I believe the blowout and the failures in the automatic shutoff valves happened because of the depths (over 18,000 feet) the Deepwater Horizon rig was drilling. The temperatures and pressures are unpredictable below 10,000 feet. The depth may also hinder BP's robotic subs with efforts to shut off the valves and stopping the leaks.

My husband worked offshore on oil rigs years ago. He was an electronics expert. After President Obama spoke at a memorial service for the coal miners who lost thier lives in the West Virginia mining explosion, I asked my husband why the media or the White House hasn't made as big of a deal over the oil explosion deaths. He said, in his opinion, is because Obama made the big announcement about more oil and gas exploration and it doesn't serve his purpose to make a big deal out of the oil rig deaths.

With cap and trade legislation and the lack of support during the last Presidential Primaries and election from a Democrat state like WVa., Obama seized a political opportunity.

The White House is also not backing off the issue of green house gas emission and the money they can get from offshore drilling.

It's all pollitics.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...324530444.html