Posted on 07/12/2010 9:10:04 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
NEW ORLEANS — With the installation of a new cap on its runaway well in the Gulf of Mexico progressing smoothly, BP prepared on Monday to conduct tests to determine whether the flow of oil escaping from the well could be halted completely.
Doug Suttles, the company’s chief operating officer, said that once the new cap was connected, systems that have been collecting some of the escaping oil would be shut down and valves on the new cap would be closed to stop the flow. Pressure readings would then be taken to determine the condition of the well.
If the tests show the pressure rising and holding — an indication that there was no significant damage along the length of the well bore, which extends 13,000 feet below the sea floor — the valves could remain closed, effectively ending the three-month gusher.
“The best-case scenario: the pressures rise to the point we anticipate they would,” Mr. Suttles said at a morning briefing on Monday. “We’d likely be able to keep the well shut in.”
Scientists from the federal Department of Energy will be involved in analyzing the test results, Mr. Suttles added.
On the other hand, the tests could show the pressure remaining lower than expected, which Mr. Suttles said would indicate a “problem with the integrity” of the well. In that case, he said, the valves would have to be reopened, oil would start escaping from the well again, and the collection systems would have to be turned back on.
That would remain the case until the company could complete work on relief wells to stop the leak and permanently seal the well.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
fyi
According to hundreds of post here the well will blow up the world if turned off.
I think that whole catastrophe Industry is close to being turned off. ....
fyi
Now that's funny right there, I don't care who you are.
I’m prepared, I bought an umbrella to use in case it starts raining oil over the globe.
I wonder if the charity that is getting all the money from the sale of collected oil is rooting for the shutoff to work, or not.
I’m still waiting for it to fall over!!!
It was shaking wildly a couple of days ago, until the ROV grabbed onto it and held it steady. :-)
Deepwater Oil Spill - Inserting the Transition Spool - and Open Thread (July 12, 2010)
See akamai link at #11 and then the upper left picture...seems to me they are in the process of putting the new cap on.
Scratch that....perspecitve change and I couldn’t recognize the old BOP.
Government to impose new drilling ban today
And picked this up from The Oil Drum:
Oh good, they finally have something to do to justify their salaries.
{time:'Tue Jul 13 00:44:26 +0000 2010'}">about 2 hours ago
via web
Select -- BP live feed from Skandi ROV 2
Thanks E. I shall now go to the ROVs. Have viewed all your pings to me at this point.
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