The BP Macondo well was supposed to have a “static kill” happen to it on Monday. The static kill, postponed a week by tropical storm Bonnie, is the first step toward plugging the leaking well for good on day 100 of the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010. After the static kill — ramming tons of heavy drilling mud down the well — is complete, a “bottom kill” performed from a relief well comes next. These kills should be what end the worst oil spill that has ever happened in the U.S. before.
Cap strengthens static kill
A temporary oil spill cap finally stopped the flow in mid-July when BP forged ahead to kill the well once and for all. There was a failed attempt to stop the well just like the static kill on Memorial Day weekend, reports the New York Times. The oil that was coming out of the well was stronger than the mud being pumped into it which is why “top kill” failed to work. But now the oil spill cap has stopped the flow, the BP engineers say the static kill has a much better chance at success.
Static kill leads to bottom kill
Mud is going to be pumped into the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico where the original preventer failed to work the first time. The New Orleans Times Picayune reports that right now on standby are 12,000 barrels of mud. About 37,000 barrels of a heavier mud compound intended for the “bottom kill” is also on site. As mud is being pumped, BP crews will observe pressure inside the well. Pressure should lower at predictable rates to a “static condition” inside the well. After the static kill is complete, crews will drill the final 100 feet of the relief well to intercept the Macondo well.
Hurricanes make process hurried
By the end of August, the kills have to be finished. The Associated Press reports that BP has many reasons to attempt the complicated static kill although the relief well is almost complete. A static kill makes a relief well easier to build. In case the relief well doesn’t work, this will ensure anything is finished. Perhaps probably the most essential reason is that each day the water temperature in the Gulf increases, so does the threat of an additional violent storm disrupting the cleanup process. Between mid-August and late October you will find bound to be a bit of hurricanes when is why Federal Officials hope BP will finish before then.
Further reading
New York Times
nytimes.com/2010/08/03/us/03spill.html?src=mv
Times Picayune
nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/07/static_kill_of_macondo_well_in.html
Associated Press
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gIXWYBTpLtSayJtg41LKXpxSxVPAD9HBEA1O0
