BOP stack awaiting post-Macondo inspection (from gCaptain.com)
Other than the mildly amusing skirmish about the positioning of representatives of the various factions during the inspection process (Hey, how about access for bloggers!) and some silly comments about the independence of the inspection contractor, there has been very little attention paid to the Deepwater Horizon BOP examination that is scheduled to begin today at NASA’s Michoud facility in New Orleans. The absence of media interest is surprising given the importance of this part of the Macondo investigation. Presumably, there will be more extensive coverage beginning today.
While the inspection and testing will be quite technical, some important aspects should be rather straightforward. What is the position of the rams, particularly the shear ram? What is the condition of the ram elements and annular preventer? Is there evidence of control line leakage? What can be determined about the electronics and the sequencing system designed to automatically actuate the shear ram when power is lost or when the riser is disconnected?
Hopefully, the official investigation website, which currently has no information on the BOP inspection program, will provide updates. While we don’t expect immediate information on the findings, there should be reports explaining how the inspection program is being conducted and what has been accomplished.
