This presentation is a collaborative effort by experienced engineers from three premier deepwater operators: BP, Chevron and Anadarko. In 1999 an SPE paper (52782) identified and documented solutions to a number of drilling problems encountered in ultradeepwater drilling. Since that time, the industry has pushed the water depth record beyond 10,000 ft and to drilling depths below 32,000 ft. A number of new problems have been encountered including mechanical failures, and drilling salt and tar that the industry has previously not experienced. These engineers, John Shaughnessy (BP), Rick Graff (Chevron) and Todd Durkee (Anadarko) have collaborated to document these problems under the assumption that understanding what can go wrong is the best way to avoid problems.