[Izzy Dunne]

So are they planning to seal it off and call it done, or are they going to harvest the oil?

[Sacajaweau]

I believe the Fed government is creating "new Law" which will pretty much eliminate Bp from ever drilling in the Gulf again.

Does the government understand that we will ALWAYS need oil and gas and that the amish way won't sustain a huge population.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I don't think they will be allowed by the authorities to do anything other than permanently seal it....

It was a bad hole...it must be punished.

[Celerity]

My personal prediction : The well is closed, and not harvested by BP - either by government edict or technological limitations. China buys the tainted sea floor, and develops tech to harvest it, or pay off a quiet government to stay quiet about it’s future impact. China keeps ALL yields from the well.

[smokingfrog]

Sounds like they are going to just seal it off and just be done with it. But why not make it a production well to help pay for the cost of the damage and reduce the possibility of natural oil seeps in the area?

[ArrogantBustard]

So are they planning to seal it off and call it done, or are they going to harvest the oil?

I'm an engineer, but not involved in the petroleum industry ... so FWIW ...

I wouldn't trust this particular well. It has been damaged above the surface, and is of not completely determined condition under the surface. It might not be leaking now (apparently isn't), but one must question whether it could survive long-term exploitation. Even though it doesn't seem to be leaking, has it been severely weakened down-hole?

I don't know.