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XII. The Deepwater Horizon BOP Stack

A BOP stack is a series of rams and annulars situated at the top of a well
that the rig crew can close if it loses control of formation fluids. BOPs come in a
variety of configurations, sizes and pressure ratings. Some BOP components are
designed to seal an open wellbore, some are designed to seal around tubular
components in the well, some are fitted with hardened steel shearing surfaces to
cut through drill pipe or casing, and others are designed to cut through drill pipe
and seal the wellbore.

A. Design and Configuration

Cameron manufactured the BOP stack used during drilling operations by
the Deepwater Horizon. Cameron originally sold the BOP to R&B Falcon, which,
as discussed previously, was acquired by Transocean. Cameron delivered the
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final assembled BOP stack, which weighed approximately 650,000 pounds, to
R&B Falcon in April 2000.
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R&B Falcon provided Cameron with specifications for required functions
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and the preferred configuration of the desired BOP stack. David McWhorter,
Cameron vice president of engineering and quality, testified that Cameron
assembled the stack according to R&B Falcon’s design specifications and in
compliance with API specifications. McWhorter indicated that Cameron
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designed and tested its equipment in accordance with API Specification 16A.
Cameron does not subject its BOPs to dynamic flow testing, nor is such testing
required in API Specification 16A.
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The Deepwater Horizon BOP assembly consisted of two major sections: the
stack and the lower marine riser package (see Figure 10). At the time of the
blowout, the major components of the Deepwater Horizon main stack consisted of
the following:

 Wellhead connector, which connected the BOP stack to the Macondo

319 In 1999, when it manufactured the BOP, “Cameron” was the Cameron Division of the Cooper
Cameron Corporation.
320 CAMCG 00002843; TRN‐USCG‐MMS‐00014355.
321 Cameron Communication to JIT.
322 Testimony of David McWhorter, Joint Investigation Hearing, April 8, 2011, at 112, 117.
323 McWhorter testimony at 153. Dynamic flow testing is testing of the BOP stack under
conditions that simulate pressures that might be generated by a blowout.

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