Two weeks ago off the coast of Louisiana a BP oil rig collapsed into the Gulf of Mexico. Since that time we have seen close to 5,000 barrels of oil per day spill into the ocean.
What did BP do to test its technology and did they incorporate simulations of accidents or failures? An article in the Wall Street Journal cited Rep. Bart Stupak (D., Mich.) as saying "'What did you do [before the accident April 20] to make you believe this is really going to work?' We never really got an answer," Mr. Stupak said.
Was a simulation model run to test the impact of the potential collapse and what was the simulation analysis of such an event?
It is easy to pick apart these events in hindsight and perhaps a more in-depth investigation will reveal what really happened.
This shows how accident simulation is no longer reserved solely for nuclear installations, rather simulation modeling can be used to help organizations predict and react to everyday business processes as well as worst case scenarios.
