The relief well that BP (NYSE:BP) has been working towards over the last few months, is only 100 feet away from reaching their target. The completion of this process will insure no more crude oil is ever released into the ocean by the Macondo well. It should also have a big impact on oil trading.
John Wright is the man who will be guiding the drill over three miles from the surface and two miles below the sea floor. The target he will be attempting to hit is less than half the size of a dartboard. If Wright misses the target, BP's engineers will pull the drill up and pour concrete into the hole, and then try it again.
Wright has helped companies for over four decades cap wells all over the world. His track record is 40 for 40, hoping to make it 41 for 41 with his completion of the Macondo well. After watching a video from BP in June, he said he is quite confident that he can do it.
"Out of forty relief wells that I've drilled, we've never missed yet. I've got high confidence we will take care of this problem as soon as we can get there," said Wright.
Showing posts with label engineers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label engineers. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
BP (NYSE:BP) Oil: Static Kill Success, On To Relief Wells
BP (NYSE:BP) engineers appear to be successful in their static kill attempt. Cement was poured in to the top of the well, which is supposed to hold down the mud at the bottom of the well. Now they must wait at least 24 hours for the cement to harden.
The static kill process started on Tuesday with crews pumping thick mud down the well to push the crude back underground. With that success, the next step was to pour in the cement. The final step once the cement hardens is for the engineers to inject more mud and cement into the bottom of the well, creating a permanent plug.
So while we are starting to shift from one aspect of BP's disastrous oil spill to another, there is still much to be done. According to a new report issued by the Interior Department and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there is still almost 53 million gallons of the toxic oil polluting the Gulf shores.
"There is very little observable oil out there. We can't turn a blind eye, if we don't see oil, I'm not assuming it doesn't exist," said Rear Adm. Paul Zukunft.
The static kill process started on Tuesday with crews pumping thick mud down the well to push the crude back underground. With that success, the next step was to pour in the cement. The final step once the cement hardens is for the engineers to inject more mud and cement into the bottom of the well, creating a permanent plug.
So while we are starting to shift from one aspect of BP's disastrous oil spill to another, there is still much to be done. According to a new report issued by the Interior Department and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there is still almost 53 million gallons of the toxic oil polluting the Gulf shores.
"There is very little observable oil out there. We can't turn a blind eye, if we don't see oil, I'm not assuming it doesn't exist," said Rear Adm. Paul Zukunft.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
BP (NYSE:BP) Spill Containment Cap Testing
The spill containment cap was successfully put into place by BP (NYSE:BP), but now the question remains, when will testing begin to see if it will prevent oil from being deposited into the ocean ? BP officials originally said Monday, here we are on Thursday with no definite answer.
BP's vice president, Kent Wells said a leak was found on Wednesday evening on the side of the capping device called the "choke line," the pipe has been repaired but caused the delay in testing the cap. With the choke line repaired BP can resume the testing, but they have to back track a few steps.
Once the test begins engineers will close all three opening in the cap, if successful no oil should come out. BP will be carefully monitoring the pressure beneath the cap. What they'll be looking for is high pressure, that means there's only a single leak. While low pressure means there could be leaks further down the well. The oil will stay trapped for at least 48 hours before BP determines if it's working properly.
BP's vice president, Kent Wells said a leak was found on Wednesday evening on the side of the capping device called the "choke line," the pipe has been repaired but caused the delay in testing the cap. With the choke line repaired BP can resume the testing, but they have to back track a few steps.
Once the test begins engineers will close all three opening in the cap, if successful no oil should come out. BP will be carefully monitoring the pressure beneath the cap. What they'll be looking for is high pressure, that means there's only a single leak. While low pressure means there could be leaks further down the well. The oil will stay trapped for at least 48 hours before BP determines if it's working properly.
Monday, July 12, 2010
BP (NYSE:BP) Update: Secondary Containment Cap: Removing and Replacing
BP (NYSE:BP) started the process on Saturday, of removing the containment cap from the well. Their plan is to replace it with one that is a tighter fit which will funnel more oil to the ships on the surface. This is very delicate work and there are several robotic submersibles surrounding the well.
Senior Vice President of BP, Kent Wells said, "Over the next four to seven days, depending on how things go, we should get that sealing cap on. That's our plan." If everything goes as planned, all of the oil could be being collected as soon as Monday. It is only another temporary solution until the relief wells are completed, but if successful it would cut the oil that is leaking into the Gulf way down.
The process involves engineers removing a bolted flange below the dome. The flange has to be removed so another piece called the flange spool can be put over the pipe where the sealing cap will be connected. The flange was successfully removed Saturday. BP officials said they are behind schedule for the placement of the sealing cap but are still optimistic.
"Everything done at that site is very much harder than anyone expects, is replacing the cap going to do more damage than leaving it in place, or are you going to cause problems that you can't take care of," said Ed Overton, a Louisiana State University environmental sciences professor.
Senior Vice President of BP, Kent Wells said, "Over the next four to seven days, depending on how things go, we should get that sealing cap on. That's our plan." If everything goes as planned, all of the oil could be being collected as soon as Monday. It is only another temporary solution until the relief wells are completed, but if successful it would cut the oil that is leaking into the Gulf way down.
The process involves engineers removing a bolted flange below the dome. The flange has to be removed so another piece called the flange spool can be put over the pipe where the sealing cap will be connected. The flange was successfully removed Saturday. BP officials said they are behind schedule for the placement of the sealing cap but are still optimistic.
"Everything done at that site is very much harder than anyone expects, is replacing the cap going to do more damage than leaving it in place, or are you going to cause problems that you can't take care of," said Ed Overton, a Louisiana State University environmental sciences professor.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Chevron (NYSE:CVX) Oil Leak, Will Pay All Oil Cleanup Costs
Chevron's (NYSE:CVX) engineers are frantically trying to find out the cause of their oil leak, which has been going on since April. So far, it's reporting to have lost at least 50 liters of oil and gas into the Burrard Inlet.
The company has said it is putting together a plan to extract and treat the pollutants stemming from their refinery. Although, this plan will not be put into effect until sometime in the Summer.
Ray Lord, Chevron's spokesman said they will put into place extraction wells as well as absorption blooms in the Inlet for now to help contain and recover the leak. Even though Lord would not give an estimate of what the fuel cleanup would cost, he assures that Chevron will be paying for everything in full.
"How long the wells and booms need to be there is difficult for us to say right now. It'll depend on how much of the ground water is appearing, what the transmission rate is and how effective our
interception systems are," said Lord.
The company has said it is putting together a plan to extract and treat the pollutants stemming from their refinery. Although, this plan will not be put into effect until sometime in the Summer.
Ray Lord, Chevron's spokesman said they will put into place extraction wells as well as absorption blooms in the Inlet for now to help contain and recover the leak. Even though Lord would not give an estimate of what the fuel cleanup would cost, he assures that Chevron will be paying for everything in full.
"How long the wells and booms need to be there is difficult for us to say right now. It'll depend on how much of the ground water is appearing, what the transmission rate is and how effective our
interception systems are," said Lord.
Friday, May 28, 2010
BP (NYSE:BP) Risks Making Oil Spill Worse
BP (NYSE:BP) engineers are proceeding with extreme caution, as they continue on their containment efforts for the fuel spill. This was after stopping their "top kill" endeavors for a day, this is apparently just part of the process according to BP officials.
This gives the engineers time to review the effects or lack there of. At that time, Doug Suttles, BP's chief operating officer said, "we have not yet stopped the flow. You stop pumping. If the pressure begins to rise you pump again. If it doesn't rise, you have some sign of success."
As well as analyzing the spill containment results on Thursday, BP was also restocking their oil spill equipment with close to 15,000 barrels of the heavy engineering mud in preparation for their next oil cleanup attempt, which began Thursday evening.
Tony Hayward, BP's head, indicated the "top kill" attempt could make the oil leak worse, this is one of the risks of this endeavor.
This gives the engineers time to review the effects or lack there of. At that time, Doug Suttles, BP's chief operating officer said, "we have not yet stopped the flow. You stop pumping. If the pressure begins to rise you pump again. If it doesn't rise, you have some sign of success."
As well as analyzing the spill containment results on Thursday, BP was also restocking their oil spill equipment with close to 15,000 barrels of the heavy engineering mud in preparation for their next oil cleanup attempt, which began Thursday evening.
Tony Hayward, BP's head, indicated the "top kill" attempt could make the oil leak worse, this is one of the risks of this endeavor.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
BP's (NYSE:BP) Oil Leak Control Efforts Have Declined
Despite the continued efforts of BP (NYSE:BP) to contain the massive oil leak, it is not working as well as before. BP's PLC officials stated Sunday that the mile long tube that was inserted into the spewing oil, is not as effective.
John Curry, BP's spokesman told the Associated Press Sunday that there has been a substantial drop in the amount the tube is siphoning to the surface. As of Friday there was a reported 92,400 gallons a day being collected. On Sunday there was a big drop, down to 57,120 gallons a day.
Three of Obama's top administration officials are heading back to the Gulf Coast to monitor the ongoing oil spill cleanup efforts.
Meanwhile, engineers continue on in their efforts to try and get some control over the oil disaster. This is as the crude oil continues to wash into our shores, wildlife is at a continued high danger, and anger with BP and the government continues to grow.
John Curry, BP's spokesman told the Associated Press Sunday that there has been a substantial drop in the amount the tube is siphoning to the surface. As of Friday there was a reported 92,400 gallons a day being collected. On Sunday there was a big drop, down to 57,120 gallons a day.
Three of Obama's top administration officials are heading back to the Gulf Coast to monitor the ongoing oil spill cleanup efforts.
Meanwhile, engineers continue on in their efforts to try and get some control over the oil disaster. This is as the crude oil continues to wash into our shores, wildlife is at a continued high danger, and anger with BP and the government continues to grow.
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