Documents reveal series of BP oil rig failures

New disclosures have revealed a complex cascade of deep-sea equipment failures and procedural problems in the BP oil rig explosion and massive spill fouling the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and threatening industry and wildlife.

The findings, released at a House of Representatives hearing, included bad wiring, a leak in what was supposed to be a "blowout preventer", sealing problems that may have allowed a methane eruption and even a dead battery.