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1 Introduction
Pages 10-18

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From page 10...
... system2 on the seafloor became more difficult under the harsh conditions directly at the seafloor.3 Continued advances in geologic exploration techniques, well designs, and recording of key geologic information enabled drilling operations to expand into 1 This overview of the technological advances in offshore drilling is based on information provided in the final report of the Presidential Commission (2011) and the references cited therein.
From page 11...
... CHALLENGES IN DESIGNING AND CONSTRUCTING OFFSHORE WELLS Geologic structures beneath the deep water4 of the Gulf of Mexico provide a harsh and unpredictable environment of high-temperature and high-pressure hydrocarbon reservoirs that typically contain significant amounts of dissolved natural gas. These factors require additional precautions in the design and construction of wells.
From page 12...
... and different types of barriers inside the well after drilling to control subsurface pressure and prevent unintended hydrocarbon flow from geologic formations into the wellbore. As the well is being drilled, drilling mud is pumped into the drill pipe connected to a drill bit.
From page 13...
... . If there is a delay between finishing drilling operations and commencing completion operations, the well is temporarily abandoned by setting mechanical or cement plugs inside the casing.
From page 14...
... The BOP failed to secure the well because the thick, large-diameter drill collars were inside the BOP stack and prevented the shear rams from cutting the pipe and the pipe rams from closing around the largediameter pipe.  On August 21, 2009, a blowout occurred at the Montara Wellhead Platform located off the northwest Australian coast in the Timor Sea.
From page 15...
... COMMITTEE'S APPROACH TO ITS TASK The two main components of the committee's task were to examine the causes of the Macondo well–Deepwater Horizon incident and to identify measures for preventing similar incidents in the future. Offshore drilling is a safetycritical process that warrants a safety system commensurate with the overall risk presented.
From page 16...
... The committee tracked the forensic analysis of the BOP arranged by the Marine Board of Investigation9 and considered key factors that affected the performance of the BOP system during the blowout. The committee also considered the findings of past evaluations of the reliability of BOP systems under real-world conditions.
From page 17...
... These concerns led to the assessments and recommendations reported in Chapter 4. Industry Management of Offshore Drilling The multiple companies involved in drilling the Macondo well reflect the complex structure of the offshore oil and gas industry and the division of technical expertise among the many contractors engaged in the drilling effort.
From page 18...
... USCG. Report of Investigation into the Circumstances Surrounding the Explosion, Fire, Sinking and Loss of Eleven Crew Members Aboard the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico April 20-22, 2010, Vol.


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