ALERT Thad Allen About to Brief Everyone On the Well...A 48 Hr. Integrity Test Will Begin
- Thread starter Hansa44
- Start date
Lost Patriot
Inactive
This prick knows about as much on this oil spill as I know about molecular science.
Hansa44
Justine Case
I missed the Allen report, however, just tuned in with reports from Wolfy with some senator, and his concern reflect what others on this board are forecasting
potential disaster on the un-stability of pressure of the seabed floor. That was the first I recall as real issue addressed.
potential disaster on the un-stability of pressure of the seabed floor. That was the first I recall as real issue addressed.
Rucus Sunday
Veteran Member
AP is reporting the work has been halted by the WH 
minkykat
Komplainy Kat
AP is reporting the work has been halted by the WH
Do you have a link or did you hear it somewhere? What the heck would the WH....oh, I forget, dear leader has his mack daddy finger in EVERY pie.
minkykat
Komplainy Kat
Interesting that NOW the lamestream media brings this up.
Speckled Trout1
Inactive
Hold the presses - Breaking News in New Orleans - more "hopey changey policy" - The pressure test was stopped by the WH this morning, but in breaking news the pressure test on well going forward, all in the space of 8 hours - "damn the torpedos, full speed ahead"
Feds: BP can go ahead with testing new temporary cap meant to catch Gulf oil gusher.
For continuing coverage on this breaking news event, please refer to http://www.wwltv.com.
Feds: BP can go ahead with testing new temporary cap meant to catch Gulf oil gusher.
For continuing coverage on this breaking news event, please refer to http://www.wwltv.com.
Don’t you just love Google!
Mac Daddy" or Mack Daddy, is a term used to describe a man with an unusual power over women, and is derived from the French and later Louisiana Creole patois term "maqereau", which means "pimp". Adding "daddy" makes it mean "top pimp". The '70's black-exploitation movie "The Mack", a dramatization of the life of a street pimp, furthered the popularity of the term in urban America.
Hansa44
Justine Case
This should answer most of what he said........
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100714/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gulf_oil_spill
BP will begin testing new cap over Gulf oil leak
By TOM BREEN and HARRY R. WEBER, Associated Press Writers Tom Breen And Harry R. Weber, Associated Press Writers – 16 mins ago
NEW ORLEANS – The federal government gave BP the green light Wednesday to try choking off the Gulf of Mexico oil gusher with an untested metal cap after a daylong delay to satisfy worries about whether the project might make the leak worse.
National Incident Commander Thad Allen said at a news briefing that testing would begin later Wednesday after government scientists carefully reviewed whether new leaks would erupt from the well once it was sealed off.
"There is a tremendous sense of urgency," he said, but added that nobody wants to make "an irreversible mistake."
BP had zipped through weekend preparations and gotten the 75-ton cap in place Monday atop the well. The device is meant is to stop the oil and pump excess to ships, raising hopes the gusher could be checked. BP was getting ready to test pressure on the well by closing valves in the cap when the government intervened late Tuesday.
The sudden delay was another jolt for Gulf residents already bruised by a string of BP failures to stop the oil from ruining tourism and fishing, the coast's two biggest industries.
Allen said the delay was necessary to settle lingering questions about whether the cap, once the valves are closed, could force oil under pressure to create new leaks.
"We sat long and hard about delaying the tests," Allen said. But he said that in the interest of the public, the environment and safety, the pause was necessary, and now they were convinced the test can go forward.
"This has been a substantial impact on our environment, this has been a substantial impact on the Gulf Coast, the people, the culture. What we didn't want to do is compound that problem by making an irreversible mistake," Allen said.
The 24-hour holdup involved intense scrutiny of data and consultation with outside experts, Allen said. One of the most important factors in favor of the testing was a seismic survey that showed the wellbore, which lies below the seafloor, was free of leaks, Allen said.
One of the concerns federal officials had about the testing was the possibility of leaks below the ocean floor, but Allen said the survey "removed the possibility of a negative event" such as gas and oil escaping through cracks in the wellbore.
Such a situation would make the planned permanent fix of pumping heavy drilling mud and cement into the well from below immeasurably more difficult.
Another seismic survey will be done at the end of the 48 hour testing period, a timeframe during which the oil should be completely choked off from the Gulf.
The test involves slowly closing the valves of the cap, ultimately blocking the flow of oil entirely. High pressure is a good sign, because it means there's a single leak.
Allen said BP will monitor the results of the gradual test every six hours and end it after 48 hours to evaluate the results.
Rucus Sunday
Veteran Member
Maybe the situation has changed since the story was filed ...
====================
Setback: BP cap in limbo over gov't questions
Jul 14, 3:45 PM (ET)
By TOM BREEN and HARRY R. WEBER
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - BP's work to cap its Gulf of Mexico gusher was in limbo Wednesday after the federal government raised concerns the operation could put damaging pressure on the busted well and make the leak worse.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the government didn't want potentially dangerous pressure tests on a new, tighter cap that has been placed on the well to go ahead until BP answers questions about possible risks.
Gibbs said he did not consider the delay to be "some giant setback," describing it as "a series of steps ... that are being taken in order to ensure that what we're doing is being done out of an abundance of caution to do no harm."
A top BP executive said there was no guarantee the company will get approval to go ahead with closing the cap, which is meant to be a temporary fix until the well is plugged from underground. Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles told The Associated Press in an interview that BP is trying to resolve the government's concerns.
"I don't know whether we will get that approval or not," Suttles said. "I hope we do."
At the same time, BP on its own temporarily halted the drilling of two relief wells that are designed to plug the gusher permanently with cement and mud. That work was halted for up to 48 hours as a precaution because it's not yet clear what effect the testing of the new cap could have on it, the company said.
The delays were a stunning setback after the oil giant finally seemed to be on track following nearly three months of failed attempts to stop the spill, which has sullied beaches from Florida to Texas and decimated the multibillion dollar fishing industry.
BP had zipped through weekend preparations and gotten the 75-ton cap in place Monday atop the well. The plan was to stop the oil and pump excess to ships, raising hopes the gusher could be checked. BP was getting ready to test pressure on the well by closing valves in the cap when the government intervened late Tuesday.
Word of the delay broke as video showed BP's undersea robots busily swarming around the seafloor site.
Suttles said the government wants to verify that the casing, or the piping in the well, is intact and that the oil would stay contained if BP shuts the well in.
Suttles said the next step would depend on the outcome of a meeting of BP and government officials early Wednesday afternoon.
Gibbs said Energy Secretary Steven Chu, U.S. Geological Survey chief Marcia McNutt and other government scientists have asked a series of questions to ensure that the integrity of the blowout preventer and the well itself are preserved.
"We want to conduct structural testing in order to make sure that the well is safe and secure," Gibbs told reporters at the White House.
Oil continued to spew nearly unimpeded into the water, with no clear timeline on when it would stop. BP shares were down more than 2 percent in afternoon trading in London after recouping some of their oil spill losses earlier this week, when the cap project seemed to be moving ahead.
The cap would be a stopgap until a permanent fix that requires plugging the broken well underground with cement and heavy drilling mud, a more stable seal than capping the well from the top. The timeline for the relief well and a backup one has always been hazy, with company and federal officials giving estimates ranging from the end of July to the middle of August before it can be completed.
Suttles urged Gulf residents is to be patient.
"We're going to get this thing stopped as fast as we can," he said. "If it is not in the next couple of days with the test, we'll do it with the relief wells."
On the Alabama coast, Joyce Nelson said every bit of news from the spill site increases her stress and sparks a new round of telephone calls between friends and relatives in Bayou La Batre, where the seafood industry is virtually shut down because of the spill. The slowdown at the rig site just made things worse.
"Everybody's calling everybody. It's hectic," said Nelson. "Everybody is worried about them blowing the whole thing out. If that happens, there's nothing they can do but let it drain out."
Roger N. Anderson, a marine geologist at Columbia University, said he believes BP and government scientists are just being very cautious and he's not worried.
Freezing work on the relief well may mean scientists are worried that clamping down the cap will push new pressure all the way down to the depths of the broken well, he said.
"So I wouldn't panic, is the answer. They're going to be very, very deliberate about this," Anderson said.
Assuming BP gets the green light to do the cap testing after the extra analysis is finished, engineers need to shut off lines already funneling some oil to ships to see how the cap handles the pressure of the crude coming up from the ground.
Finally, they would shut the openings in the 75-ton metal stack of pipes and valves gradually, one at a time, while watching pressure gauges to see if the cap would hold or if any new leaks erupted. The operation could last anywhere from six to 48 hours, once it gets started.
As of Wednesday, the 85th day of the disaster, between 92 million and 182 million gallons of oil had spewed into the Gulf since the Deepwater Horizon rig leased by BP exploded April 20, killing 11 workers.
---
Online:
BP underwater video: http://bit.ly/bwCXmR
---
Weber reported from Houston. Associated Press writers Matthew Daly in Washington, D.C., Colleen Long and Allen Breed in New Orleans and Jay Reeves in Bayou La Batre, Ala., contributed to this report.
====================
Setback: BP cap in limbo over gov't questions
Jul 14, 3:45 PM (ET)
By TOM BREEN and HARRY R. WEBER
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - BP's work to cap its Gulf of Mexico gusher was in limbo Wednesday after the federal government raised concerns the operation could put damaging pressure on the busted well and make the leak worse.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the government didn't want potentially dangerous pressure tests on a new, tighter cap that has been placed on the well to go ahead until BP answers questions about possible risks.
Gibbs said he did not consider the delay to be "some giant setback," describing it as "a series of steps ... that are being taken in order to ensure that what we're doing is being done out of an abundance of caution to do no harm."
A top BP executive said there was no guarantee the company will get approval to go ahead with closing the cap, which is meant to be a temporary fix until the well is plugged from underground. Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles told The Associated Press in an interview that BP is trying to resolve the government's concerns.
"I don't know whether we will get that approval or not," Suttles said. "I hope we do."
At the same time, BP on its own temporarily halted the drilling of two relief wells that are designed to plug the gusher permanently with cement and mud. That work was halted for up to 48 hours as a precaution because it's not yet clear what effect the testing of the new cap could have on it, the company said.
The delays were a stunning setback after the oil giant finally seemed to be on track following nearly three months of failed attempts to stop the spill, which has sullied beaches from Florida to Texas and decimated the multibillion dollar fishing industry.
BP had zipped through weekend preparations and gotten the 75-ton cap in place Monday atop the well. The plan was to stop the oil and pump excess to ships, raising hopes the gusher could be checked. BP was getting ready to test pressure on the well by closing valves in the cap when the government intervened late Tuesday.
Word of the delay broke as video showed BP's undersea robots busily swarming around the seafloor site.
Suttles said the government wants to verify that the casing, or the piping in the well, is intact and that the oil would stay contained if BP shuts the well in.
Suttles said the next step would depend on the outcome of a meeting of BP and government officials early Wednesday afternoon.
Gibbs said Energy Secretary Steven Chu, U.S. Geological Survey chief Marcia McNutt and other government scientists have asked a series of questions to ensure that the integrity of the blowout preventer and the well itself are preserved.
"We want to conduct structural testing in order to make sure that the well is safe and secure," Gibbs told reporters at the White House.
Oil continued to spew nearly unimpeded into the water, with no clear timeline on when it would stop. BP shares were down more than 2 percent in afternoon trading in London after recouping some of their oil spill losses earlier this week, when the cap project seemed to be moving ahead.
The cap would be a stopgap until a permanent fix that requires plugging the broken well underground with cement and heavy drilling mud, a more stable seal than capping the well from the top. The timeline for the relief well and a backup one has always been hazy, with company and federal officials giving estimates ranging from the end of July to the middle of August before it can be completed.
Suttles urged Gulf residents is to be patient.
"We're going to get this thing stopped as fast as we can," he said. "If it is not in the next couple of days with the test, we'll do it with the relief wells."
On the Alabama coast, Joyce Nelson said every bit of news from the spill site increases her stress and sparks a new round of telephone calls between friends and relatives in Bayou La Batre, where the seafood industry is virtually shut down because of the spill. The slowdown at the rig site just made things worse.
"Everybody's calling everybody. It's hectic," said Nelson. "Everybody is worried about them blowing the whole thing out. If that happens, there's nothing they can do but let it drain out."
Roger N. Anderson, a marine geologist at Columbia University, said he believes BP and government scientists are just being very cautious and he's not worried.
Freezing work on the relief well may mean scientists are worried that clamping down the cap will push new pressure all the way down to the depths of the broken well, he said.
"So I wouldn't panic, is the answer. They're going to be very, very deliberate about this," Anderson said.
Assuming BP gets the green light to do the cap testing after the extra analysis is finished, engineers need to shut off lines already funneling some oil to ships to see how the cap handles the pressure of the crude coming up from the ground.
Finally, they would shut the openings in the 75-ton metal stack of pipes and valves gradually, one at a time, while watching pressure gauges to see if the cap would hold or if any new leaks erupted. The operation could last anywhere from six to 48 hours, once it gets started.
As of Wednesday, the 85th day of the disaster, between 92 million and 182 million gallons of oil had spewed into the Gulf since the Deepwater Horizon rig leased by BP exploded April 20, killing 11 workers.
---
Online:
BP underwater video: http://bit.ly/bwCXmR
---
Weber reported from Houston. Associated Press writers Matthew Daly in Washington, D.C., Colleen Long and Allen Breed in New Orleans and Jay Reeves in Bayou La Batre, Ala., contributed to this report.
Hansa44
Justine Case
The truth is...I don't think anyone is feeling too confident. Including BP nowadays.
Countrymouse
Country exile in the city
Regarding confusion about the "on again, off again" capping of the well--
About 4 pm this afternoon on WSB radio I heard that "the White House" had "ordered pressure tests delayed" until further notice, while they looked into the integrity of the well and made sure there would be no leaks out from the well (not mentioned leaks where, but one would assume the only place the oil can leak is either up the well casing hole or into the surrounding strata and then upward to filter through the sea floor.
Then on the 6 pm WSB TV news I head them say that the White House had "now given the go ahead" for the pressure tests to be done, and then they played the clip of Thad Allen saying "we don't want to make this worse than it is."
It wasn't until ABC News with Diane Sawyer came on at 7 pm and they went into some depth explaining how a drop in pressure meant bad news, specifically because it either meant the well was draining out into the strata or that the pressure test itself had damaged the well. Sawyer asked what pressures were "good" or "bad", and the reporter said that they want the pressure to stay at least 6000 psi, and they didn't want it to go below 2,000 psi, as that would indicate pressure loss--meaning leakage.
ABC's video about the delay on the tests:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/bp-delays-oil-cap-test-gulf-11160148
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/gulf-oil-spill-bp-tests-containment-cap-11149993
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/bp-oil-spill-jindal-stakes-high-bp-begins/story?id=11165718
They don't yet have today's broadcast up, but look for 7/14/10 on THIS link in a few minutes and you can probably find the info I've quoted as best I remember it: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?catId=1206853
So it seems many of us here who were worried all along about the possibility of "leaks up through the seabed floor" were not such nutcases after all....
About 4 pm this afternoon on WSB radio I heard that "the White House" had "ordered pressure tests delayed" until further notice, while they looked into the integrity of the well and made sure there would be no leaks out from the well (not mentioned leaks where, but one would assume the only place the oil can leak is either up the well casing hole or into the surrounding strata and then upward to filter through the sea floor.
Then on the 6 pm WSB TV news I head them say that the White House had "now given the go ahead" for the pressure tests to be done, and then they played the clip of Thad Allen saying "we don't want to make this worse than it is."
It wasn't until ABC News with Diane Sawyer came on at 7 pm and they went into some depth explaining how a drop in pressure meant bad news, specifically because it either meant the well was draining out into the strata or that the pressure test itself had damaged the well. Sawyer asked what pressures were "good" or "bad", and the reporter said that they want the pressure to stay at least 6000 psi, and they didn't want it to go below 2,000 psi, as that would indicate pressure loss--meaning leakage.
ABC's video about the delay on the tests:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/bp-delays-oil-cap-test-gulf-11160148
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/gulf-oil-spill-bp-tests-containment-cap-11149993
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/bp-oil-spill-jindal-stakes-high-bp-begins/story?id=11165718
They don't yet have today's broadcast up, but look for 7/14/10 on THIS link in a few minutes and you can probably find the info I've quoted as best I remember it: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?catId=1206853
So it seems many of us here who were worried all along about the possibility of "leaks up through the seabed floor" were not such nutcases after all....
blackjeep
The end times are here.
It seems to me that if they could capture all the oil from the well in ships, it would help alleviate the pressure and stop the pollution. If there are, indeed, leaks in the sea floor, this would seem to be a logical answer.
I have grave concerns about the attempt to cap this thing off. If they close the valves, it could cause an unfixable leak elsewhere - like the ocean floor which could precipitate a worse case scenario (something unthinkable). If I lived on the Gulf coast, I would LEAVE.
I have grave concerns about the attempt to cap this thing off. If they close the valves, it could cause an unfixable leak elsewhere - like the ocean floor which could precipitate a worse case scenario (something unthinkable). If I lived on the Gulf coast, I would LEAVE.
Sysman
Old Geek <:)=
Just to be clear Cm, MHO as usual...
I've been concerned about underground damage since that second pipe showed up when they cut the riser. That pipe came from somewhere, below the stack...
But I'm still not convinced that any oil, beyond the natural seepage, is currently leaking from underground anywhere in the Gulf...
That clip about a 100 foot "gash" in the seabed, that is supposed to be leaking a huge amount of oil /gas, has been posted in at least a couple threads here just today...
But I have seen no "real evidence" that it exists. The only thing that shows up trying to research the story is it was a NOAA ship that "discovered" the gash...
How did they discover it? Do they have pictures? Have you seen them, I haven't...
Did they use sonar or some other technology to "find" it? Have you seen any recordings, or any other "proof" that it exists, I haven't...
Hey, an underground blowout is just about the worst thing that can happen, no argument from me...
But I don't think it has already happened, yet, as of the date and time of this post...
Hansa44
Justine Case
Right now, as bad as it looks on the cams, everything is going according to plan (per CNN and Anderson Cooper)
They just showed a very descriptive diagram of exactly what is "suppose" to take place.
The reason it looks so bad right now is the oil is coming out 2 sides of the cap instead of the top which they closed off to do the testing.
They just showed a very descriptive diagram of exactly what is "suppose" to take place.
The reason it looks so bad right now is the oil is coming out 2 sides of the cap instead of the top which they closed off to do the testing.
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I guess we'll know something soon whether there are more leaks.
Hansa44
Justine Case
I see an rov moseying up to the cap. Maybe going to close another valve?
It's been about 6 hours since the first one was closed.
http://www.jtnog.org/
It's been about 6 hours since the first one was closed.
http://www.jtnog.org/
Hansa44
Justine Case
Just in case you don't know, this is the stage they are now at....
The test began with BP shutting off pipes that were funneling some of the oil to ships on the surface so the full force of the gusher went up into the cap. Then deep-sea robots began slowly closing, one at a time, three openings in the cap that let oil pass through. Ultimately, the flow of crude will be blocked entirely.
All along, engineers will be watching pressure readings to learn whether the well is intact. The first two valves shut off like a light switch, while the third works more like a dimmer and takes longer to close off.
On Wednesday evening, the company said it had isolated a leak on the line attached to the dimmer switch, and was repairing it before moving forward. It wasn't clear how that would affect the timing of the operation.
Allen said BP will monitor the results every six hours and end the test after 48 hours to evaluate the findings.
The test began with BP shutting off pipes that were funneling some of the oil to ships on the surface so the full force of the gusher went up into the cap. Then deep-sea robots began slowly closing, one at a time, three openings in the cap that let oil pass through. Ultimately, the flow of crude will be blocked entirely.
All along, engineers will be watching pressure readings to learn whether the well is intact. The first two valves shut off like a light switch, while the third works more like a dimmer and takes longer to close off.
On Wednesday evening, the company said it had isolated a leak on the line attached to the dimmer switch, and was repairing it before moving forward. It wasn't clear how that would affect the timing of the operation.
Allen said BP will monitor the results every six hours and end the test after 48 hours to evaluate the findings.
Countrymouse
Country exile in the city
BP Official requests prayer
Indeed, even BP hasn't been sounding all that confident about a well integrity test. From another AP story:
"Everybody hope and pray that we are seeing high pressures here," said senior BP vice president Kent Wells.
***
The integrity test, however, was not without danger and Wells admitted that pressure caused by closing the valves too quickly on the cap could send oil shooting up from a new leak on the sea floor.
"The worst-case scenario is that it could actually broach back to the sea floor," Wells said.
-------------
While praying for BP is WAY low on my prayer list, for the sake of you people down there, the Gulf, and all of us, I am indeed praying this works.
Indeed, even BP hasn't been sounding all that confident about a well integrity test. From another AP story:
"Everybody hope and pray that we are seeing high pressures here," said senior BP vice president Kent Wells.
***
The integrity test, however, was not without danger and Wells admitted that pressure caused by closing the valves too quickly on the cap could send oil shooting up from a new leak on the sea floor.
"The worst-case scenario is that it could actually broach back to the sea floor," Wells said.
-------------
While praying for BP is WAY low on my prayer list, for the sake of you people down there, the Gulf, and all of us, I am indeed praying this works.
Hansa44
Justine Case
Hopefully not.
Hansa44
Justine Case
I should be in bed but I cannot help watching those ROV operators. The kind of stress they must be under is unimaginable. Everything depends on them.
Watching them search for the tiniest of leaks, carefully moving wires out of the way so they can get a closeup shot if something doesn't look quite right, Very gently trying not to disturb anything during these tests. One quick hard movement could disconnect something.
Sheesh, I'm stressed just watching them. These guys have to have nerves of steel and to know what's at stake is a pressure I wouldn't want.
Hope they're making a lot of money. They've earned it. (if they survive it.)
Watching them search for the tiniest of leaks, carefully moving wires out of the way so they can get a closeup shot if something doesn't look quite right, Very gently trying not to disturb anything during these tests. One quick hard movement could disconnect something.
Sheesh, I'm stressed just watching them. These guys have to have nerves of steel and to know what's at stake is a pressure I wouldn't want.
Hope they're making a lot of money. They've earned it. (if they survive it.)
I would very much like to see your other map caplock.
I sure don't stay up to watch their bullcrap about this mess. But I am up all night anyways roaming the internet so I heard Allen's news release. And I agree with Lost Patriot. Allen is nothing but a talking head babbling what he is told to babble. As for big ears in the WH I doubt he would know the difference between a wellhead and an employee at a Vegas brothel.
I do hope it is a success La needs a break in good luck in this mess. And our poor GOM needs a break also.
sassy
Veteran Member
It means I may or may not have ocean front property.
or I could have sunken treasure.
Should I take a quick course in deep sea diving?
What I have bolded in the quote is EXACTLY what all those "crazies" like Matt Simmons and other folks at the oil drum have been saying for well over a month now. If the well is compromised in any way there is no way they can seal it off at the top - the oil will simply blast through the sides of the well. And THAT would not be a good thing.
Just reported on the 7:30am CT news update that BP has suffered a setback...the new equipment is leaking. They didn't elaborate whether this "leaking" was evidenced visually or because the pressures weren't holding up as hoped.
That could mean lots of things.
1. The cap may just need to be re-designed to tighten it up and seal better.
2. The flexible joint could be the issue as noted by Tom M. since it was never designed for high pressures anyway.
3. They have indeed encountered sub-surface problems and if that is the case, there is not much that can be done other than hope the relief wells hit the mark and can be used to seal the well as planned.
4. Probably other twists and turns I'm not thinking of at the moment.
Kris
That could mean lots of things.
1. The cap may just need to be re-designed to tighten it up and seal better.
2. The flexible joint could be the issue as noted by Tom M. since it was never designed for high pressures anyway.
3. They have indeed encountered sub-surface problems and if that is the case, there is not much that can be done other than hope the relief wells hit the mark and can be used to seal the well as planned.
4. Probably other twists and turns I'm not thinking of at the moment.
Kris
WFK
Senior Something
I saw it leak yesterday.
It was like a bucket running over, just upwards.
Black soup rising from underneath a big yellow cylinder.
(I think they took that upper part off after that.)
There was almost no oil from the top at that time.
This AM (Thurs) it.s wide open again.
Why in the world do they want it leak proof it anyway if it is soon to be plugged with cement from the side,
and if they once thought they could do it (from the top) with everything leaking like crazy?
It was like a bucket running over, just upwards.
Black soup rising from underneath a big yellow cylinder.
(I think they took that upper part off after that.)
There was almost no oil from the top at that time.
This AM (Thurs) it.s wide open again.
Why in the world do they want it leak proof it anyway if it is soon to be plugged with cement from the side,
and if they once thought they could do it (from the top) with everything leaking like crazy?
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sassy
Veteran Member
unless that is a new leak, I think they are talking about this:
(from bp twitter)
During setup sequence last night, saw a leak on the choke line. Disconnected that choke & brought 2nd one down from the surface.
-----
Per B Hubbard at the Oil Drum
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6729#comments_top
Leaking choke assy is disconnected
Last action before it left was removal of T-handled locking pin with thick white stem.
New white painted unit was lowered and acquired by Boa 2. Boa pulled out a (dummy) T-handled pin and casually knocked the port control knob over to Open. I'm not sure if the white-stemmed T-handle was reinserted in the new unit. Midnight?
Boa 1 goes after the old gasket ferrule and knocks it lose and removes it. It was ovoid. Close inspection of the seating follows. Then a new ferrule is pulled out, mounted on a black insertion tool/cylinder. This ferrule looks like it has straight sides and a tail which sets down into the lower part of the mounting assy. 12:30 or so.
Then a long period of circling begins in which dozens (?) of trips are made around the BOP, checking every line and connection. One blue line which covers a set of (oil stained?) gauges gets particular attention. It is in the way. The gauge glass also needs a good cleaning. The base of the old BOP is also inspected. Blue hose looks like it goes to a floating yellow data link?
Finally, the new choke is brought close. Boa 2 lowers it while Boa 1 and Skandi 2 watch from the sides for alignment. Port valve is flipped once or twice and ends up in closed position. A hydraulic version of the T-handled pin is inserted (2 hoses; looks like they go to ROV), and a somewhat fraught lowering operation begins. It looks like there is considerable buffeting from the escaping oil on the other side of the BOP and accuracy is not much better than +/- 3 to 4 inches/sec. Currents seem to want to force the Boa 2 into the BOP, which is about 6 inches too close for choke mounting. The Choke lands once, but flops over to a 15 or more degree cant and is removed and (carefully) repositioned a second time. This takes about 20 minutes of careful maneuvering. Finally, it locks in place and the hydraulic T-handle is removed. A quick view of the back of the control panel looks as if the hydraulics from the T-handle flow through the open/close valve. I'm not sure how the locking in place was accomplished. (3:30 AM)
Definite buffeting - ropes still attached to the choke are jumping around.
-----------
And.......5 minutes ago
Going to keep everyone informed. Very intricate procedure to go through. Looking to start test as soon as possible. -Kent Wells
Hfcomms
EN66iq
What I had heard is one of the external valves is leaking that go up to the processing ships and that has to be corrected first and that it's not a major deal. That has to be fixed in order to do the pressure tests on the wellhead to see if the piping in the well core is still intact or not.