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UPDATE: Admiral Allen Orders Well Opened, BP Says It Will Keep Well Closed
The Business Insider ^ | 7-18-2010 | Gus Lubin

Posted on 07/18/2010 9:33:31 AM PDT by blam

UPDATE: Admiral Allen Orders Well Opened, BP Says It Will Keep Well Closed

Gus Lubin
Jul. 18, 2010, 11:15 AM

UPDATE: BP will keep the cap closed until it fears the well is at risk, Operations Chief Doug Suttles said in a conference call this morning.

This contradicts orders from Admiral Allen to open the well and begin siphoning oil -- to avoid a possible pressure-buildup.

So who's behind the wheel? And is BP about to take a huge risk?

PREVIOUSLY: Admiral Allen has ordered BP to open the containment cap that they finally closed last Thursday, according to Bloomberg. BP will return to siphoning oil from the well, capturing more than ever before.

While changing equipment, oil will leak unimpeded into the Gulf.

But what's most worrying are signs of ongoing uncertainty about well integrity. Opening the well is a precaution against an apocalyptic ocean floor collapse:

Allowing oil to flow from the well will make the final kill procedure easier and safer, as it will lower the pressure in the reservoir and make any potential hidden leaks less risky, [Houston professor] Van Nieuwenhuise said.

In other words, the final relief well procedure will NOT be a cakewalk.

[snip]

(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: admiralallen; bp; gulf; leak; oilspill
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"Opening the well is a precaution against an apocalyptic ocean floor collapse:"

Huh?

(I'm still gonna die?)

1 posted on 07/18/2010 9:33:36 AM PDT by blam
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To: blam

Disconcerting to say the least.


2 posted on 07/18/2010 9:35:21 AM PDT by brytlea (Jesus loves me, this I know.)
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To: blam
"Opening the well is a precaution against an apocalyptic ocean floor collapse"

Where's it going to collape to?

3 posted on 07/18/2010 9:37:07 AM PDT by Steely Tom (Obama goes on long after the thrill of Obama is gone)
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To: blam

Is it because there is a glut of oil and this would drive down prices?


4 posted on 07/18/2010 9:37:32 AM PDT by kingcoal
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To: blam
"Opening the well is a precaution against an apocalyptic ocean floor collapse:"

I guess we were just lucky the ocean floor had never collapsed before BP drilled the well.

They must have drilled it just in time to prevent all that pressure from reaching apocalyptic porportions.

5 posted on 07/18/2010 9:38:35 AM PDT by DannyTN
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To: blam

“This contradicts orders from Admiral Allen to open the well and begin siphoning oil — to avoid a possible pressure-buildup.”

Orders? I don’t get this. Is this guy smarter than all those BP engineers?


6 posted on 07/18/2010 9:38:51 AM PDT by mainsail that ("A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights" - Napoleon Bonaparte)
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To: blam

The Feds are afraid that the well will have been safely capped and not need to be plugged. If there is integrity of the well and field, why not produce this monster?

It seems all the Prostitute Scientists from universities, who never drilled a well, are acting as “Chicken Little”.

Of course the plan from 1600 Penn. Ave. is to destroy and nationalize the oil companies like all Commies do. He started with Banking, then Auto, now Oil. TRAITORS!


7 posted on 07/18/2010 9:39:03 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.)
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To: blam

This is a politically difficult situation for BP. Keeping the well closed gives the appearance of “it’s fixed”. Opening and siphoning gives the appearance of BP greed in “gotta get the oil”. Hmm. Of the two options, I say open the well and start siphoning to prevent outlying seepage and potential well ocean floor implosion, but does BP have the logistics in place to capture it? I don’t know.


8 posted on 07/18/2010 9:40:03 AM PDT by historyrepeatz
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To: blam

The gulf states are going to be drenched in oil if it’s the last thing obummer ever does.


9 posted on 07/18/2010 9:41:19 AM PDT by muddler (Obama is either incompetent or malicious, and it makes little difference which.)
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To: blam

Tell the frickin government goons to sit down and be quiet. All they do is take credit for the good, and blame for the bad.


10 posted on 07/18/2010 9:41:21 AM PDT by Tzfat
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To: Steely Tom

I am not sure, but my guess is that means it will collapse into the area the oil is in and start more and bigger leaks. But I’m just guessing.


11 posted on 07/18/2010 9:42:04 AM PDT by brytlea (Jesus loves me, this I know.)
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To: blam
"Daddy, Why Won't You Plug That Dang Hole?"

"Sweetie, We Can't Put Them Out Of Business If I Plug It.

12 posted on 07/18/2010 9:42:28 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: historyrepeatz

agree


13 posted on 07/18/2010 9:43:27 AM PDT by a real Sheila (REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER!)
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To: DannyTN

Stop making sense.


14 posted on 07/18/2010 9:45:25 AM PDT by Kirkwood
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To: blam
Is there an unwritten rule involving the BP well that necessitates allusions to the apocalypse?

Of course I'd have to admit that I have a similar rule in regards to any popular revival of disco music.

15 posted on 07/18/2010 9:46:22 AM PDT by avg_freeper (Gunga galunga. Gunga, gunga galunga)
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To: blam

Translation: BP has put an end to the “crisis”, but Obama needs the “crisis” to continue so he can shut down the oil industry. Admiral Allen is Obama’s mouthpiece here.


16 posted on 07/18/2010 9:46:50 AM PDT by backwoods-engineer (There is no "common good" which minimizes or sacrifices the individual. --Walter Scott Hudson)
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To: mainsail that
Orders? I don’t get this. Is this guy smarter than all those BP engineers?

Probably not, but BP management doesn't have much credibility.

17 posted on 07/18/2010 9:47:04 AM PDT by Moonman62 (Politicians exist to break windows so they may spend other people's money to fix them.)
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To: blam
Opening the well is a precaution against an apocalyptic ocean floor collapse:

The wellhead is 1 mile below the ocean surface. The Macondo reserves are underneath an additional 2 miles of rock. There are close to 4000 active wells off the US in the gulf.

Why is it that this ONE well might cause an apocalyptic ocean floor collapse??

18 posted on 07/18/2010 9:49:27 AM PDT by DTogo (High time to bring back the Sons of Liberty !!)
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To: avg_freeper
Is there an unwritten rule involving the BP well that necessitates allusions to the apocalypse?

No, actually that is if the US administration or Obama is in any way connected with the issue.

19 posted on 07/18/2010 9:51:18 AM PDT by Hardraade (I want gigaton warheads now!!)
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To: blam
BP Twitter update:

The well integrity test is ongoing and active monitoring continues. Pressure continues is approx. 6775 psi.
about 2 hours ago via web

20 posted on 07/18/2010 9:51:37 AM PDT by Pan_Yan
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