Snap poll - do you think the top kill is working?

[HughMoran]

I'm not so optimistic - what does DU think one day before we get the final word?

[dipsydoodle]

1. best thing

is to assume it won't work and that not much will be achieved until August when a relief well or two is/are drilled. That way if the present effort does infact work presumably you'll be happy.

[gateley]

2. I dunno. We seem to be getting conflicting reports -- or at lease I'm interpreting

them as conflicting. If they stop the effort I assume it didn't work, but then we hear it's a 'pause' to check the progress. :shrug:

[HughMoran]

4. I think they stop pumping, take pressure readings, shoot more junk in there, then start the mud

again...

Clearly they are not seeing the progress they'd like, but what can you expect with such large leaks in the riser?

[gateley]

5. And what looks good on paper doesn't always translate into reality, so they

have to deal with unexpected glitches when they arise. I wish they would keep us better apprised so we're not wildly speculating.

[WeDidIt]

3. It doesn't look like it's working at all.

IF it was working, you should see the flow diminishing even as they are pumping in the mud. That simply is not happening.

The only methodology that has ever worked in these off shore drilling blowouts has been a relief well.

[Avalux]

6. I don't think we'll get the final word tomorrow.

They'll continue pumping mud, golf balls and rubber; stopping to take pressure readings and then repeating the process as long as the bop holds up and doesn't fall apart. I don't have much confidence it'll work though; the pressure of the oil is probably greater than the pressure of the mud they can force through without blowing apart the bop. And how much mud?

One of the relief wells has been suspended for Plan B; perhaps using it's bop to place on top of the one already there.

[HughMoran]

7. Looks like the majority was right to be pessimistic

:(

[Liberal_in_LA]

8. I hope so