[justa-hairyape]

And the point of the testing will be whether the sealed well holds pressure, whatever that pressure may be, rather than bleeding it off somewhere else.

There is at least one major flaw with their high pressure test plan. What if the Well Bore is only partially compromised ? It is possible that the high pressure itself could blow out the well bore. Could happen instantly, in a few minutes or a few days. Then it is GaMe OvEr. If they are going to close the valves, they need to have top top kill mud and cement all lined up and ready to go. Every minute could count.

[Chaguito]

If they detect any leakage, I suspect that rather than work against such pressures, they will let it run, waiting until the relief wells slow the flow and pressure in the damaged line, then plug with mud and cement, including any down-hole breaks.

That said, I don’t know much of what I’m talking about.

[jwparkerjr]

In my abject ignorance of the specifics and science involved I worry about the leak(s) below the surface doing to the sea floor what a water main break does to the street above it. Everything’s fine for while, but then so much of underlying support is eaten away that the street, in this case the sea floor, collapses. And just like the broken water main whatever is down there under pressure has nothing to keep it down there.