This well flowed from a much higher zone weeks before the blowout occurred. They lost circulation on the danged thing three times and stuck pipe once to the point that they could not free it and had to reroute around it.
FIT's were done but no leak offs in every case! Does this sound like they were really paying attention?
I agree with you Cajun! This has nothing whatever to do with the current state of drilling technology but it sure as hell has a lot to do with the lack of judgment those home office types who were in constant communication with the BP company man displayed! It also, sadly, speaks to the state of affairs in our economy today. I remember a time, not so long ago, when if some REMF had come up with this BS the company man, not to speak of the rig manager, would have told him that if he wanted it done that way he had better get his A$$ on a chopper and come do it himself cause we ain't about to do it like that!