[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The plan was to remove the mud (replacing with sea water) above the lower cement plug, and then place a shallower plug - I suppose from the ocean floor and down for a certain depth.

They did not recognize that gas was already coming up with the mud....that the bottom plug had not worked.

Why is a big question.

[21twelve]

“Why is a big question.”

I had a quote on my bulletin board - not sure where it is now. But it went something like:

“We pick the best theory, and then find the data that supports that theory.”

I’m not sure if the guy that said it meant it in earnest or not. But it was meant as a reminder to me to NOT fall into that trap. But too many people do.

Especially someone like the Company Man that had already made his decision to “Just do it - I’m the Boss”. A company man that was probably under the gun because the job was already over time and over budget, with each day that ticked by another million dollars in costs.

I recall an old article that said the various indicators were “miss-interpreted”. I guess that is one way to put it when your information doesn’t fit your preconceived notions.