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personnel revealed that they had an oversimplified view of what constituted a
successful negative test – they each believed that they only had to check for flow
to evaluate whether a negative test had been successful. Specifically, when asked
what a successful negative test was for the Macondo well, Guide said “[a]
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successful test needs to be run for 30 minutes with no flow from the well.” In
219
response to the same question, Morel said “[n]o flow for 30 minutes,” and
Donald Vidrine, a BP well site leader, responded that a successful negative test
220
required “[c]heck[ing] for flow or no‐flow.”

Guide and Morel appeared to have agreed upon a simplified approach to
the negative test that converted it from the previously‐approved multi‐step
process. When asked in a post‐blowout interview why BP made the change from
the April 16 approved procedure to the approach reflected in Morel’s April 20
Ops Note, Kaluza responded, “maybe [Guide and Morel were] trying to save
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time.”

Morel had previously articulated concerns about Kaluza’s ability to
execute procedures. Prior to arriving at the Deepwater Horizon, Morel stated that
Kaluza was “not in tune with the well.” Morel said that he had to “go out [to the
Deepwater Horizon] and make sure they [the crew under Kaluza] follow every
step.” Morel traveled to the Deepwater Horizon and was on board on April 20.
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However, notwithstanding his stated concerns about the cement job, about
Kaluza’s level of experience as the well site leader, and about the multiple
changes to procedures that increased the risks of a well control event, Morel
departed the Deepwater Horizon prior to the performance of the critical negative
tests.

2. Positive Pressure Test Conducted on April 20

Another method of testing well integrity is a positive pressure test, which
is a test that is conducted by pumping additional fluid into the well after sealing
the blind shear rams. The rig crew then monitors the well to determine whether
the pressures in the well remain static. As described previously, the Deepwater
Horizon crew performed a 2,500 psi positive pressure test between 10:30 a.m. and

218 BP‐HZN‐BLY00124455.
219 BP‐HZN‐MBI00021336.
220 BP‐HZN‐MBI00021424.
221 BP‐HZN‐MBI000021237.
222 BP‐HZN‐MBI00329028.

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