BP Discussing a Backup Strategy to Plug Well

[highplainsdem]

Source: NY Times

BP Discussing a Backup Strategy to Plug Well
By HENRY FOUNTAIN
Published: June 28, 2010


Since shortly after oil began spewing into the Gulf of Mexico two months ago, relief wells have been discussed as the ultimate solution, their success in permanently plugging the runaway well deemed a foregone conclusion.

But BP and government officials are now talking about a long-term containment plan to pump the oil to an existing platform should the relief well effort fail. While such a failure is considered highly unlikely, the contingency plan is the latest sign that with this most vexing of engineering challenges — snuffing a gusher 5,000 feet down in the gulf — nothing is a sure thing.

-snip-

Experts said it was conceivable that the “kill” procedure would not be effective, particularly if only a single relief well was used and the bottom of the well bore was damaged in the initial blowout. Pumping large quantities of erosive mud into the well could even end up damaging the well further, hindering later efforts to seal it.

-snip-

The backup plan would involve continuing to collect the oil through several systems at the wellhead and pumping it through a subsea pipeline to an existing production platform at least several miles away. Mr. Wells said several platforms had been identified as possibilities, although no decisions had been made.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/us/29wells.html

[sce56]

1. I wonder how long they have been thinking that! n/t

[Downwinder]

2. Thinking ahead for a change. n/t

[grantcart]

3. Finally

[marions ghost]

4. Mr. Wells (!?!)

seems to be on top of this...

:7

I guess they didn't have a production platform they could do this with BEFORE now??? So how long would it take to get this backup plan operational if the relief well fails?