http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/
http://www.epa.gov/bpspill
BOP is a necessary component. It's not something they can just skimp on. Besides, many reports and photographs show that there is infact a BOP stack and show the underwater control panel. They just can't seem to get the thing shut. After having worked on training material for the multiple oil companies like Chevron, BP, Halliburton, Schlumberger, Anadarko and many more, I can tell you that the only odd thing to me is that they only mentioned being unable to activate the shearing ram, my question is what about the blind rams(which crushes the entire pipe and closes off the annulus), or the pipe ram(which just closes off the annulus)?
They claim that it may be stuck at the tool or pipe joint, if you've ever seen a subsea bop stack, their like 15 feet tall. it would seem that they would need to some how move the pipe/tool up or down to get the joint section out of the bop rams. Also, they dont mention if the bops hydraulics are working, which would indicate a problem, but sure mentioned that it worked 10-11 days ago and are now blaming cameron for the faulty stack. all equipment get tested by the american petroleum institute before it can be used on any rig.
edit: and get tested on a regular basis during use.
i personally think they hit a pocket of higher pressure while drilling through the various layers of the formation and workers didnt compensate or adjust the mud to handle it. a blowout in simple terms is an uncontrolled flow. with all the downhole electronics and sensors they use while drilling nowadays, ie., MWD, I think the sensors crapped out and they werent aware of it which led to this incident.
I agree with rattler though, oil seepage occur and mother nature handles it just fine in most cases, but most seepages are not quite the estimated 5000 barrels a day. My concern now is the immediate impact on wildlife and plant life in the gulf coast along Mississippi and Alabama. These "booms" arent going to do squat considering the waves that will push the oil over the tops of them.
A relief well, pfft, what a joke.....burning the oil, oh boy, in texas we thought the mexico grass fire smoke was bad, wait til you see the smoke from burning off millions of gallons of crude.
~billy