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Old 08-04-2010, 03:50 AM   #550 (permalink)
roachboy
 
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Quote:
BP says 'static kill' has successfully plugged oil well

Deepwater Horizon well now being monitored as US government expected to confirm slick causing less damage than feared

BP claimed today that it had successfully plugged the ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well, for now at least, using a "static kill" technique, as the White House was looking into the long-term effects of the spill.

The procedure, which involves pumping heavy mud into the top of the capped well, began last night. It was stopped this morning after the operation went to plan.

BP said the breakthrough was a "significant milestone", but cautioned that more mud may still have to be pumped into the well.

It issued a statement saying that "the desired outcome" of the operation had been achieved as the well had "reached a static condition".

Later today, the US government is due to release a report that is expected to estimate that only a quarter of oil that leaked from the well would continue to cause problems.

In a briefing to the New York Times, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which prepared the report, said most of the oil had already dispersed. Last week, satellite images of the slick showed that it was breaking up on the surface and was confined to isolated patches.

The plugged well is being monitored to ensure it remains static, BP said. "Further pumping of mud may or may not be required depending on results observed during monitoring", it said. If the plug holds, BP will start pumping cement into the well.

The operation is being conducted in tandem with the drilling of relief wells, which BP says is still the "ultimate solution to kill" the well. The first relief well is on course to intercept the well by the middle of this month, but drilling was halted during the static kill operation.

The White House said the well leaked 4.9m barrels of oil before being capped last month, making it the worst environmental disaster in US history.

The Deepwater Horizon well exploded in April, killing 11 oil workers.
BP says 'static kill' has successfully plugged oil well | Environment | guardian.co.uk
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