made pollution. This image is also the cover photo of the report called "Alaska's Deadliest Sin", a culmination of malfeasance and environmental corruption evidence upon this Independent, collected by an ex-employee who has made it a personal "mission" to make sure this kind of irresponsible behavior is stopped and never again repeated on this "Frontier". To date, the company – Pioneer Natural Resources - has attempted to deny all allegations, but the evidence allowing denial is too strong. With that, the company has started to admit true so serious these violations. They have admitted their actions are indeed a violation of "Public Trust". With a 3rd party ongoing investigation following the submittal of the "Sin", the end result should be stiff fines and penalties upon the perpetrators, that which sends a message to those that want to "Go North" for oil exploration and exploitation.
"Drill Baby Drill" is upon us, thanks to Sarah Palin and others, and we must stand up against this all out blitzkrieg assault upon the ecosystem, to protect the environment from continued malfeasance and environmental atrocities, as it is not worth another Love Canal!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In 2008 through 2010, an "Independent mom & pop" oil company violated the "Alaskan Public Trust" doctrine, allowing malfeasance and environmental atrocities upon the "Last Frontier". This "blog" is dedicated to follow the outcome of the illegal activities that have now become front and center attention before the regulators in charge of making sure the "Public Trust" is upheld, as a centralized forum to make sure Alaskans and others are kept abreast of penalties and fines upon those that feel Alaska is the "Last Frontier Dumping Grounds".
The above image depicts a crude oil well flow-back test, wherein for days hydrocarbon saturated "wet" natural gas was allowed to vent to the atmosphere out a safety relief valve, with temperatures and ambient conditions such that the "wet" vapors most likely condensed and fell upon the pristine waters of Harrison Bay of the Colville River delta, a place so far removed from man-made pollution. This image is also the cover photo of the report called "Alaska's Deadliest Sin", a culmination of malfeasance and environmental corruption evidence upon this Independent, collected by an ex-employee who has made it a personal "mission" to make sure this kind of irresponsible behavior is stopped and never again repeated on this "Frontier". To date, the company – Pioneer Natural Resources - has attempted to deny all allegations, but the evidence allowing denial is too strong. With that, the company has started to admit true so serious these violations. They have admitted their actions are indeed a violation of "Public Trust". With a 3rd party ongoing investigation following the submittal of the "Sin", the end result should be stiff fines and penalties upon the perpetrators, that which sends a message to those that want to "Go North" for oil exploration and exploitation.
"Drill Baby Drill" is upon us, thanks to Sarah Palin and others, and we must stand up against this all out blitzkrieg assault upon the ecosystem, to protect the environment from continued malfeasance and environmental atrocities, as it is not worth another Love Canal!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thursday, December 20, 2012
KABOOM!
So SHELL is also in the
fire-works display business, on occasion providing a show to the
residents of Dutch Harbor. What you mean it wasn't an intentional
fireworks display? Well what else can go wrong for this outfit that
wants to drill for oil where no man has ventured before? Supposedly
when the SHELL flotilla was leaving the Chukchi Sea in a post haste
retreat to warmer climates due the ice caving in on its 2012
exploration plans, well the NOBLE Discoverer caused some laughter
down at the “Deadliest Catch” docks. The residents call this
exploration vessel “jinxed”, after dealing with it early on in
the exploration season, wherein there comes more controversy this
off-shore drilling program then possible future benefit. According to
the public relations mouth-piece; “Upon engine start up at Dutch
Harbor, Alaska, the Noble Discoverer last Friday morning experienced
a loud engine backfire followed by a small residual fire that was
quickly extinguished by the crew”. But here it is, the true story,
the “testimonial” facts of this matter and gives a possible
answer to the “Kabooms” that were reported during late summer by
scouting whaling crews in the area that SHELL was exploring. And
since Obama has been re-elected, the cat is out of the bag, almost –
this article shell help! It was late August when the
flotilla of a gazillion escort vessels decided to make a go at
braving hydrocarbon resource exploration where no man has braved
before – in an area known for its whale birthing, polar bear
denning and a place on earth that has been so far missing any trials
and tribulations the oil men. But when the flotilla arrived in Dutch
Harbor for the journey north preparation, it was under close scrutiny
supervivion and oversight the men & women of the Environmental
Protection Agency, or according to Alaska Senator MoanaLisa MurCowpie
– the department that frustrates her “Most Wanted” axeman.
indeed already a dud, MoanaLisa thinks Congress can do a better job
at protecting the environment then can the entire cast of scientists
employed by Uncle Sam and so educated on things like “global
warming”. See, MoanaLisa knows all about land swindling dealings
and nepotism, so that combined experience qualifies her to protect
the air and water. It doesn't mean clean, and that “protect”
clause is so defined by her constituents - “Big Oil & Mining”
interests. Whatever happened to “For the People”? Imagine, crocks
controlling the earth's destiny in the category of environmental
responsibility. Man, what a crying out loud laugh! Now one of the
requirements for the SHELL game while exploring in the Chukchi and
Beaufort sea arena was to burn “Low Sulfur” diesel fuels only,
the kind one can purchase at a local 7-11 pump, wherein big green
lettered signs are posted – for the greening of America mandate –
advertising that the fuel dispensed is legal and finds less then
15ppm of sulfur as an additive. And the fine print warns of jail time
if this fuel is abused and substituted by the illegal stuff – the
high sulfur air polluting crap! The change to “Low Sulfur Diesel”
has caused an unbelievable downturn in documented chronic and
respiratory diseases, so it works – and this came about through
research reported by the EPA scientists, not Congress! So each ship
in the flotilla, the fuel from each fuel tank had to be tested before
the clearance was given to sail north, as the area that SHELL finds
interest to exploit is protected still from outlaw type aggravation.
Not a big problem, as I am sure that somewhere along the way, maybe
right there in Dutch Harbor, at the pump there came that big green
sign I was talking about - advertising for sale “Legal Fuel”. And
too assist not contaminating the air, SHELL had installed on their
own accord equipment that would scrub the ships' engine exhaust air
even more, to make it even better then what was required by law. WOW!
But this equipment required the LSD, as anything above the 15ppm
could and would contaminate the catalyst used to burn off those nasty
and unwanted cancer causing polluting constituents found in the
sulfur additive. Sulfur is used to lubricate the engine pieces, so it
can last longer. All was good, until...See when the fuel samples
arrived in Fairbanks for the testing, to a local lab that was the
closest in the vicinity that could provide the required testing
according to ASTM principles, well the samples started showing in
excess the allowable sulfur content and indicated that the ships had
been loaded with “off-road” diesel designated for farm equipment
use only. So, SHELL was already in violation the air permits, as this
flotilla was on the move and engines were turning, having sailed
“North” from Seattle. Matter of fact, the actual amount of sulfur
in the fuel tanks was so significant that the lab personnel had to
inform SHELL that is was over 500ppm, as the machine used to verify
if “LSD” was loaded in the fuel tanks, well it was off the charts
and on “TILT” scale. The machine could not even determine what
was actually in this fuel even though it was purchased at a facility
that had those big green signs! Suspicious? Well this dilemma was
holding up the sailing and the exploration schedule was already
critically delayed so time was of the essence. Each day counted, and
a delay of a few more days could have canceled the entire show. More
samples, same old thing, “Failed”. And so the situation was like
this, there rested a major obstacle with contaminated fuel, and with
no way to unload the “crap” and then no other way to refuel with
the right stuff the amount required to fuel SHELLZILLA, SHELL was you
know what! In other words, SHELL was “Palined”. In Alaska we tend
to use the latter over the age old “F” word. Now the
environmental permit allowed for “LSD” for one and only one
reason, to limit pollution. And in efforts to accomplish that feat
from the engine heat, like already mentioned and credit to SHELL
without Congressional approval to pollute the air, there came
millions spent in retrofits to the drilling equipment –
specifically the engines by conditioning the exhaust fumes through
special filters, which could become contaminated and rendered useless
if fuels were burned with higher levels of sulfur, as the yellow-cake
chemical attacks the filter catalyst. These devices could not survive
for even an hour with fuels registering over 15ppm of sulfur. With
the filter equipment on “TILT”, MoanaLisa had her wishes come
true, to hell with the environment! So this backfire heard at the
dock in late November with SHELL's retreat, it was most likely caused
from the fact that the filter equipment designed to keep Moby Dick’s
air clean, well it appears to have been broken, and this would be the
cause of the “backfires”. Caused from the burning of “illegal”
fuel on the high seas! SHELL is gone bye, bye by now, so are the
fireworks and things appear to have quieted down at the docks. But
comes now before us a real matter of concern. Somehow the earlier
test results that failed the EPA approved sulfur content requirements
became acceptable and allowed SHELL to go north, when time was about
to forfeit their gamble for the 2012 exploration season. Had the
flotilla been denied access to the Arctic, they had come prepared, as
their backup plan called for taking down the American flag and
raising Soviet flags. Only kidding, but we can see Russia from
Alaska! But the EPA had no oversight at the site during the
contaminated fuel ordeal, only monitoring the entire scenario from
the comfort of an office in Seattle. And the lab results that finally
showed “acceptable” where kept under tight security, on a need to
know basis the actual results. But the “backfires” should sound a
warning that something ain’t right. Now it gets into the political
arena. Obama was all for drilling in the Chukchi and Beaufort sea, so
the EPA had their mandate - “APPROVED”. And since MoanaLisa
MurCowpie is adamant at destroying the climate as she wants the EPA
mothballed, well the heat was on to get SHELL going north, to
Alaska's resource rich ARCTIC in efforts to make some show of success
this drilling venture. So it is more likely then not that the EPA
turned a cheek and allowed SHELL to head north with contaminated
fuel. The drilling commenced, the pollution equipment worked for a
while, went broke from sulfur contamination, all was well, as OBAMA
was now looking at another inaugural celebration and didn't get
evicted from the Oval Office. Is it true that the maids still find
Bill's “used” cigars around the White-House? So suspicions,
should be no longer just a question, as this was all out abuse of the
system when political aspirations trump the air we breath. But herein
exists the bigger problem uncovered with this coverage of SHELL. It
costs a whole lot of extra loot to make “LSD”, the “Low Sulfur
Diesel” stuff. Refiners make both, the good and the bad, then blend
it to conform to EPA specifications. That stuff is then distributed
to the pumpers. But who in hell is watching? Look, the retailers are
smiling all the way to the bank, as they are charging you and I for
the good stuff and in return we are polluting the environment with
the unchecked stuff. When the fuels showed above and beyond the
required level of sulfur, the EPA should have started an
investigation, as it may have pointed to a widespread problem, not
the fact that nobody gives a rat’s ass about our air quality, but
the fact that we are getting charged at the pump for the
environmental friendly stuff when all the time trucks, buses,
rail-lines, they are burning the bad stuff. Now you may not use LSD
directly, but it effects your wallet, as transportation of goods
requires the “good” stuff, wherein the cost are consumed by the
“consumers”, that's still us unless MonaLisa gets her way. See,
she believes in nothing, so you will end up with nothing! But if it
is true that the pumpers are selling “crap” and stiffing us for
the real McCoy, what a way to make a profit. My research points to an
extra 50-cents on each gallon sold at the pump. Multiply that by
millions sold each week, get the point! It’s happening, as the
refiners can blend stuff to help the bottom line and if tests are not
required but on a randomly sampled basis – which means never if
nobody is watching or “book-cooking” if not through close
oversight - and allowed through an abusive policy of “trust us”
from an EPA friendly mandate, guess what is happening to an LSD pump
near you? The intent was good, as a ways and means to limit air
pollution. Sulfur causes all kinds of environmental problems. Yet in
the end, as when regulators come under the gun by Congressional
pressures and see the scalpel approaching with the likes of MoanaLisa
at the operating controls, ethics and responsibility runs for cover.
And when dedicated scientists go over the edge to bring a shelved
concern to the forefront and end up with a crime stamp, for allowing
government information to get outside its intended audience, we find
a retaliatory environment. Yes indeed, U.S. government scientists can
go to jail for doing too good a job! Is this Russia? Again, we can
see it from Dutch Harbor! And no matter what the law says, we are the
audience so any scientist that goes out of his or her way to blow the
whistle then loses that job with benefits, just to bring something
“bad” out in the open, you my friend deserve a “Badge of
Courage”. Bottom-line, even though that sign spells it out that the
LSD fuel is what the law says “SHALL” be consumed by your piston
like engine, it appears SHELL has uncovered a conspiracy, and the EPA
remains silent. And not only is this a case finding merit an
environmental crime, it is a crime also of “fraud”, as we paid
more for the environmentally friendly stuff through taxes that were
collected by Uncle Sam, in efforts to study the adverse effects of
MoanaLisa MurCowpie. Whatever! Anyway, we have been triple-dipped
robed, and we wonder what happened to good conscious! KABOOM, the
sound of a distressed America! Coming to a diesel fuel pump near you!
Thank you SHELL, for uncovering this calamity for the good of
America, now if only we had a representative body that gave a damn!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
SHELL Update
It appears that it may be the end
of the road for SHELL’s fantasy to engage in exploratory drilling in the
Chukchi and Beaufort seas – at least for this season. With mishap after mishap for
the flotilla heading north through the Bering Sea, then finally making it to
Dutch Harbor just to wait out the storm promulgated by stubborn sea ice, it
appears that it is not Mother Nature that has thrown a rig wrench into this
blunder, but a man-made disaster. Even the courts couldn’t put a kibosh on the “Green
Light” to proceed to drill where no man has drilled before, but a stupid mix-up
may be the spike in the heart. The environmental groups and Native Alaskans
that were adamant that this was bad business, they should be celebrating. No
longer is it a rumor that the fuel tanks aboard the Noble Discoverer and the
escort fleet have shown unacceptable levels of sulfur – above the limits of the
current EPA permit. And since the EPA has not released any “Press Releases”
over this latest set-back for Tony the Tiger, or is it the Dinosaur, that
silence is almost like a stamp of approval that it’s over! This $2-Billion
dollar blunder may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and may send SHELL
packing for good. So who’s to blame? How about the State of Alaska! See, the
fuel that was supposed to be used called for a sulfur content less than 15
parts-per-million. Forget about the math, it boils down to the fact that the
fuel – thousands of gallons – is not fit for the mission. And most likely the
case stands that the EPA will not or should not even entertain a “conditional
waiver” over this fiasco in efforts to let SHELL slide by and continue with
what appears to be a drilling season already cut way too short - just no time left
to bother and disrupt tranquility. And since the EPA has already allowed an
amended permit to SHELL, the fact that a high sulfur diesel could wreck havoc
the existing hi-tech environmental equipment aboard the fleet makes it almost
impossible to move forward this risky venture – unless SHELL was capable of removing,
cleaning and finding an acceptable fuel source. But not this far north and time
is critical. It won’t happen, no matter how much loot is in that wallet. And
since a “Concerned Citizen” has already filed an “Environmental Crime” with the
EPA, it trumps what may have been considered a way forward and places the EPA
on guard. Basically, the “crime” is a priority and must be addressed before any
options. Once again, who’s to blame? Yes, the State of Alaska may be the culprit
that has succeeded in making many environmentalists very happy. The fuel was
supposedly purchased along the way from a supplier down in Nikiski. It was
supposed to be “Ultra-Low” sulfur diesel fuel. It wasn’t. And since this state
has been trashed with respect to “regulations”, it is very possible that since
the “regulators” are missing in action, that the fuels being supplied throughout
this state to meet EPA air quality demands may not be meeting such mandates.
And when no oversight comes along and clashes with oversight required, like in
SHELL’s permit case, well tests don’t lie. So today we see a man-made disaster that
has sunk SHELL’s plan to be the 1st kid on the block to drill for
the “black gold” in an inhospitable place, where only the mighty can still to
this day claim as a home. Good riddance SHELL. Hey, maybe when you turn around
and head south you can off-load all that crappy fuel along the way, to the
villages that have spent $millions$ defending their homeland against “Invaders”,
just to soften the blow.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Shell Shocked
SHELL Exploration & Production may be forced
to forfeit this year’s attempt to drill exploration wells on the Outer
Continental Shelf in the Beaufort & Chukchi seas, due to a fuels
contamination problem discovered today aboard its Noble Discoverer Drillship
and a similar problem aboard other support vessels scheduled to begin the OCS drilling
program next week. This mishap most likely occurred from cross-contamination
when the drillship and escort ships’ fuel tanks were filled from various
sources along the route from Seattle to the Arctic Ocean. The EPA limit
approved by the “Permit to Construct” issued to SHELL limits the sulfur content
to less than 15ppm. Recent tests results from a 3rd party testing
lab, a requirement of the permit, indicated a cross-contamination level
exceeding 25ppm. Due to this contaminated diesel fuel with higher than normal
sulfur content, operating out-of-specifications could damage the technologies
designed into the ship’s environmental air quality degradation equipment and
used in efforts for the EPA permitting process. Because of the latter fact, a waiver from the
EPA would be an impossibility at this
stage as this mishap has consequences beyond a simple deviation of the permit,
with the application of an addendum. The only other option at this late stage
in the controversial drilling game would be an exchange of fuel that meets the
“permit” criteria. But to find a convenient
place to off load the diesel fuel then purge the tanks of the high-sulfur constituents,
it would take time, thus limiting the time available for this year’s drilling
season, already shortened due to stubborn ice shows. More to come on this latest
set-back for SHELL E&P.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Susan Butcher Petition
Subject: Honoring Susan Butcher
Hi My Fellow Alaskan;
This petition is in efforts to find enough resident Alaskans interested in a rename of the Ted Stevens International Airport terminal, to be changed in "Honor" of Susan Butcher, as the "Susan Butcher International Airport".
That's why I created a petition to the Alaska State House, the Alaska State Senate, and Governor Sean Parnell, which says:
"With the Ted Stevens indictment behind us, with blame and claim from both sides, it is time to place this sad time in Alaskan history behind us by renaming the Anchorage based airport to honor a real Alaskan, Susan Butcher."
Will you sign this petition? Click here:
http://signon.org/sign/honoring-susan-butcher?source=c.em.cp&r_by=4602322
Thanks for the support! S. Pam MaGee
Hi My Fellow Alaskan;
This petition is in efforts to find enough resident Alaskans interested in a rename of the Ted Stevens International Airport terminal, to be changed in "Honor" of Susan Butcher, as the "Susan Butcher International Airport".
That's why I created a petition to the Alaska State House, the Alaska State Senate, and Governor Sean Parnell, which says:
"With the Ted Stevens indictment behind us, with blame and claim from both sides, it is time to place this sad time in Alaskan history behind us by renaming the Anchorage based airport to honor a real Alaskan, Susan Butcher."
Will you sign this petition? Click here:
http://signon.org/sign/honoring-susan-butcher?source=c.em.cp&r_by=4602322
Thanks for the support! S. Pam MaGee
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Seal Death Update
The
Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission issued a Notice of
Proposed Enforcement Action on August 20, 2010 stating
Pioneer
Natural Resources Alaska engaged in improper fluid injection in
Oooguruk
Unit enhanced recovery well ODSK-38 (Oooguruk ODSK-38). The
Commission proposed
specific corrective actions and a $10,000 civil
penalty under state law.
This is not the end of this story!
I was the
individual that brought this criminal activity to the authorities
attention, as when I was employed by PNR at the Oooguruk oil
development project, there appeared a lazare-faire attitude towards
environmental stewardship. So after the company CEO denied my
allegations, I produced “proof” that indicated some illegal
injection was attempted. But here it is in a nutshell. Even though
the “Operator Logbook” was testament that a superior wanted to
get rid of the unsellable glycol used during start-up - due the fact
it was contaminated - my biggest concern when I did bring forward
this illegal disposal to the state authorities and the EPA was the
fact that the engineering staff would have been able to convince the
authorities that even though the “logbook” indicated a desire to
get rid of the stuff, it was an ill-fated mission - due the mechanics
of pumping against a deadhead. And that was the case, as the pumps
utilized during this scam recycling attempt were inferior, the
kind you find at Home Depot and could not produce enough
head-pressure to overcome the head-pressure already in the pipelines
going over to the island, where it could be injected down into the
reservoirs. So the mystery remains, what happened to all that glycol?
Once again said, the glycol dumping incident in which Pioneer was
fined, all 40000 gallons, it did not make it down-hole wherein it
would be somewhat safe while captured in the oil pools. So where did
the glycol escape? If it were allowed to enter the environment, then
with spring breakup it could easily find a convenient run-off into
the pristine waters of the Colville River delta, into Harrison Bay,
wherein the ecosystem thrives – glycol could be devastating to the
livelihood of the delta and upon all species that rely on the food
chain, especially seals. And that would have been the summer of 2010,
when the following spring the seal deaths started to alarm the local
hunters. See, glycol is considered safe because it breaks down to
harmless constituents under normal temperatures associated with
disassociation, but we do not find that kind of degradation here in
Alaska. So any glycol haphazardly released, instead of being rendered
harmless, it keeps on its destructive path, contaminating the
ecosystem. I believe that the seal deaths are in part a contribution
from the “missing” 40000 gallons of glycol let loose at the
Pioneer Oooguruk site due crummy management and a total disregard for
the environment, with the sentiment that nobody is really looking. In
the below picture, this “yellow” free snow zone area is right
under the tanks that held thousands of gallons of glycol. Only
leaking glycol could cause the snows to disappear when temperatures
were in the minus regime. This land based tank farm that held all
kinds of nasty chemicals but not under any regulatory jurisdiction
was a “Love Canal” just waiting to happen. Wherein the discharge
vales on these huge tanks were not protected, and a slight nudge
could release a torrent of glycol, it would go unaccounted for until
such time we find the seals dieing off and the researchers puzzled as
too why! And when the protective barrier finds no oversight and large
holes are allowed, we end up with a cesspool mentality and then it is
too late, as it accounts for a scorched earth. More to come.....
Something melted the snow away?What protective liner?
Scorched Earth a reality.......OTP Spring 2010
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Kiss My Ass Rigger
Alaska, April 2012
It is a sad day today in the Alaskan oil patch, in Prudhoe Bay, as we hear the report of the death a rig worker. Look, these “other” guys that get their 60 minutes claim to fame aboard some creepy outlaw fishing vessel, this occupation is nowhere near as dangerous as “rig” work. Rig work is kept tame and in check, due many layers of safety. Violations upon the oil field safety net can find one headed south on the first plane out of Deadhorse, and forget about ever getting back that job, as the word travels fast. Unsafe workers are not wanted, not by management and not by other crewmembers. But there exists a sad culture today unlike yesterday in Alaska’s oil patch – in favor of Governor Parnells’ overzealous attempt to get the Trans-Alaska-Pipeline back up to full strength. Maybe it is common place throughout the “drilling” sector of this industry nowadays, regardless, this dereliction goes on and on and on day after day after day today. Before getting into details this corrupt pathetic culture, sure Doyon Drilling - the rig operator where the death occurred - has cashed in on interviews with the local news’ casts to preach that the company has a safety program second to none and comments from readers have expressed the same sentiment, that safety is first and foremost on rigs working in Alaska – but it is not the case, not any longer! I don’t care how many reams or 3-ring binders of safety policies a company can produce from its corporate headquarters, this stuff only benefits the lawyers when push comes to shove to defend the guilty! Once again, it used to be so, this safety 1st over guess what? Here is what I witnessed in the “patch” and not afraid to speak out upon, in hopes that this trend can be turned around before injuries and deaths become par for the course. I worked for an “Independent” oil company, just a stone’s throw away from where this recent casualty took place. There is a whole lot of pressure in the oil patch these days, as drilling prospects for these newcomers – the “Independents” – is way behind schedule, because the state has entertained this crash course off course misguided exploration era with the “Golden Carrot” syndrome, through tax incentives and royalty relief. Basically, Parnell’s plan calls for giving the “refinanced” hen house away. Of the 32 “wishful thinking” wells that were supposed to be finished by now, maybe 8 have been completed. Drill rigs are not keeping up with the pace, and this can be detrimental to the “bottom-line” and place a hold on development for an entire season, as restrictions are one thing that still remains intact to protect the environment from cowboy like abuse – poke a hole here, poke a hole there six shooter style. Now for instance, with respect to a hurried season this past season in Prudhoe Bay, a “rig” was scheduled to be shared – like in the case of Savant over at Badami – but because of delays due to out-of-control rigs getting stuck in frozen drilling fluids, from “blow-outs” because the AOGCC is asleep at the wheel, it causes those in the boardrooms to freak-out and give ultimatums – you know what I am talking about, get it done or else edicts. So the pressure is on in the drilling world in the land of the cold and dark. When I was a lead spokesperson - for the 1st Independent to brave a place no other “mom & pop” outfit not fit for duty on the Prudhoe Bay scene showed up after receiving tax breaks and royalty relief from the clowns down in Juneau - I came across numerous violations being performed by the “drilling crew”. Many times they were caught “red-handed” in the act. See, “rig” hands work at the convenience and discretion of the “rig boss”, the so-called “Company Man”. I wrote a book about this once honored position, titled “Alaskan Company Man”, which can be read on my “Reader Free Site” at storylineonline.com. That writing glorifies the position, as back then when I researched this coveted position, it appeared different than what is going on today. If I were to re-write the book, it would not reflect such “glory”. In fact, it would be but a sick novel akin to cannibalism. Dylan once wrote that “the railway men drink up your blood like wine”, well a “the Company Man eat up your independence like candy”. This “I’m the boss you bowel weevil”, this abuse is today threatening the once safe North Slope oil patch. Case in point. Operation’s had commenced venting volatile gas from the annulus of a producing well, through the use of a bleed trailer positioned outside the multi-well housing bay. The area had been flagged off the required distances, fast away from any heat or spark generating equipment and the “venting” process was broadcast over the loud speaker as well as the local radio system. Soon, the barrier was trespassed upon by a giant sized Cat forklift, to within 2 feet of the escaping gas that was blowing out and creating a vapor cloud that could not be miss-read, and the escaping gas was giving off a whistle like warning! This “grave violation” just so the “rig” crew could deliver a tool piece at a critical time in the drilling plan – this is what I was told in haste when looking for handcuffs to arrest these guys. When I shut-down the CAT and asked them if they were stupid and trying to blow this entire man-made island to smithereens, I was told they were sorry but quickly realized they were under orders, “or else” type of orders. I felt sorry for these guys, to have to work under such “Deliverance” type slavery. So I gave them a break, as they asked me down on their knees not to report them. When I approached the “Company Man”, with a smile he ignored me and went back to stuffing his fat face with a triple patty burger. This kind of attitude will pollute the environment and send young rig workers home in coffins. And when I reported this laissez-fairy attitude to upper management that is supposed to be on my side, I was told the same thing, that time is money and they were losing money, as the drilling program was way behind schedule and way over budget - so the Company Man had a carte blanch license to “Kill”, more than just a well it appears. I quit in protest! It is a bazar mindset, like it is OK to kill workers, as a human body is worth far less then lost production – just so Parnell can get the pipeline filled? This is what’s coming from the corporate boardrooms, because of what the shareholders expect! Kill a worker, pay his surviving spouse some loot to get by and the kids get by without a dad - pennies on the dollar retribution. And while mom suffers the pain such a loss, the rig gets on with making oil to push up the investors’ portfolio. If this is what is going on, it is but a pathetic human weakness that addicts one to the greed factor that is indeed turning us all into disposable slaves, at any expense, even that of the loss of a human. If I were the family member of this latest victim – yes victim of negligence – I would sue the hell out of the bastards. And if any family out there needs information on what I saw go on when a Nabors rig was operating out at Oooguruk Island under the control of the parent company’s “Company Man”, respond for my help this site. Wow, it paints a pretty sad picture of what was once! Maybe it is time to shut it all down as all I can see is a “Kiss My Ass” rigger mentality! Sidebar: Alaska saw a “blow-out” this past drilling season. And the well was so messed up that it was abandoned in place. This accident occurred from a shallow gas pocket. The AOGCC has repeatedly allowed PNR at Oooguruk Island to “waive” the “diverter” requirements, because of no known shallow gas pockets? What gives? Sarah Palin gave us “Drill Baby Drill”, with Parnell its “FAST, FAST, FAST”!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Seal Die-Off
Finally, an expert witness journey that reveals what may be causing the bearded seals off Alaska's North Slope to die off in record numbers – the Natchiq are threatened! Is it from near-shore oil development toxic waste dumping, illegally discharged into the waters of Harrison Bay? Are the regulators being held off, by a “Drill Baby Drill” mandate? This is a True Story, with some of the names changed to protect the innocent. Due out April 1st on this site. Documentary film to follow.
Watch Oooguruk Island Drill Site under attack!
Note: This "attack" that wasn't supposed to happen left its scar, an environmental nightmare. What happened to all the drilling chemicals?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxcxOEiGboY
Watch Oooguruk Island Drill Site under attack!
Note: This "attack" that wasn't supposed to happen left its scar, an environmental nightmare. What happened to all the drilling chemicals?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxcxOEiGboY
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