[Smokin' Joe]

Not exactly. The relief wells can be used to pump kill mud in at the bottom of the well, where it will put pressure on the producing formation even if the casing uphole is damaged. The wellbore can be cemented off, just not from the top, the kill mud and cement has to be pumped in at the bottom, which will actually put less pressure on the casing above it than trying to pump in kill mud from the top of the wellbore.

The relief well has been the most likely method to succeed from the start.

[The Cajun]

The relief well has been the most likely method to succeed from the start.

About the only thing different I would like to see would be at least 2 more relief wells being drilled. I think the magnitude of the situation demands that. Things don't always go as planned and 4 relief wells greatly increase the odds of success. At worse you would have at least 2 or 3 wells to produce the zone and help pay for damages.

[D-fendr]

I believe the relief wells have a margin of error of hitting the right spot. That’s why they’re drilling two.

Hopefully they won’t both miss.