http:\/\/trueslant.com\/oshagraydavidson\/2010\/07\/16\/more-douche-baggery-from-bp\/<\/p>\n
I try to cover BP press conferences via phone, but I wasn\u2019t able to dial in to this morning\u2019s technical briefing (conveniently held at 5:30 AM PDT time). Following company advice, I called BP\u2019s Houston press office for an update.<\/p>\n
I was transferred to BP spokesman Tony Odone.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the exchange, taken from my admittedly rough notes made while we talked.<\/p>\n
——————————————————————————–<\/p>\n
Me: Can you tell what the pressure is currently in the well integrity test?<\/p>\n
Odene: I don\u2019t know. Why would you want that?<\/p>\n
Me: Isn\u2019t the pressure reading the most important information from the test?<\/p>\n
Odene: Yes.<\/p>\n
Me: Well, that\u2019s why I want to know.<\/p>\n
Odene: [BP spokesman] Kent Wells said at this morning\u2019s briefing the pressure was 6,700 psi.<\/p>\n
Me: OK, so at the time of the briefing it was 6,700 \u2014<\/p>\n
Odene: \u2014 No, he announced at the briefing that the pressure was 6,700.<\/p>\n
Me: The pressure reading was taken when?<\/p>\n
Odene: At some point before the announcement.<\/p>\n
Me: But you can\u2019t tell me what it is now?<\/p>\n
Odene: (Incredulous) Look, we are not about to give a minute-by-minute update on what the pressure reading is!<\/p>\n
Me: What about hour-to-hour, since it\u2019s so important?<\/p>\n
Odene: (growing more petulant): It does\u2026not\u2026have\u2026.any significance. A team of experts is looking at it and interpreting it. Why do you want to know?!<\/p>\n
Me: At the briefing, Wells said to call this number if we have any questions before the next presser, so that\u2019s what I did. I\u2019m trying to get an update.<\/p>\n
Odene: A pressure reading will be announced at the next press conference, at 2:30. (CDT \u2014 four hours from this point.)<\/p>\n
Me: But nothing until then.<\/p>\n
Odene: (Steely, now) We will give you the information when it is necessary.<\/p>\n
Me: What determines when it\u2019s necessary?<\/p>\n
Odene: When we feel it is required. Are you an engineer?<\/p>\n
Me: No, I\u2019m a reporter.<\/p>\n
Odene: Well, you will get the information as it is required.<\/p>\n
Special thanks to Osha Davidson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
http:\/\/trueslant.com\/oshagraydavidson\/2010\/07\/16\/more-douche-baggery-from-bp\/ I try to cover BP press conferences via phone, but I wasn\u2019t able to dial in to this morning\u2019s technical briefing (conveniently held at 5:30 AM PDT time). Following company advice, I called BP\u2019s Houston press office for an update. I was transferred to BP spokesman Tony Odone. Here\u2019s the exchange, taken from my … Continue reading Trueslant.com: by Osha Gray Davidson “More \u2018bad behavior\u2019 from BP”<\/span>