After a round of proofs, the company will try to define what is to be closed in both Macondo. The Gulf of Mexico at least a temporary respite from the oil is spitting Thursday afternoon when Macondo BP halted the flow for the first time since the well blew and triggered one of the nation’s worst ever environmental disaster.
After several delays, BP said it closed the last line on the newly installed containment cap at 2:25 pm Thursday and began to pressure gauges to monitor the integrity of the well casing below the sea floor to test.
Since April 20 when the Macondo and blew, destroying the oil rig Deepwater Horizon and killing 11 crew members, as many as 185 million liters of oil have spilled from the pit, according to official estimates.
“As you can imagine that it felt really good to see will not be any oil in the Gulf of Mexico,” said BP’s Wells Kent at a technical briefing with reporters. “Where I am holding back my emotion is that we are just starting the test, and I do not want a false sense of excitement to create.”
Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, head of the federal spill response, said in a conference call with media that the capping stack used to shut in the well is in development for many weeks. “There are a number of capping devices are developed, probably over 10. They are all developed under different scenarios,” said Allen.
The systems had to be built and tested on land.
One is trapped in the oil flow at least temporarily for the first time as a means to the amount of oil that can be taken to increase development, Allen said.
Look closely
The well integrity testing is now underway to two days. The gauges on the shut-in equipment will be monitored, and the remote control submarines will monitor the seabed for signs of leakage.
Higher pressures, indicates that oil and natural gas is a stay in the good and not to flee into the surrounding strata. Lower readings, or a drop in pressure would indicate hydrocarbons escape.
“If at any time the tests should be suspended to do it,” says Wells.
In that case, or if the 48-hour test shows no leaks, BP will rescue equipment for the connection of the ships well with the surface of BP believes that the capacity to absorb all the oil that the flowing.
After the collection of new seismic data from around the well site, will the officials will decide if it is safe to the right again to close in two relief wells is nearing completion of the final plug at source Macondo 13,000 meters under the seabed.
With the addition of two new lines added to the feed containment cap, the system should be able to maximize capture up to 80,000 barrels of oil per day, officials said, more than the top official of the spill flow estimates.
BP stock rally late Thursday after news that the oil flow was stopped, closing $ 2.74 to $ 38.92.
“This is very good news, but still too early to declare victory,” said Fadel Gheit, managing director of oil and gas research for Oppenheimer & Co. “If that works, it’s great news.”
“Wait and see”
Oysterman Wilbert Collins Golden Meadow, LA, followed developments with cautious optimism.
“We do a little celebrating, but not too much,” he said. “We are waiting for the cap works. And then we wait for the Bay Area.
“I think things go better and better,” said Collins, who has been in the family oyster business for 60 years.
Industry groups and members of Congress offered measured praise for the successful valve.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., Called the start of the test “fantastic news that should provide a glimmer of hope to the beleaguered residents of the Gulf Coast.” But he noted that the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, to which he belongs, still plans a hearing next Thursday to find the key in monitoring the industry by the Ministry of Interior.
Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., BP said the test should be used as an opportunity for a more accurate measurement of the total flow of oil to get. A panel of scientists called on the Government Technical Group estimates the flow rate of 35,000 to 60,000 barrels per day – up to 2.5 million liters.
source:chron.com
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