Time to head to TOD.
Amazing. I do NOT think that the Thad’s “seep” is newly discovered. It’s been my contention and belief for months now that BP (and the Govt.) have known since at least June 5th that there is a vent “some distance” from the well site.
That capping the well was a “test” should, thus, be no surprise. Nor should Adm. Allen maintaining that the test would end and “production” resume — because he knew that there was a leak and it was only a question of how much (more) it would flow if the well was capped. I think Thad, by publicly declaring that a seep has been “detected” (note: he didn’t say when it was detected) is calling BP’s bluff (or gamble) that shutting the well head will make everything OK, politically, until the relief well(s) execute a successful bottom kill. BP is/was betting that the government has enough reasons to keep existence of said seep from public view.
How far away is Thad’s seep? Dunno, but I’ll bet that the one that truly matters is about 1.8 miles SSW of the Macondo 252-A site, at a depth of approximately 5770 feet. Because that’s where ROV boats like Viking Poseidon and Ocean Intervention were going in early June.
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6746