BP’s Effort to Plug Oil Leak Suspended a Second Time (After Two Junk Shots)

[tekisui]

Source: New York Times

HOUSTON — BP’s renewed efforts at plugging the flow of oil from its runaway well in the Gulf of Mexico stalled again on Friday, as the company suspended pumping operations for the second time in two days, according to a technician involved with the response effort.

In an operation known as a “junk shot,” BP engineers poured pieces of rubber, golf balls and other materials into the crippled blowout preventer, trying to clog the device that sits atop the wellhead. The maneuver was designed to work in conjunction with the continuing “top kill” operation, in which heavy drilling liquids are pumped into the well to counteract the pressure of the gushing oil.

If the efforts succeeded, officials intended to pump cement into the well to seal it. But the company suspended pumping operations at 2:30 a.m. Friday after two junk shot attempts, said the technician, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the efforts.

The suspension of the effort was not announced, and appeared to again contradict statements by company and government officials that suggested the top kill procedure was progressing Friday.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/us/29spill.html?hp

[tekisui]

1. Less than 10% injection fluid stayed in pipes above well.

The injections at various pressure levels, engineers had been able to keep less than 10 percent of the injection fluids inside the stack of pipes above the well.

(same link as OP)

[xchrom]

2. Sigh - recommend

[Subdivisions]

3. We're stuck with it, folks. Until the relief wells are there. n/t

[tekisui]

5. I'm afraid so.

That was it, really.

[IndianaGreen]

4. BP is not telling the truth. Top kill and junk shot has been tried twice and failed twice.

BP will continue with this charade until the relief well is completed.

[yourout]

6. If the riser is somewhat standard steel pipe.....rig up a hydraulic vise drop...

it over the pipe and squeeze the damn thing closed like squeezing a straw it should stop or at least slow down the flow.

[suffragette]

7. "appeared to contradict statements"

What a gentle way to say they lied yet again.


And given BP's track record for minimizing the damage/extent and outright lying at each stage of this horrible event, I suspect - as bad as this news is - that the situation is actually worse.