Thank you. I noticed backhoe offered some detail:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2128550/posts?page=2802#2802
[I’m at a bit of a disadvantage — no pics or TV. Loading one image is a hassle.]
IMR: “By all accounts from people on the rig, the BOP was working fine. It had been checked and rechecked. Tested and retested. The BOP got damaged. It happens.”
So there was an actual explosion that triggered this? Could an air pocket have fed initial oxygen? Air bubbles in the oil? Underwater welder?
At 30,000psi of pressure you don’t need an explosion. Crap just starts coming apart.
The gas ignited when it got to the surface and settled into the rig.
From all acounts here is the screw up.
They assumed the cement held and they opened the BOP with that assumption. The cement didn’t hold and a gas bubble shot up to the well.