Offshore staff
ZUG, Switzerland – The Macondo incident in the Gulf of Mexico was the result of a series of well design, construction, and temporary abandonment decisions that compromised well integrity, according to an internal investigation by Transocean Ltd.
Transocean’s investigation team noted four overarching issues:
1. Risk management and communications – The report found that “evidence indicates that BP failed to properly assess, manage and communicate risk to its contractors.”
2. Well design and construction – The precipitating cause of the Macondo incident was the failure of the downhole cement to isolate the reservoir, which allowed hydrocarbons to enter the wellbore, according to the report.
3. Risk assessment and process safety – The investigation team determined that BP failed to properly require or confirm critical cement tests or conduct adequate risk assessments during various operations at Macondo.
4. Operations – This includes a negative pressure test, well control, BOP, and alarms, muster and evacuation, the report said.
The investigation report and supporting documents are available on the homepage of the company’s website atwww.deepwater.com.
06/23/2011
