July 16, 2010 - UPDATE:
Pressure Builds to 6700psi. BP “Cautiously Optimistic.”
All eyes are on the pressure gauges, somewhere in BP HQ, as the readings have steadily increased but have not reached the target hoped for over the last 12 hours. Ken Wells, the new “American” CEO of BP has suggested that the depletion of the reservoir may account for these lower pressure readings, but other experts state this is unlikely given the enormous size of the reservoir. The well pressure is now officially above the maximum flex joint rating, (See July 15 update), which is why Skandi ROV is constantly monitoring the mudline (sea floor) beneath the BOP stack. Authorities hope to reach a steady pressure of 8,700psi, and they are still 2000psi from that target. Meanwhile, seismic surveys are scanning regions approximately 10-12 miles from the well borehole, though Oil Drum posters continue to eviscerate Matt Simmons for his assertion that the real leak is indeed some 10 miles away. (See sidebar) Another survey is actively looking for the presence of methane gas, which has comprised about 40% of the leak flow, (while 5% is the norm). Scientists have reported the methane levels in the water are extremely high, and this remains a grave concern.
Pressure Builds to 6700psi. BP “Cautiously Optimistic.”
All eyes are on the pressure gauges, somewhere in BP HQ, as the readings have steadily increased but have not reached the target hoped for over the last 12 hours. Ken Wells, the new “American” CEO of BP has suggested that the depletion of the reservoir may account for these lower pressure readings, but other experts state this is unlikely given the enormous size of the reservoir. The well pressure is now officially above the maximum flex joint rating, (See July 15 update), which is why Skandi ROV is constantly monitoring the mudline (sea floor) beneath the BOP stack. Authorities hope to reach a steady pressure of 8,700psi, and they are still 2000psi from that target. Meanwhile, seismic surveys are scanning regions approximately 10-12 miles from the well borehole, though Oil Drum posters continue to eviscerate Matt Simmons for his assertion that the real leak is indeed some 10 miles away. (See sidebar) Another survey is actively looking for the presence of methane gas, which has comprised about 40% of the leak flow, (while 5% is the norm). Scientists have reported the methane levels in the water are extremely high, and this remains a grave concern.
The relief well operation, temporarily halted while the pressure test was being conducted, has now resumed. It appears that BP will have to eventually restart the oil flow, possibly opening the smaller kill and choke lines on the new cap, and then attempt to capture oil with the Helix Producer and Q4000 ships above while the relief well makes a “bottom kill” attempt. We will have learned what we thought we already knew last May when the mud from the “top kill” procedure failed to stop the flow because they could not maintain required pressures--the oil is leaking somewhere downhole. The question tonight is: where are those last 2000 pounds of pressure per square inch? Where is the oil going into the undersea formations, and what does this bode for the bottom kill plan?
