[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

"was based on the spill and incident-response history in the Gulf of Mexico."

Since this was a new and different field at a different depth and formation...how could they know...

[Marine_Uncle]

"Since this was a new and different field at a different depth and formation...how could they know... "
Good question. Plus this was an exploratory drill at very deep depths. Not the typical shallower water production drilling facilities.