On 7 July I started a discussion thread titled “Deep Horizon Blowout – was it a disaster in waiting?” at http://www.drillingahead.com, a social network website for oil and gas professionals.
On 13 July 2010, there was a thread discussion posted by Stan asking an apparent contradiction. Why “shallow hazards reports and assessments” were cited in BP’s permit application to MMS (dated 10 March 2010) for drilling the ill-fated Macondo well in 5,000ft of water? This is an obvious legitimate question from a keen member of the public on an apparent “red flag”. Somehow in the discussion, the website owner (Curtis) started to chastise Stan for being “stupid” and misled by false reporting. To prove that point Curtis posted a listing of share transactions showing Tony Hayward buying BP’s shares (50 lots each) instead of selling. The listing however started from 20 March 2010 onwards. Curtis closed further posting on the threat discussion, thereafter.
At 4:25pm July 13, I replied to Stan’s request on the apparent “red flags”. Shallow hazards do not mean shallow water but shallow sub-seabed (below mudline) hazards. In the same posting, I pointed to Stan that Tony Howard disposed of his shares (223,228 lots) on 17 March before buying them back a week later on several transactions but on smaller lots of 50.
Apparently this struck a raw nerve at DrillingAhead website. At 9:01 am July 14, Curtis sent me an email. Apparently this was to get me to log on to the website with my internet connection (to obtain my IP address) and to bar me from accessing the website without notice. My email to Curtis requesting the basis for barring me from the website has been unanswered.
This brings up several questions:
- Isn’t this barring legal in prohibiting “freedom of information”?
- This is supposed to be a social network website for open professional discussion. Or is this just a cover to channel one-sided information? Was BP or Tony Hayward sponsoring this website?
- Was there a hidden agenda?
- There is nothing offensive at all in my posting. All my postings had been deleted from the website’s discussions. Why the haste in barring me?
- Why was Tony’s share sell-out so sensitive on this technical website for professional?
- Is there money to be made from an apparent “rig accident”?
- Were the shares in small lots (50) bought to cover Tony’s track?
- Why did Curtis not list Tony’s share sellout on 17th March 2010 in his posting? Was it deliberate?
- There is probably more than it meets the eye in this disaster.
Stan, if you are reading this, you can contact me through hydrocomgeo@gmail.com.
BK Lim
14 July 2010