"Top Kill": The "New" BP Leak Stop Solution that Just May Work...

[NYC_SKP]

From the "Oil & Gas Journal"



Note: A 4000 x 2253 pixel image here: http://tinyurl.com/2fzshk4

May 16, 2010
Paula Dittrick
Senior Staff Writer

HOUSTON, May 16

BP plans to kill flow in 7-10 days

Kent Wells, BP senior vice-president of exploration and production, said BP’s first priority remains to kill the flow from the well. An effort to pump kill mud into the wellhead through choke and kill lines on the existing blowout preventer will be attempted in 7-10 days, Wells told reporters on May 16.

He also clarified that a “junk shot” in which various items will be pumped inside the BOP might or might not be done. Wells said the first plan is to try to stop the flow using kill mud followed by cement to seal the well.

“We can pump mud faster than the well can flow,” Wells said, adding the mud will go through the choke and kill lines.

A control pod was retrieved from the BOP and was brought to the surface where it’s being reconfigured to ensure that BP can electronically control a series of valves in the choke and kill lines while it pumps mud into the well.

Wells said 50,000 bbl of kill mud will be available, but that he doubts that much will be needed.
Contact Paula Dittrick at [e-mail]

http://www.ogj.com/index/article-display/2867244755/articles/oil-gas-journal/general-interest-2/2010/05/100516-pd-bpspill-riserworking.html

The graphic indicates that the existing BOP can be used to pump kill mud, then cement, to seal the well head.

Why they didn't try this in the first place is beyond me.

7-10 days.

[Go2Peace]

1. Why didn't they do it earlier? Because of greed? Hoping to keep access to the oil maybe?

Once they seal it nobody is going to approve a re-drill for a very long time.

[NYC_SKP]

6. Yes.

I been suggesting that for two weeks. Many "explained" why it couldn't be done. Who am I to argue?

Whatever the case, I'm more happy that this solution exists than mad that it wasn't tried sooner.

But I'm still mad.

:mad:

[Go2Peace]

8. I am feeling better that they are actually going to do it

beats the alternative anyway. I was afraid this might go on for longer.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

7. Because they were trying to recover the well, not plug it. n/t

[Rex]

2. You can trust a man when his last name is his profession!

Ah a Wells man, I see...

[Cetacea]

4. Fingers crossed.

k+R

[Trillo]

3. Is the picture "saying" this BOP cross section

is already on the well head?

[NYC_SKP]

5. I'm fairly certain that it is, yes.

Note that the damaged pipe is present at the top of the graphic.

That bent pipe originally went straight up, like a straw to the Deepwater Horizon platform, now burned and ruined.

The riser collapsed to the sea floor and oil continues to gush out at three points.

If this image was a new device, I'm pretty sure that bent riser would not be there.

Odd, isn't it?

Such a simple solution, would have been so quick to do days after the event, one would think.

:shrug: