There were critical defects embedded in BP’s defensive barrier system prior to the initiation of the failures including those associated with the design and construction of the long-string completion system with the iffy barriers.8
Another example is related to the sketchy negative test procedure sent by BP to the Deepwater Horizon on the morning of April 20, 2010. The procedure was a high hazard process in which a critical test was performed with minimal passive and active barriers. No definitive guidance, however, was designed or provided for interpretation of data derived from the negative tests or prescribed the corrective action required if the negative tests did not provide assurance that the well pressure vessel was intact. Evidence indicates that the drilling crew had not received any formal training in performing this critical test.