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Is Oil Escaping from Beyond the Well?
But, as if the original well breach weren't bad enough, some evidence now suggests that the well's bore and casing may be "blown." In some ways, the spill is comparable to a straw inserted in cup of soda, and efforts to close the breach have been roughly akin to blocking or capping the straw. However, if the casing -- or straw -- is blown, the oil could begin leaking from any crack or crevice in the surrounding sea floor, and the entire area could be leaking like a sponge.
Speaking to Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC, Florida's Senator Nelson suggested that this nightmare scenario might be happening. He told the journalist that "there's reports of oil that's seeping up from the seabed. . .which would indicate, if that's true, that the well casing itself is actually pierced. . .underneath the seabed. So, you know, the problems could be just enormous with what we're facing."
The ultimate solution that BP has been touting almost since the disaster began has been "relief wells." Basically, a hole dug near the original bore, the relief well would intersect with the main well. BP could then pump the wells full of mud and cement, ultimately blocking the main flow (this diagram shows how the process works). BP is currently digging two relief wells, which it hopes to complete by August. Company CEO Tony Hayward has repeatedly told the public that the strategy is a sure thing.
Years of Cleanup to Come
In truth, however, digging the relief wells is actually extremely difficult, and is likely to be complicated by hurricanes, dense rock and myriad other problems. Worse yet, if the relief wells blow out, the spill could worsen, releasing a further 240,000 barrels -- or 10,080,000 gallons -- per day. In a similar oil spill disaster in the Timor Sea last year, a relief well exploded, destroying another rig and further delaying efforts to cap the well.
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http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/media/bp-oil-spill-get-worse/19507816/
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