BP's experimental oil cap seen holding steady
Source: Agencies |
July 17, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BP was hopeful early yesterday by results from an experimental cap shutting in oil from its blown-out Gulf of Mexico well, saying everything was steady 17 hours into the effort.
BP PLC vice president Kent Wells said on a conference call that there was no evidence of a leak in the pipe under the sea floor, one of the main concerns. Wells spoke 17 hours after valves were shut to trap oil inside the cap, a test that could last up to 48 hours.
He said pressure continued to rise inside the tight-fighting cap, a sign that oil was gushing into it, instead of out through any undiscovered cracks, and staying there.
As of yesterday, the pressure was above the minimum they were hoping to see, but not yet in the high range they were hoping for.
"The pressures we've seen so far are consistent with the engineering analysis work that BP has done," Wells said.
He also said work would resume on one relief well, the oil giant's more permanent solution meant to plug the well for good underground to end one of the worst environmental catastrophes.
That's also a good sign that things were going well. Engineers had stopped drilling one of the wells on Thursday in case that bore hole deep underground could be affected by the oil cap effort.
Engineers and scientists continue to monitor the cap's pressure. Wells said two undersea robots were combing the sea bed, looking for any trace of oil or problems on the floor.
It's still unclear if the cap will need to be reopened to allow oil to leak back after the test.
BP PLC vice president Kent Wells said on a conference call that there was no evidence of a leak in the pipe under the sea floor, one of the main concerns. Wells spoke 17 hours after valves were shut to trap oil inside the cap, a test that could last up to 48 hours.
He said pressure continued to rise inside the tight-fighting cap, a sign that oil was gushing into it, instead of out through any undiscovered cracks, and staying there.
As of yesterday, the pressure was above the minimum they were hoping to see, but not yet in the high range they were hoping for.
"The pressures we've seen so far are consistent with the engineering analysis work that BP has done," Wells said.
He also said work would resume on one relief well, the oil giant's more permanent solution meant to plug the well for good underground to end one of the worst environmental catastrophes.
That's also a good sign that things were going well. Engineers had stopped drilling one of the wells on Thursday in case that bore hole deep underground could be affected by the oil cap effort.
Engineers and scientists continue to monitor the cap's pressure. Wells said two undersea robots were combing the sea bed, looking for any trace of oil or problems on the floor.
It's still unclear if the cap will need to be reopened to allow oil to leak back after the test.
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