"Annular rams" sounds like pipe rams. And they just tested BOP's successfully before the BOP's failed to work under the gun?
??????
Man, they've got me scratching my head now.
The unloading well blew something solid up into the BOP stack so the rams couldn't close?
The final report is going to make interesting reading on RigZone and in Offshore and Oil & Gas Journal. Bet you even the AAPG runs a story in AAPG Explorer, it's a regular Mickey Spillane mystery -- with real dead men, unfortunately.
Bet James Cameron winds up trying to make a movie out of this one.
Yes sir!
They will be talking, and writing, about this one for a LONG time! That is for sure!
Lg Here is what I think for whatever it is worth.
I think the well was flowing to some degree all the time they were circulating the mud out of the riser and no one noticed. When they shut the BOP for testing a very big bubble developed and when they reopened... Well, you know the rest.