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Cementing is an important factor in well design and the execution of a
safe drilling program. After each casing string is set, cement is pumped down
the drill string, out the bottom of the casing and back up into the annular space.
The cement reinforces the casing string and seals off the annular space,
preventing hydrocarbons from flowing through the space. A properly cemented
annular space is said to have achieved “zonal isolation.” Operators often work
with contractors that possess specific cementing expertise to develop the optimal
type of cement for a particular drilling operation. Cementing companies also can
help model different anticipated well conditions to help drilling engineers to
design a successful cement job. There are a number of different tests that can be
performed to assess the quality of a cement job.

During the drilling process, pockets of oil, natural gas, or water that are
encountered in porous layers of the formation can exert pressure into the
wellbore that may suddenly force mud back up the wellbore with considerable
force – this is commonly referred to as a “kick.” To handle kicks and to maintain
well control, drilling crews use various mechanisms, including, under extreme
circumstances, activation of the BOP stack and diverters. If a kick overwhelms
the control mechanisms, a blowout – the uncontrolled flow of hydrocarbons
through the wellbore – can occur.

C. Companies Involved in the Macondo Well

BP and Transocean were the primary companies involved in drilling the
Macondo well. BP was the majority owner and designated operator of the lease.
BP identified the prospect and designed and planned the well. Transocean was
the drilling contractor engaged by BP to drill the Macondo well and provide the
Deepwater Horizon, a dynamically‐positioned, mobile offshore drilling unit (“DP
MODU”), as well as the drilling personnel.

 BP is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, England.
BP operates in more than 80 countries and is involved in oil and gas
exploration, production, and refining, as well as the operation of
service stations worldwide. BP holds more than 500 active leases in
the Gulf of Mexico, more than any other lessee. From 2005 through
2009, BP was the leading producer of oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico,
producing 559,336,436 barrels of oil and 846,352,047 MCF (thousand
cubic feet) of gas during that period.

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