DROWNING IN OIL: BP & THE RECKLESS PURSU

作者 Loren C. Steffy著
出版社 McGraw-Hill
出版时间 2010年11月第1版
ISBN 9780071760812
定价 233.00

内容简介

AsnightsettledonApril20,2010,aseriesofexplosionsrockedDeepwaterHorizon,theimmensesemisubmersibledrillingplatformleasedbyBritishPetroleum,located40milesofftheLouisianacoast.Theensuinginfernoclaimed11lives,anditwouldrageuncontainedfortwodays,untilitswreckagesanktoafinalrestingplacenearlyamilebeneaththewaves.Ontheoceanfloor,theunit'swellheaderupted.Overthenexttenweeks,asrepeatedattemptstocapthegeyserfailed,anestimated200milliongallonsofoil—theequivalentof20ExxonValdezspills—spewedintotheGulfofMexico,eventuallylappinguponbeachesasfarawayasFlorida.DrowninginOil,byaward-winningHoustonChroniclebusinessreporterandcolumnistLorenSteffy—consideredbymanytobethewriterwiththebestaccesstothestory—isanunprecedentedandgrippingnarrativeofthiscatastropheandhowBP'swinner-take-allbusinessculturemadeitallbutinevitable.Throughnever-before-publishedinterviewswithBPexecutivesandemployees,environmentalexperts,andoilindustryinsiders,Steffytakesusbehindthescenesof100yearsofBPcorporatehistory.Beginningwiththeconglomerate'searlygambitsintheMiddleEasttoitsrecentascentamongenergytitans,SteffunearthstherootsoftheGulfoilspillintheunwrittenbargainbetweenoilproducersandconsumers,whoseinsatiableappetitesdrivethesearchfornewsuppliesfaster,farther,anddeeper.Beyondthis,theDeepwaterHorizondisastertookplaceafterahistoryofcostcuttinginpursuitofprofits,particularlyundertheguidanceofitstwomostrecentex-CEOs,JohnBrowneandAnthonyHayward.Exhaustivelyresearchedanddocumented,DrowninginOilisthefirstin-depthexaminationofhowalackofcorporateresponsibilityandgovernmentoversightledtothebiggestoffshoreoilspillinU.S.history.Itisanobjective,no-punches-pulledaccountoftheenergyindustry:itsenvironmentalimpactandtheintensecompetitionamongstakeholdersintoday'soilmarkets.Thisbookputsallthepiecestogether,offeringadefinitiveaccountofBP'spursuitofoutsizedprofitsastheindustrialworldawakenstothegrimrealitiesofPeakOil."Theyfumbledaroundthedarkenedroomandfoundaninstructionmanual.Byflashlight,theyreadthestartingprocedures.Theyweredoingeverythingright.Afterfiveorsixfutiletries,theygaveupandheadedbacktowardthebridge.Backonthebridge,alarmswereshriekingandthecaptainknewtheywererunningoutoftime.Thesubseaengineerhadhittheemergencydisconnectforthewell,andalthoughthecontrolpanelshowedtherigshouldbefree,itwasn't.Thehydraulicsweredead.Firecontinuedtoshootfromthetopofthederrick.Therighadnopower,andwithoutpower,ithadnopumpsforthefirefightingequipment,nowaytoshutofftheflowofgasfromthewell,andnowaytodisconnecttherigfromtheflamingumbilicalthathadittetheredtothewellhead."—fromDrowninginOil

作者简介

LorenC.SteffyisthebusinesscolumnistfortheHoustonChronicle.HehasbeenrecognizedbytheSocietyofAmericanBusinessEditorsandWriters,theAssociatedPressManagingEditors,theHoustonPressClub,andothersocietiesandorganizations.Inaddition,hisworkhasbeencitedinpublications,includingtheNewYorkTimes,theWashingtonPostOnline,andTexasMonthly,andhe'smadenumerousappearancesonCNBC,FOXNews,MSNBC,TheNewsHourwithJimLehrer,andCourtTV.HelivesinTheWoodlands,Texas.

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