One thing that is clear from this expert's analysis is that the reservoir pressure of 8,000 psi as stated by the Coast Guard admiral is obviously incorrect, being far to low to push oil through that long of a pipe; and the numbers being cited from non-mainstream media sources, in the range of 20,000 to 70,000 psi are much more likely for producing the volume of oil that we're seeing in the Gulf.
Here’s a good article from 2009 about the first of its kind deep water rig (BP). Amazing the difficult conditions and the technology required to overcome it. They are producing lots of oil with no problem at this site (Thunder Horse).
With this recent blow-out, BP and others knew the pressures, etc. but that probably did not get communicated properly. I’m not sure why they would lie about it as it was “common knowledge” in the industry, and would reach the public at some point.
What I AM amazed at, with all of the risk, time, cost and high-technology involved in these huge endeavors, and knowing that this was a problem well (for months), knowing that they had poor casing, a poor blow out preventer, etc. , and then to have the company man say “Do it, that’s what the pinchers (BOP) are for.”
“One of the most obvious challenges for BP was the location of the project (Thunder Horse Project, 2009) in ultra deepwater in a region notorious for both loop currents and the menace of hurricanes. A new generation of drilling rigs, such as the derrick rigs on the Discoverer Enterprise drillship and the PDQ had to be designed for these extremes.
The project also had to deal with reservoir temperatures up to 270º F (132° C), pressures up to 18,000 psi (124 MPa), and reservoir flow rates of up to 50,000 b/d of oil per well.”