The seven steps to BP's gulf oil disaster
Updated on 25 May 2010
Although BP has finally come clean over what it thinks caused the explosion and fire on the drilling rig that killed eleven workers and led to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Julian Rush writes that it is careful not to apportion blame.
The company says it has begun "sharing initial perspectives" from its internal investigation team with the US Department of the Interior.
But BP says it has not yet reached any final conclusions, just "issues for further inquiry".
The investigation team reveals the disaster was brought about by the failure of multiple processes, systems and equipment. The inquiry has been hampered because most of the key evidence - the well head, the Blowout Preventer (BOP) and not least the sunken rig - is nearly a mile under water, on the sea bed.
Seven steps to disaster have been found to be the most likely cause of the accident.
- The cement that seals the reservoir from the well. A Congressional inquiry was told the explosion happened just after cementing operations had finished.
- The casing system, which seals the well bore.
- The pressure tests conducted to confirm the well was sealed. BP has changed its evidence, first saying tests to make sure the cement seal were "inconclusive" then lawyers said further tests had been conducted. Failed pressure tests should have been a red flag, warning something was wrong.
- The way procedures were executed to detect and control hydrocarbons in the well, including how the BOP was used.
- The BOP Emergency Disconnect System, which can be activated both by pressing a button on the rig.
- The automatic closure of the BOP when all the cables to the surface are severed.
- Features in the BOP to allow Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to operate valves to seal the well after a blow out.
Every item in the list was contracted out - Halliburton did the cementing, Transocean operated the rig, Cameron made the BOP.
While BP's list of potential failures, that taken together in a domino effect may have led to disaster, is careful not to apportion blame, it is also careful to avoid pointing a finger at itself too, saying there is extensive further work to do.
Live video feed of the BP oil spill:
BP are broadcasting a live video feed showing the leaking pipe along with a containment devise aimed at siphoning the oil to the surface where it is then stored in a drillship.
Click on the image below to view the video stream
