DET NORSKE VERITAS United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement Forensic Examination of Deepwater Horizon Blowout Preventer Volume I Final Report
Investigation Team and the TWG. In addition, the performance of these detailed procedures was documented through notes, photography, and videography.
5.4
Forensic Testing Plan and Protocol Development
The first activity was to develop and submit for JIT approval a Forensic Testing Plan consistent with the JIT objectives. The Forensic Testing Plan included forensic testing procedures for the BOP stack and its components in accordance with established and accepted protocols, methods, and techniques. The Forensic Testing Plan protocol and procedures conformed to the protection and preservation of evidence protocols agreed with the JIT. The protocols included professional video recording of the entire examination and complete photographic documentation. DNV drafted a Forensic Testing Plan consistent with the examination objectives and parameters provided by the JIT, which included forensic testing procedures for the BOP stack and its components. The Forensic Testing Plan was presented in a meeting of the TWG for the purpose of review and comment. As a result of the review and comment process, approximately 200 comments were received. The comments were reviewed by the DNV Team for technical viability, responses provided, and revisions made where appropriate to the Forensic Testing Plan. The revised Forensic Testing Plan was approved by the Joint Investigation Team on October 27, 2010. The approved Forensic Testing Plan is provided as Appendix A.
5.5
Site Preparation
As part of the preparations for receiving the Lower Marine Riser Package and the lower BOP, the NASA-Michoud facility constructed two test pans on the West Dock of the facility (see Figure 2). The test pans served two purposes, one to provide the necessary foundation for the receipt of the two units as they weigh approximately 190 tons each, the second to provide for secondary containment of any potential spills of hydraulic fluids or hydrocarbons contained within each of the units. With the removal of the rams and drill pipe segments, a second secure facility was necessary to carry out required evaluations. A building on the NASA-Michoud site (Building 411) was identified and prepared for this purpose. Activities related to the mobilization included: • • •
Construction of security fencing around the test site and provision of guards for verification of permission to enter the test site Siting of a trailer to house an office for on-site technical staff and two additional trailers for evidence storage within the security fence Procurement of heavy lift equipment
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