If Obama made such a statement it was based on incorrect advice.
As noted in threads above, cost-saving decisions prevented use of state-of-the-art equipment in U. S. leased offshore wells, although it was installed in Norwegian and Brazilian leased areas; perhaps other areas but I have not looked this up.

This is not the first giant field found by BP on their leases in the Gulf; perhaps they were lucky and the pressures encountered were not as great. (I am guessing here).