[Bigun]

More grist for the mill.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/energy-resources/Gulf+Mexico+spill+caused+string+human+mechanical+errors+reports/3023766/story.html

First I’ve heard about BOP mods.

[lentulusgracchus]

Yeah, the "modifications" bit got my attention, too. That should have come to the attention of MMS a while ago -- like 6 months before the accident.

More regulation on the way! Transocean blew it. BP, too. Company man should have known the drilling contractor's men had made wildcat mods to the safety equipment.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Any article that calls Halliburton a rig contractor is suspect.

That said, if the BOP was messed with, more of this will fall on Transocean than we thought. It would not have caused the blowout but would have allowed much of the mess to happen, and I bet the rig insurers will have some say in the pay off.

I have been on lots of offshore rigs, but never a dynamic positioning one. Most of the time a company man would go ashore during a move but would there be enough time on a rig that doesn't have to pick up and set anchors?

The reason I ask is that the BOP would be worked on during moves and BP might have no idea what was done to it.