BP's Deepwater Oil Spill - Taking it Day by Day - and Open Thread

The Oil Drum ^ | 18 JUL 2010 | Heading Out

[profgoose]

Doug Shuttles was the BP representative on this morning's (Sunday morning) technical update. Mr. Shuttles said that pressure is now at 6,778 psi, and continues to build at one to two psi per hour, and this is encouraging. BP still does not see any problems.

BP now thinks that there is a possibility that the test can continue from now until the well is killed by the relief well, probably in August. But this is not a decision that can be made all at once. Instead, careful monitoring will be continued, and a decision made on a day by day basis. Admiral Allen and government representatives will no doubt be involved in decision making as well.

Mr. Shuttles said that when the cap is left on, this is really continued testing, rather than shutting the well in.

[Paladin2]

So, are these absolute pressures or gauge pressures a mile down in the Gulf?

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I'm an old mechanic, even had a Florida State teaching certificate for small engine repair. When I first started watching the live feeds I decided that I would cut off the bent riser, remove or cut the flange bolts, and bolt on a new transition section. Several of my old buddies would have done the same.

You can't tell me that everyone involved with this debacle didn't want to keep things simple, why didn't it happen long before it finally did?

Even allowing time to fabricate the parts from scratch the well could have been capped in a couple of weeks.

[dmet]

I agree. That was my thought too. Unbolt and put a simple valve on top (and from further learning, add the choke and kill valves under the big valve. (and a simple valve would not have required the flex alignment either) But, we were told by experts that that could not be done. So what was done to stop the leak... basically the same thing 2 1/2 months later and much more complicated than necessary.

Makes me feel smarter than all BP engineering, which i am definitely not!!!

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Too many “experts” telling the mechanics what to do.

[UCANSEE2]

You can't tell me that everyone involved with this debacle didn't want to keep things simple, why didn't it happen long before it finally did?

Politics.

[Texas Fossil]

Obvious question beggs answering:

If the well is stabilized and it appears intact down-hole, why do we want to plug the well? Why are we not talking about simply producing this huge oil source. After all the damage it has caused, there is some hope of recouping the cost.

But, then it is obvious that Obozo is intent on destroying and nationalizing the oil companies too. Like he did with Banking and the Auto Industries. He is like ALL COMMIES. Produces nothing and subjects and destroys all that he touches. The worst effect is to destroy the human will.

This nonsense must be stopped, whatever it takes!

[Paladin2]

I still say drill all around this bad boy and pump the reservoir dry at least locally.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

There was a gaggle of authority figures milling around...they weren’t ready for a straight forward solution yet.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Media has established that this is a bad hole....it must be punished....kill it.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

One thing sure, the feds didn’t cap that well, some old shade tree mechanic did, most likely Coonass or Redneck, with crap under his fingernails.

[deport]

There wasn’t plans to produce this find for some years into the future. I think they want to ensure it’s not a problem period thus the final plug from the bottom. Nothing to keep them from drilling multiple wells into this reservior in the future assuming permits can be obtained.

[KTM rider]

If the well could be capped , it would have been tapped instead of being sealed and abandoned when it blew.

somehow I am finding this hard to believe .

If it could be capped why wasnt it done months ago.

[UCANSEE2]

Our current LAWS and REGULATIONS state that when a well has experienced a BLOWOUT, it must be capped and can no longer be used. The reason is safety.

NOW, that doesn’t preclude anyone from DRILLING a new well, into the same reservoir.

[UCANSEE2]

If the well could be capped , it would have been tapped instead of being sealed and abandoned when it blew.

The well is CAPPED. The RELIEF WELL will plug it permanently. They cannot 'tap' it because the LAW states it must be sealed off.

[UCANSEE2]

P.S. After the RELIEF WELL seals the well near the bottom (of the well), the entire BOP assembly from the ‘mounting flange’ just above the seafloor to the new Junior BOP on top of the original BOP, will be removed, and the top of the CASING permanently SEALED.

They will then disassemble the original BOP and try to find out why it didn’t close.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Recent post on the Oildrum about this statement from Allen:

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Response DATE: July 18, 2010 11:37:44 CST

Statement by National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen On Well Integrity Test

WASHINGTON - Per my conversation with BP Executive Bob Dudley as recently as 11 a.m. EST today, nothing has changed about the joint agreement announced yesterday between BP and the US government. The ongoing well integrity test will continue until 4 p.m. EST today, with the potential for additional extensions in 24-hour increments. As a condition of the extension, the US government has required significant new monitoring and periodic evaluation and approval by our science team.

Work must continue to better understand the lower than expected pressure readings. This work centers on two plausible scenarios, depletion of oil from the reservoir and potential leakage caused by damage to the well bore or casing.

While we are pleased that no oil is currently being released into the Gulf of Mexico and want to take all appropriate action to keep it that way, it is important that all decisions are driven by the science. Ultimately, we must ensure no irreversible damage is done which could cause uncontrolled leakage from numerous points on the sea floor.

###

[KTM rider]

it was being sealed and abandoned when it blew . My understanding correct me if Im wrong is that it was being abandoned because it is leaking down below and was taking too long and to much $ to try and get it to seal.

Now suddenly it sealed itself ? ....lets hope so

[research99]

"If the well could be capped , it would have been tapped instead of being sealed and abandoned when it blew. somehow I am finding this hard to believe . If it could be capped why wasnt it done months ago."

Months of free-flowing, probably decreased the output pressure.

[mad_as_he$$]

I think DWH was leaving so a production rig could be put in palce.