BP Says New Well Cap Installed

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"As BP announced it had successfully attached a new cap on a runaway well in the Gulf of Mexico, the company prepared on Tuesday to test whether the gusher could be stopped completely.

For the duration of the test, which will be a minimum of 6 hours and could extend up to 48 hours,” a BP press release said, the cap will be closed, “effectively shutting in the well.”

“It is expected, although cannot be assured, that no oil will be released to the ocean for the duration of the test. This will not, however, be an indication that flow from the well bore has been permanently stopped,” the press release said.

It noted that the capping system has “never before has been deployed at these depths or under these conditions, and its efficiency and ability to contain the oil and gas cannot be assured.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/us/14cap.html

[Syrinx]

1. potentially great news

I hope it works. And everyone else does too.

k&r

[DCBob]

2. Lets hope this works.. one fear is that the old BOP and casing underground may be damaged..

and wont be able to take the pressure. I wonder what plan b is if something blows?

[dipsydoodle]

3. Should at least help determine

whether or not oil and gas are escaping up the side of the pipe from possible damage to a seal at a much lower depth which may be a more important issue.

[RC]

4. And if it is escaping, this will make it much worse.

[dipsydoodle]

5. It may be the only way of testing that issue

unfortunately. Fingers crossed its ok.

edit to correct complete gibberish.

[Statistical]

6. How nice would it be for the well to be "sealed" at least until the relief wells finish

the job permanently?

Plus the relief well crews can go a little slower (and safer) knowing they aren't racing a tide of oil.