So what are the competing pressures involved here?
Well, it’s a mile down, so the water is about 2500 psi - a ton per square inch. The oil they ‘say’ (ie, unverified number - don’t quote me) is coming out at 10,000 psi. They were using a pump to push mud in at 30,000 psi but failed as it looks like the structural integrity of the well has failed below the well head. Ie, there’s no capping it. Only a relief well to reduce the pressure will really stop this. There is a possibility of complete structural failure of the well head where this really starts gushing and it’s pretty much a race whether or not they can get those relief wells drilled.