BP Probe Reveals Oil Rig Explosion Caused by Methane Gas Bubble

The deadly blowout of an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico was triggered by a bubble of methane gas that escaped from the well and shot up the drill column, expanding quickly as it burst through several seals and barriers before exploding, according to interviews with rig workers conducted during BP's internal investigation.

First, workers set and then tested a cement seal at the bottom of the well. Then they reduced pressure in the drill column and attempted to set a second seal below the sea floor. That's when Bea believes that a methane gas bubble popped up, destroying the seal and shooting up the column.

The deadly Deepwater Horizon blowout was triggered by a bubble of methane gas that shot up the drill column, expanding quickly as it burst through several seals and barriers before exploding, according to interviews with rig workers. "A small bubble becomes a really big bubble," says an expert privy to the interview transcripts. "So the expanding bubble becomes like a cannon shooting the gas into your face."