Transocean complains of delays on BOP autopsy. #rsrh
Modified Wed, Nov 10, 2010 09:48 PMAPNewsBreak: Rig owner complains of BOP delays
NEW ORLEANS — The owner of the rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico has told federal investigators that the now infamous blowout preventer is in danger of corroding and its value as a key piece of evidence may be compromised.
Transocean lawyer Steven Roberts said in a Nov. 3 letter to the federal investigation team that forensic testing had not yet begun on the device even though it’s been sitting at a NASA facility in New Orleans for two months. He said it may be corroding because of inadequate preservation.
The blowout preventer, which Transocean was responsible for maintaining while it was being used on BP’s well, was raised from the seafloor on Sept. 4. It was taken to the NASA facility a week later.
Investigators agreed to flush the control pods with fluid on Sept. 27 to prevent corrosion. But Roberts said in his letter that there have been no further preservation steps on the blowout preventer since then.
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