What was the mud?

The mud or the absence thereof did not cause the blow-out, cement plugs had already been set when the well kicked. The blow-out preventer did not operate as it should have done automatically, i.e. it failed. Gas under tremendous pressure burst up the marine riser to the drill floor caught fire and then exploded - Note the bloody sequence.

Yeah, sure, you'd give up your job in the middle of the worst recession since the Great Depression. You macho dude.

If it meant me staying alive bloody right I would, Nothing macho in that "Dude" it is called being sensible and standing by what you believe to be correct. If your dead it doesn't make a toss how bad the recession - TRUE??