An internal investigation blames the disastrous blowout ofthe Macondo Well on a faulty interpretation of pressure tests by BP engineers.
According to published reports, the test on April 20 showed dangerously high pressure in the well, but the engineers mistakenly made a decision to pump in seawater instead of drilling mud to contain the eruption of natural gas and
crude petroleum that followed.
Seawater is lighter than natural gas, drilling mud and
crude.
As a result, 11 men lost their lives, more than 4 million barrels of crude spewed out into the Gulf, and beaches, bays and marshes were heavily damaged from Grand Isle to Panama City, along with aquatic creatures.
The internal probe questioned why BP engineer John Guidedisregarded warnings of a potential blowout from contractor
Halliburton Co. and why managers failed to test for flaws in
the cement outside the well that was intended to keep
natural gas from forcing the blowout.
Though BP's attorneys have tried to put at least some blame
on Halliburton and Transocean, the key players on the rig
with those two concerns have steadfastly denied any
wrongdoing. They say they were complying with orders from
BP's staff.
According to published reports, the test on April 20 showed dangerously high pressure in the well, but the engineers mistakenly made a decision to pump in seawater instead of drilling mud to contain the eruption of natural gas and
crude petroleum that followed.
Seawater is lighter than natural gas, drilling mud and
crude.
As a result, 11 men lost their lives, more than 4 million barrels of crude spewed out into the Gulf, and beaches, bays and marshes were heavily damaged from Grand Isle to Panama City, along with aquatic creatures.
The internal probe questioned why BP engineer John Guidedisregarded warnings of a potential blowout from contractor
Halliburton Co. and why managers failed to test for flaws in
the cement outside the well that was intended to keep
natural gas from forcing the blowout.
Though BP's attorneys have tried to put at least some blame
on Halliburton and Transocean, the key players on the rig
with those two concerns have steadfastly denied any
wrongdoing. They say they were complying with orders from
BP's staff.
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