May 5, 2013 - Today, the Unified command is keeping a close watch on the deepwater containment drill that is testing Noble Energy's ability to contain a simulated spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The most critical piece of equipment in this exercise is Helix Well Control Group's capping stack. Saturday, after a weather delay, the system departed aboard a transport vessel towards the test location and is expected to arrive Monday. BSEE inspectors and engineers have already monitored testing of the capping stack, remote operated vehicles (ROV), and ancillary equipment to ensure safety and efficiency during the deepwater exercise. Once at the test location, in more than 5,000 feet of water, the capping stack will be latched to a test wellhead and pressurized.

BSEE initiated the deepwater containment exercise with Noble Energy on April 30th. The deepwater containment exercise involves the mobilization and field deployment of the capping stack to the sea floor in more than 5,000 feet of water, latching it to a test wellhead and pressurizing the system. The capping stack is a critical piece of equipment that has the ability to shut off any flow of oil from a well if other shut-off systems, such as the
blowout preventer fail. Following the Deepwater Horizon tragedy, the Interior Department instituted reforms that required offshore operators to have the ability to deploy containment resources, such as a capping stack, in response to a blowout or other loss of well control.