Crucial test on ruptured BP well in limbo

MarketWatch ^ | July 14, 2010, 4:21 p.m. EDT | Steve Gelsi, MarketWatch

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Sounds like you found a viewable website.

[justa-hairyape]

Wow. The whole flow is coming out the Kill Line on the new 3 Ram CAP. We have not seen the whole flow in awhile. Skandi 1 ROV.

[Marine_Uncle]

CSPAN.

[justa-hairyape]

Speculation on the new thread at the Oil Drum. They began the test by running the oil through the Choke and the Kill lines after they closed the Ram on the top pipe. Supposedly when the oil was coming out both the Choke and the Kill (Choke is the long yellow elephant trunk) there was leakage from the base area of the Choke. Possible damage to the Choke assembly. Did not see it my self. Then they turned of the Choke and we have all oil going through the Kill line now. These Kill and Chokes are on the new 3 Ram CAP Assembly. Supposedly the Kill is simply on or off ? So with a bad choke, the gradual pressure build up will not be possible. Just idle speculation at this time. Needs verification.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks...that is a lot of stuff.

[SunkenCiv]

On Wall Street, investors fretted, sending BP shares down nearly 2% to close at $36.18.

That's the real story. :') Thanks Ernest.

[justa-hairyape]

Choke line apparently was leaking like a sieve. Just posted on Oil Drum.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the info....

[Marine_Uncle]

Yes. Looks like the RAMS are working as they should. Not a whisp coming out the upper drill pipe now.

[Marine_Uncle]

Until deeper analysis done, I at least assume a leaky line could be replaced. But at least for the minute we can see that the RAMs can totally cut off the top flow. And of course we can expect longer time for the total four test phases to be completed if they got a bad choke line.
Guess I to at this point will check out latest TOD entries.

[justa-hairyape]

Wonder if the Choke line on the old BOP could be used ? Does it have a Choke ? Regardless, they need to start collecting the oil somehow. May take them another week to get the test run setup again.

[Marine_Uncle]

The old BOP had a choke and kill line very similar to the new ones. That is where the two vessels where extracting the oil/gas from to the surface.
As I wade through the most recent comments at that new post on TOD, it appears few who are well grounded in what does what are making any comments. One made the following:
"Boa 2 is currently examining the choke line to try to work out why it leaks like a sieve..."
JAH. Quite frankly. I did not realize that they had yet switched over to using the new top choke and kill lines (connected the two ship's riser pipes to them). I was under the impression the two ships where still sucking up the oil from those two lower (original ones on the main lower BOP).
Put another perhaps less confusing way. I was under the understanding the new choke/kill lines (new system atop the old), where simply going to stay either shut or opened for these testing proceedures. And that once all was given a thumbs up they would soon be used by the new four ship plateform plumbing now put in place.
I admit a bit of confusion. And I do not expect you to have to wade through all kinds of stuff to provide an answer. I am sure all will become a bit more clear soon.
Think I will go back into earlier TOD posts and review carefully the pictures and schmatics of how the new system is constructed.

[justa-hairyape]

The Helix Producer and the Q4000 were hooked to the old BOP Choke and Kill Lines. They still had to close those prior to doing the test on the new CAP/Mini-BOP. So they stopped the collection down below so they could get all flow through the new Choke and Kill lines after they closed the Top Pipe Ram. And I do remember hearing that two of those new rams are just closed/open rams. Not adjustable flow. The Choke Ram apparently was the only adjustable ram. Hence the name Choke. My concern would be if the old BOP Choke line can still close a little. They probably make the Kill Rams much stronger then the adjustable Choke Rams. In other words, they may have worn out the old choke, but I cannot remember if the Q4000 has been running through the old Choke or the old Kill.

[justa-hairyape]

BP apparently thinks they can repair the leaking Choke Line and can continue the test in a timely fashion. Posted on their Facebook Operational notes.

[Marine_Uncle]

Roger that, on your two last comments. My understanding also. I watched the Boa Deep C Rov 1 for the past hour or so doing some work on the choke valve assembly. Then it moved off to insert a valve in a nearby system. Obvious to you the flow is still coming out of the new choke assembly.
It almost looked like they had lowered a whole new choke valve assembly and where inserting valves into holes within the unit. I am not sure if that is the case or not. Guess we shall know over the next day what actually has been going on over the past few hours.
Regarding the original choke and kill lines. By all indications. They are still attached to the pipes leading to the two vessels. They simply closed those valves off so that all flow goes upward to do the test of the newer units integrity to hold the flow completely and do the various pressure tests by opening/closing sequences of valves to vent or to allow the whole casing to be closed off for a total pressure and visual test etc..
At least we see no seepage coming out of the new top riser opening. The middle RAM appears to continue to perform it's cut off function well. Getting late. Do not feel obligated to respond. I most likely shall move on to what is new at CSPAN regarding military issues, any and perhaps new Congresssional hearings etc..
I have two days in a row off. Not often do I get so much time on my hand with a partly cleared head to seek hours of Internet time.
Have a great upcoming day.

[justa-hairyape]

Will be up late as usual myself. Just got back from dinner. Thanks for the video update.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the thread and thanks to every poster on it. BTTT!

[Marine_Uncle]

And thanks for your ongoing sound reasoning on this issue. Time to head to CSPAN for a bit. Chow.

[D-fendr]

The key factor they’re watching when shutting off the flow at the top is the pressure. If it remains high, the shut off is really shutting off. If it drops suddenly, something went pop somewhere else - i.e., very bad news.

[D-fendr]

I should add that some see this cut off test as needlessly reckless.