US Agencies Resolve Dispute Over Deepwater Horizon BOP Tests

Platts reports that a dispute between two federal agencies over access to the Deepwater Blowout Preventer (BOP) was resolved over the weekend.

The Chemical Safety & Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), asked by Congress to investigate the incident, threatened to sue if it was not allowed access to the BOP.

The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) made up of the US Coast Guard and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, has hired Det Norske Veritas (DNV), a Norwegian firm to conduct a forensic examination of the BOP.

CSB expressed multiple concerns with the limited access they will have during the forensic investigation and threatened to sue to gain independent access to the evidence.

CSB insisted on being allowed to conduct independent testing. However over the weekend they reluctantly agreed to join the joint analysis.

In a statement Sunday, CSB noted their concerns with the testing procedures including a lack of independent photography during the testing and restrictions of their personnel during the procedures.

JIT is allowing one member from each of the following to be included in the analysis: BP, CSB, Transocean (the company that built the rig), Cameron (the company that built the BOP), and the Department of Justice, as well as a representative for plaintiffs litigating over the incident.

JIT also said in a statement that the technical team will play a limited role, only able to modify the final test plan if all parties reach consensus. Otherwise the testing will be carried out as foreseen in the final test plan, created by DNV.

Examiners hope to find evidence in the damaged BOP that will help with the ongoing investigation.