Posted on 08/02/2010 8:41:27 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
At Sunday's press conference, Admiral Allen indicated that static kill could start this evening (Monday evening) or on Tuesday.
At the time of the press conference, the pressure had built up to 6,980 pounds per square inch (psi). Admiral Allen indicated this was the type of pattern that would be expected with well integrity. According to his report:
As you know we are in the process right now of laying the final casing run for the relief well and with that casing has now been placed at the bottom of the well bore. It is they are circulating fluids just to make sure it's clean and ready to go.
And probably in the next four to five hours they will begin cementing the relief well in. As you know following that we are making preparations to do the hydrostatic or static kill as we have talked about. That could start as early as Monday night into Sunday depending on the steps that are taking.
They have to do what's called an injectivity test to make sure that all the systems are operating properly. And there is a sequence of events that has to be followed before they can actually start pumping mud into the capping stack itself.
The mud boats, the pumping boats and the Q4000 are online and all the systems have been tested and they are ready to go.
(Excerpt) Read more at theoildrum.com ...
Is there only one relief well? I seem to remember that they were going to drill two relief wells. I figured if the first one worked they could use the second as a production well.
2013
Sorry. I misplaced my sarcasm off symbol. Having worked in the oil industry I’m reasonably familiar with whose actually doing the work.
Even as far back as July 9...Allen was really only talking about the Wild Well and a single Relief well...see this:
BTTT.
On July 23, with the guidance and approval of the National Incident Commander (NIC) and the leadership and direction of the federal government, relief well activities at the MC252 well site were temporarily suspended because of potentially adverse weather associated with Tropical Storm Bonnie. Following the passing of the weather system, the DDIII drilling rig returned to the relief well site on July 24 and is taking steps necessary to reconnect with the well and resume drilling operations. These steps are expected to take a number of days.
The DDII drilling rig is moving back into position, and will take steps necessary to reconnect to the second relief well. However, work on the second relief well has been suspended so as not to interfere with the first.
Update on Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
Release date: 26 July 2010
http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7063953
“Does the government understand that we will ALWAYS need oil and gas and that the amish way won’t sustain a huge population.”
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
I think they have designs to reduce the population FAR below its current level.
I don’t think I’d go anywhere near the well once it’s sealed, for the reasons you mentioned. There’s no reason not to produce the deposit, though, and there just happens to be a spare well right there. So once it’s politically correct to do so, I suspect they’ll produce it through the back-up relief well.
So they plan to increase internal pressure by 1,000 PSI on a stack assembly that is leaking in numerous seals. Gonna be interesting to say the least.
But am taking a baseball break....Dodgers and the Padres going at it in the first game of 4.
Shutting down here.
Installing the Second New Choke Assembly (3 1/2 minutes)
These videos show leaking that is affecting a panel on the 3 Ram Stack. Appears to be leaks coming up from perhaps the leaking seal or a new hydraulics leak. Note the chunks of crude starting to cover up the panel itself.
3 Ram Stack Seal Leak so bad it is now affecting Panel Operations Short Version (1 1/2 minutes)
3 Ram Stack Seal Leak so bad it is now affecting Panel Operations Long Version (3 minutes)
I sure hope they can cap it quick,,,
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100802/ap_on_re_us/tropical_weather_1
They only have a week or so,,,
I'll stick to drilling around the blowout to suck down
the whole field,,,
This is what makes me/us wonder why BP won't just DO IT!!!
My cuz that is ret. from Texas Eastern has run the numbers.
He still says BP can cover their losses by putting that
oil and gas on the market,,,
From what I was told another line to Port Fourchon could
have already been laid and four wells could be in
production or close,,,
He was Chief Estimator for TE before he became Exe-VP,,,
He was their “go to guy” on these projects,,,
“Politics” is the reason this has not been done...(his words)...
Things are moving along.
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