Relief Well Delayed!
Today (Saturday), Retired Coast Guard admiral, Thad Allen directed, BP to conduct more pressure testing on the busted Macondo well, in the Gulf of Mexico, ahead of the plans, to resume drilling of a relief well.
Allen asked, in a letter, to BP chief managing director, Bob Dudley, for the company, to provide him with a plan for a relief system, in order to prevent excessive pressurization of the Macondo well stack, and any necessary containment options.
“We will kill the well. It is just a matter of finishing up tests, so we understand the conditions moving forward, Allen said.”
By Tuesday morning, the results of the tests should be known. Then, the federal point man on the oil spill plans, (Allen) will issue another directive to BP, to start drilling of the relief well again. Allen anticipated, it would take four days from the order, to intercept the well.
Allen said Friday, that pressure rose during testing of the well, and that scientists agreed, that the space still needs to be plugged in, with cement from the bottom of the well.
BP, had previously been determining, if the mud and cement pumped from above during the “top kill” procedure, had unintentionally killed the well.
The oil is currently being kept in the underground reservoir, after the pouring of mud and cement, down the well during BP’s “top kill” procedure proved successful last week. Crude has not gushed into the Gulf of Mexico, since July 15, when a temporary cap was placed on the well.
All this while, President Obama, visited the Gulf Coast, in Florida, with his family, today. He pledged, to stand by the Gulf Coast residents, until the region is fully recovered from the BP oil spill.
“Many folks have toiled here day and night to stop the leak,” Obama said. “I’m here to tell you, that our job is not finished, and we are not going anywhere until it is.”
“To Americans across the country, come down and visit,” Obama said, from a Coast Guard station, in Florida. It remains to be seen, whether, President Obama, made a successful pitch for tourists to visit the area. He stated that, “because of the cleanup efforts, Gulf Coast beaches are clean, safe and open for business.” He and his daughter Sasha, even went swimming in the Gulf, in an attempt, to show that water, and the beaches are clean.
“Seafood from the region, will continue to be monitored to ensure its safety, Obama said, and officials will make sure that BP pays damage claims, to those affected by the spill.” On his 49th birthday, last week, Gulf seafood, was on the dinner menu.
The Obama family trip, is intended to show solidarity to a region, still struggling, in the wake of a massive oil spill. Residents, are closely watching, to see what kind of an impact the 27-hour visit, to Panama City Beach will have. His administration, hopes to provide the region, with an economic boost and declare it’s safety, in the aftermath of the disaster. The president and first lady Michelle, also met with small-business owners, and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, to discuss recovery efforts in the area.
Right now, there is 1,000 barrels of oil trapped in the Macondo well, since cement was poured, from the top last week. “BP,will probably need until Aug. 17th, to provide a method, to perform the so-called bottom kill, without an uncontrolled release of crude.” This, as stated by, National Incident Commander Thad Allen, in a conference call with reporters today.
BP, previously expected to perform the bottom kill, as early as tomorrow. The source, of the world’s largest accidental offshore oil spill, was temporarily shut, by a stack of valves, on July 15th. By that time, it had spilled, about 4.9 million barrels, equaling an estimated 207 million gallons, of oil, into the Gulf of Mexico. The Deepwater Horizon rig, exploded on April 20, killing 11 workers, making it, the worst U. S. environmental disaster in history.
What would this do for your business AND your pockets?
