Mysterious 3,541 Feet of Pipe in Blowout Preventer

BP found three pipes in its fishing expedition in the failed blowout preventer. One is 3,500 feet long, another 40 feet and the last a 1 foot section. How do they know one is 3,500 feet long? What imaging techniques did BP use to ascertain this.

Another question is where the drill pipe came from? The Times-Picayune reported:

Allen has said the pipe may have fallen from above when the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded April 20.

Could it have fallen prior to blowout? If it came after the blowout, could it have come from below, pushed up by the force of well flow?

The source of this 3,500 feet of drill pipe and location prior to the blowout seems critically important. BP cited difficulties in retrieving the 3,500 feet of drill pipe.

Because one of the pipes is so long, leaving it in place would require lifting the blowout preventer at least 3,500 feet vertically to take it off well. Technicians would have difficulty handling the apparatus with such limited mobility, BP Senior Vice President Kent Wells has said.

On or about August 26, BP will get their blowout preventer back. While it will remain in federal hands, Transocean wants access to the BOP for its investigation. BP clearly wants to use the BOP to negate charges of gross negligence.

BP also wants to drill into the Macondo formation in the future. Will they continue to get their way?