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you would always use the pit volumes, you would never use the flow‐out over a
141
given time.”

The Panel independently assessed the difference between the flow‐in and
flow‐out data and calculated that a maximum of approximately 80 bbls of fluids
(+/‐ 10 percent based on the flow‐in and flow‐out data) could have been lost
during the cementing job. Using Sperry‐Sun data of flow‐in and flow‐out,
measured in gallons per minute and recorded every five seconds, the Panel
generated a flow‐out vs. flow‐in chart (Figure 5). The Panel converted the
Sperry‐Sun data from gallons per minute to barrels per minute. The chartʹs x‐
axis shows the time (hours/minutes/seconds) during which the cement job
occurred at the Macondo well. On the y‐axis, the flow‐in value was plotted
against the flow‐out value in barrels per minute. The difference between the
flow‐in and flow‐out values throughout the duration of the cement job was
approximately 80 barrels. Assuming a 10% margin of error in the flow‐out
meter, the Panel calculated that an estimated 72 to 88 bbls of fluids could have
been lost during the production casing cement job.

This possible range of loss exceeded the entire volume of cement pumped
during the production casing cement job. This could indicate that over‐
displacement of cement occurred in the shoe track. In other words, the cement
could have been pumped into the well, past the shoe track, which would have
left spacer and no cement in the shoe track to isolate the center of the production
casing. If over‐displacement occurred, it would have resulted in insufficient
cement coverage in the shoe track.

141 Id. at 100‐101.

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