Factual error: Towards the end of the movie when the hotel keys are handed out, they're IHG hotel keys for the Crowne Plaza. When the incident occurred, the cards would have been Priority Club, not IHG. (01:34:10)
Continuity mistake: The mud patterns on Vidrine's hard hat are constantly changing towards the end of the film. This is after the mud has stopped flowing. (01:17:10)
Factual error: The rig is continually referred to as "Deepwater" or "The Deepwater." This is incorrect, as more than one rig used "Deepwater" as part of its name (i.e. Deepwater Nautilus). It was called "Horizon" as a short version of the name.
Visible crew/equipment: When Kaluza is receiving instructions on what to do if he ends up in the water, a camera shadow can been seen moving over his life vest. (01:09:30)
Continuity mistake: Just as the well kicks for the first time, the drill shack gets covered in mud. The camera changes to a wide shot outside the shack and it's no longer covered in mud. (00:48:50)
Continuity mistake: When Don is explaining about the pressure problem there is a close up of Mike and in the background Don is writing on the board. Camera cuts to a different angle and now Don is facing away from the board. (00:38:20)
Audio problem: When talking to Dale, Mike is seen talking from an over the shoulder angle. He then stops talking but his mouth continues to move. (00:20:20)
Continuity mistake: When Mike arrives on the Deepwater, he adjusts his earplug, the camera changes and he raises his hand to adjust his earplug again. (00:13:50)
Character mistake: Jimmy is seen reading a weather report while on the helicopter. However it's spelled "weater". (00:11:00)
Continuity mistake: We see Mike and his wife in bed at the start and the wife doesn't have a blanket over her lower body. Angle changes and she does. Her body is constantly changing position between shots too. (00:03:10)
Answer: According to survivor reports, yes. In a gas blow-out, a huge quantity of pressurized petroleum gas pours out for many seconds, forming a rapidly-expanding cloud, before a single spark finally ignites it. Typically, the outpouring of gas creates its own spark as static electricity builds up.
Charles Austin Miller