In its proposal, BP’s math shows that a loss-of-control incident at Kaskida could spill up to 4.5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf and take 100 days to stop.
To put that in perspective, the blowout that caused the Deepwater Horizon disaster led to the release of 4.9 million barrels and took 87 days to stop. Additionally, the company did not provide the calculations behind their projection, precluding the public from independently verifying the data.
BP has not indicated whether the equipment it will use to drill is certified for the high pressures and temperatures. BP also has not demonstrated that it is qualified to drill a high-pressure, high-temperature well. Nor has BP shown it has the expertise or equipment to stop a potential blowout or contain a spill at an ultra-deepwater site.