Setback Delays ‘Top Kill’ Effort to Seal Leaking Oil Well in Gulf

The New York Times ^ | 5/27/10 | CLIFFORD KRAUSS, JOHN M. BRODER and LIZ ROBBINS

[moose2004]

HOUSTON — BP had to halt its ambitious effort to plug its stricken oil well in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday afternoon when engineers saw that too much of the drilling fluid they were injecting into the well was escaping along with the leaking crude oil.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Probably 75-80% of the watchers think you can just plug it with cement before it’s killed.

Probably 99% of FReepers have never been near a drilling rig.

[manc]

cheers pal

[ZX12R]

I think it is fair speculation that this attempt has not been successful, yet. Based on everything I’ve read today and observed, a very small amount of the mud being pumped, has actually been forced down the well. There is nothing conclusive that I’ve seen or read, to suggest that the attempt has been successful. It remains an open question.

[Bigun]

I just finished watching most of the BP news conference at 5:30 and was struck by the fact that the rep kept talking about including “bridging material” in the mud mixture when pumping is resumed later tonight. This leads me to believe (I have no way of knowing this for sure) that they have determined that they are in fact loosing mud to the formation as well as out through the leaking BOP. If that is true then the location and size of that down hole communication will determine whether or not this procedure will, in the end, succeed or fail.

Being retired and as far away as I am from the operation and having no better information than anyone else here, I am only guessing at this point and need to make that plain.

[moose2004]

Thank you for that info.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Well since you’re the expert here on FR, :) what do you think? Did the top kill fail? Is there another leak elsewhere and how did they underestimate the amount of oil leaking for one solid month? Or did they just choose not to admit it? Did you work on rigs in the ocean that were under a mile of water?

Well since I'm the expert my fee is 1500 USD a day and expenses.

I don't think it failed, they knew it would take days to find out. They are pumping mud into a T with one end open. They have to pump so much that enough mud goes down the well bore to kill the well while they are loosing so much out the open end.

I have no idea how much they are leaking every day. Why should they care? Will it help solve the problem? That is as dumb a question as the MSM asking how many were killed in an earthquake hours after it happens while efforts to dig people out is ongoing. Knowing the answer will not help solve the problem and only those not involved in solving the leak care.

No I never worked in a mile of water, have you? I know thousands of great drilling men who have not.

[ZX12R]

I just finished watching most of the BP news conference at 5:30 and was struck by the fact that the rep kept talking about including “bridging material” in the mud mixture when pumping is resumed later tonight. This leads me to believe (I have no way of knowing this for sure) that they have determined that they are in fact loosing mud to the formation as well as out through the leaking BOP. If that is true then the location and size of that down hole communication will determine whether or not this procedure will, in the end, succeed or fail.

Well, at least you're not bashing the doubting posters, who say it's not a done deal yet. Many have been attacking doubters as being quite stoopid.

[COBOL2Java]

So now it will be spun this way: BP got mad at Obama claiming victory, at which point they sabotaged the effort

[Eyes Unclouded]

I’ve been on one as a tour guest. Still have only a very rudimentary idea how it works. The drill in question was one of the most advanced on the planet so this maybe beyond our current level of solving.

[a real Sheila]

I saved my applause when the media was immediately reporting it to be a success and I will save my tears as the media starts screaming FAILURE!
The “MFM” knows this is THE TOP story and they are all very eager to be the FIRST with the latest scoop.
Before they even started, BP said it would take awhile and there would be stuff spewing for awhile, colors changing, etc.

[Bigun]

I told everyone here (don’t remember which thread at this point) last night that there were a great many things that could still prevent this operation from coming to a successful conclusion and I have not changed that position one bit!

[Damifino]

I live on the Gulf - My place will be worthless in 6 months if this doesn’t get taken care of. I pray those who are really running the show can get this job done.

[ShandaLear]

Can we now say it’s Obama’s fault?

[FreeAtlanta]

Would lowering a giant open ended cylinder (old storage tank with ends removed?) down over the leak and then filling it with mud and concrete work?

[FreeAtlanta]

I am curious about the post I put in just before this one. Can a giant cylinder be sunk over the leak and then fill it with the heavy mud?

[omega4179]

“I take responsibility. It is my job to make sure that everything is done to shut this down,” Obama declared

[FreeAtlanta]

Take an old concrete grain silo out and sink it over the well, then cap it or fill it with mud?

[FreeAtlanta]

yep, he said it. What a dork.

[mojitojoe]

I have no idea how much they are leaking every day. Why should they care? Will it help solve the problem?
_______________
LOL, yes, it does matter. It matters a lot. Don’t bother to respond. I am so done with you and hopefully will not run into you again on FR.

[Blood of Tyrants]

I still think there is a possibility that they can get a bigger line down there and pull even more oil up. Perhaps even the majority of it can be captured.