How Can they Stop the Oil Spill?

[Orphia Nay]

Thanks, EHocking. I'm finding your updates on this story to be very well-informed, and your links to be very useful. Cheers.

 

[EHocking]

Thanks, EHocking. I'm finding your updates on this story to be very well-informed, and your links to be very useful. Cheers.

Thanks for that. I was starting to think I was the only one watching this thread these days.

Also we're lucky to have other industry posters here checking the validity of my assumptions.

Odd how the traffic went down when it appeared that BP had a handle on this. Just because there is currently no oil and gas flowing from the well does not mean the end of this.

The well has not been killed, merely temporarily contained.

 

[EHocking]

Every time I check on this, the scenario changes. Looks like they might try to kill the well using the original borehole.
http://www.wtrg.com/

In a situation like this BP would have a number of scenarios and back up options. What to go with will depend on the conditions they find themselves in.

As for the "static kill" - it is a temporary thing, not a permanent kill.

They are only using mud not cement for this operation and eventually that mud will become cut with oil and gas at the reservoir and lose its effectiveness. It will require constant monitoring and probably "topping up".

It is certainly better than oil and gas in the capped wellbore though, and will also reduce the pressures on the wellhead and original BOP stack.

Also, I have a vague memory that there is a fluid loss zone in the annulus above the reservoir, so they may lose mud there if the specific gravity of the kill mud used is too high.

An "interesting" balancing act, but at least BP have records of the original drilling mud weights required to contain the reservoir pressure and the current shut in pressure tests help try to determine the current state of the well downhole.

 

[EHocking]

Adm.Thad Allen Press Briefing

I've just finished listening to the audio file of the Adm. Allen's 20th July briefing and was struck by just how intelligent this guy is.

Whatever your thoughts on BP, the National Incident Commander demonstrates a thorough grasp of all the implications of activity in the GoM at the moment as well as an excellent technical understanding of the state of the well and its implications.

I'm very impressed by this guy.

I just wish other commentators in the media, government and NGs were half as informed on the subject as Adm. Allen. It would reduce the amount of anxiety on the subject (but wouldn't sell as many newspapers, air time or forward agenda of course).

 

[Marcus]

Thanks for that. I was starting to think I was the only one watching this thread these days.

Also we're lucky to have other industry posters here checking the validity of my assumptions.

Odd how the traffic went down when it appeared that BP had a handle on this. Just because there is currently no oil and gas flowing from the well does not mean the end of this.

The well has not been killed, merely temporarily contained.

Please do keep posting, there are lots of us lurking that aren't informed enough to contribute much.

 

[Unlike a Bull]

Please do keep posting, there are lots of us lurking that aren't informed enough to contribute much.

Seconded. Thanks EHocking.

 

[JPK]

Good morning EHocking.
I have been reading this thread since the start. I feel I have a much better understand of what is going on in the GoM due to some of the members that have been posting.
Thanks.

 

[trvlr2]

Thanks for that. I was starting to think I was the only one watching this thread these days.

Also we're lucky to have other industry posters here checking the validity of my assumptions.

Odd how the traffic went down when it appeared that BP had a handle on this. Just because there is currently no oil and gas flowing from the well does not mean the end of this.

The well has not been killed, merely temporarily contained.

Don't feel as if you are talking to yourself.

I saw the traffic die down, as well. I think it has something to do with attention spans. If we are not going to have an Armageddon, what fun is it?

I hope someone will be able to find the 'findings' of the various committees investigating this incident, and report them here. After the media have all gone on to the current best-selling disaster.

 

[Soapy Sam]

I've just finished listening to the audio file of the Adm. Allen's 20th July briefing and was struck by just how intelligent this guy is.

Whatever your thoughts on BP, the National Incident Commander demonstrates a thorough grasp of all the implications of activity in the GoM at the moment as well as an excellent technical understanding of the state of the well and its implications.

I'm very impressed by this guy.

I just wish other commentators in the media, government and NGs were half as informed on the subject as Adm. Allen. It would reduce the amount of anxiety on the subject (but wouldn't sell as many newspapers, air time or forward agenda of course).

Seconded. A pity so few people actually listen to the man.

I was , like you, bemused by how rapidly the story declined in coverage as soon as the cap was in place. It reflects a point I made a time back about the recovery / cap operation being the showy window dressing while the real work goes on unnoticed in back. The press do not appear, even now, to recognise that the actual well kill has not even started yet.

 

[Orphia Nay]

Thanks for that. I was starting to think I was the only one watching this thread these days.

Also we're lucky to have other industry posters here checking the validity of my assumptions.

Odd how the traffic went down when it appeared that BP had a handle on this. Just because there is currently no oil and gas flowing from the well does not mean the end of this.

The well has not been killed, merely temporarily contained.

I've been reading this thread every day, if it's been updated. I'm usually afraid to post a comment in fear of revealing my general ignorance, but thanks to you I'm learning the answers to my questions.

I post at a rather woo forum, and the comments on this there tend to the conspiracy theory side of things, and it's good to find what's really going on in this thread.

Seconded. A pity so few people actually listen to the man.

I was , like you, bemused by how rapidly the story declined in coverage as soon as the cap was in place. It reflects a point I made a time back about the recovery / cap operation being the showy window dressing while the real work goes on unnoticed in back. The press do not appear, even now, to recognise that the actual well kill has not even started yet.

The wooish forum I mentioned was quick to repeat the myths that the cap was leaking oil, but other than that, it's been mostly silent. This is not over by a long shot. I must also thank you, Soapy Sam, for your informed comments on the situation. Even if I didn't quite understand the really technical side of things , your general comments have been informative.

 

[EHocking]

Don't feel as if you are talking to yourself.

I saw the traffic die down, as well. I think it has something to do with attention spans. If we are not going to have an Armageddon, what fun is it?

I agree that has been one of the problems with this - the media has blown this out of all proportion (in some areas) in order to sell advertising space and keep viewer numbers.

I hope someone will be able to find the 'findings' of the various committees investigating this incident, and report them here. After the media have all gone on to the current best-selling disaster.

Official Investigation site is here.

The investigation is now in its 3rd session - again, not much media reporting on it - oiled pelicans make "better" front pages.

 

[EHocking]

Update for the 21st

Thanks for all the encouraging posts recently - I better keep up my side of the bargain! Actually, the information that we used to get is harder to get hold of. The DVID site used to have Adm. Allen's daily briefing available on video - they're a bugger to find now, so I'm having to stick to 2nd hand reports on those briefings.

This from the BP briefing at 3PM 21 July.

Relief well 1.
Activity is currently suspended due to weather.

BP were opening the hole to set the final casing before intersecting the blown out well when current and impending weather has halted activity.
The relief well is 4ft horizontally from the original wellbore and they have 100ft or more to drill vertically to intersect.

A storm packer has been set in the hole - this is a temporary barrier blocking off the wellbore that can be pulled so that activities can recommence when weather conditions permit.

With a wellbore this deep it takes about 4 days for a round trip on (i.e. pull out of hole run back in hole) drillstring and longer to run casing and then cement, so they've suspended activity due to the approach of a tropical storm.

They are still saying end of July to intersect the original well.

Relief well kill.
The kill procedure for the relief well is to drill into the annulus of the original well and if that's where it is flowing, stop (or "kill") the flow by pumping heavy mud into the wellbore. They'd then set cement plug(s) to permanently isolate the reservoir and flow. They then intend to drill through the top of that cement, into the cased hole and plug back the inside of that wellbore with cement as well.

Well Shut-in and Integrity Test.
Continues - current wellhead pressure is 6850psi and is building at >1psi per hour. BP says that this pressure trend also builds their confidence that the blown-out well is intact downhole. That is, the casings are not leaking. They can not (ever?) be sure of that, but the pressure trend certainly supports their models and assumptions.

BP have to apply to Unified Command every 24hrs to keep the well shut-in. This would involve technical reviews of the pressure data at the wellhead as well as the sonic and seismic surveys they are taking of the seabed.

The sonic and seismic surveys are looking out for any swelling of the seabed and and oil/gas releases at the seabed around the well since it has been shut in which might be an indication of loss of well integrity and an underground blowout.

Weather concerns.
Besides the delays occurring, there may be hard decisions to make if the surface vessels have to move off site due to weather. BP and Unified Command have not indicated whether they will keep the well shut in while no monitoring is taking place.
It is not improbably that they'd open it up again during this time if they are concerned about damaging an already damaged well by maintaining pressure on it.

Static Kill.
Still remains a viable option - remember this is only a relief measure, not a permanent solution.

They won't attempt it until that last casing in the relief well is in place. I can't see any technical reason for this, but as BP says, they're just using an "overabundance of caution" (if only they'd done so back in April...).
Of course Adm. Allen will have to sign off on the procedure before going ahead.

 

[trvlr2]

EH= Thanks for the link to the official site.

 

[trvlr2]

For your consideration.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/us/22transocean.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&th&emc=th

Which may be off topic, but then the OP question was answered early on in this thread.
What I found interesting was that 50% if the workers interviewed feared reprisals if safety problems were disclosed. Just the case I went over with FunkDFino. Apparently, those workers did not share FDF's perceptions.

 

[Orphia Nay]

Thanks for the very comprehensive update, EHocking.

What are your thoughts on Corexit? There seems to be a lot of conflicting information about it, ranging from total panic to it being practically harmless. Is this a good analysis?

 

[EHocking]

Thanks for the very comprehensive update, EHocking.

What are your thoughts on Corexit? There seems to be a lot of conflicting information about it, ranging from total panic to it being practically harmless. Is this a good analysis?

I'd agree with the "lesser of two evils" comment in the article.

Here's a previous post of mine on the subject:

While not on the topic of shutting off the leak, here's a useful document explaining what dispersants are, how they work, the consequence of using (or not) using them on a spill and comparisons to alternatives, such as mechanical removal (skimming).

http://documents.plant.wur.nl/imares/dispersants/08sintef.pdf

The authors of the document are:

Sintef, a Norwegian, purportedly independent, research company,
and,
Alun Lewis, an oil spill consultant of some reputation apparently...

The concern is that no one has any experience in the volume of dispersant being used. There have been a number of pointed questions as to why the US authorities (MMS) had not commissioned studies into the impact of dispersants, considering they are responsible for allow their use.

Oh, and the headlines that Corexit is banned in the UK is a little bend of the truth to help stir up controversy where it doesn't exist.

According to a Marine Management Organisation publication on "Oil spill treatment products approved for use in the United Kingdom"

...The following products have been removed from the list of approved products because they did not pass the Rocky Shore Test when submitted for renewal:
[FONT=Wingdings,Wingdings][/FONT]

• Chemkleen OSDA JAC (removed from list 21/01/1998)
• Corexit 9527 (removed from list 30/07/1998)
• Corexit 9500 (removed from list 30/07/1998).

Existing stocks of these products may still be used away from rocky shorelines in appropriate conditions. Approval should be sought from the relevant licensing authority before any proposed use.​

​

 

[EHocking]

For your consideration.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/us/22transocean.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&th&emc=th

Which may be off topic, but then the OP question was answered early on in this thread.
What I found interesting was that 50% if the workers interviewed feared reprisals if safety problems were disclosed. Just the case I went over with FunkDFino. Apparently, those workers did not share FDF's perceptions.

It is just the way of things that oilfield workers bitch about management and don't trust them (hark back on your reaction to me when I stated I'd worked as a Company Man), but even if the opinions expressed are not warranted, they are a direct indicator that management has allowed it to fester.

I have seen rig crews and contractors attitudes (and as a consequence, safety) turned around by correctly engaging, educating and listening to all crew from the cleaners up to the OIM.

Even if half of what is said in the survey (and hey, who ever points out positive things about management when they send you a survey), even if half of it is true, it's a direct indication that the Contractor and the Operator are not correctly engaging their crews in safety management.

The crews may be wrong, if so, it is still their manager's fault for not demonstrating clearly to them that they are wrong. An attitude that is nearly as bad as ignoring them if they were right.

 

[EHocking]

Activites suspended

As per the last technical briefing.

The relief wells are temporarily suspended while waiting on weather and they're not expecting to get back to anything for a few days. Estimate to set the last casing in the relief well is 4 to 7 days from now dependent on weather.

From BP's briefing Adm. Allen has given the go ahead for the static kill operation. But again, that won't happen until casing is set in the relief well.

In the meantime though, Allen and BP said that it is currently looking good for the well to remain shut in even if they have to move the surface vessels (and thus ROVs) off location due to weather.

Either way it looks like nearly 2 weeks for no oil and gas to be flowing from that well into the GoM. Fingers crossed that it may even remain that way until and during the relief well kill.

Things are finally starting to look up - and just in time for me to enjoy my weekend.

 

[Orphia Nay]

As per the last technical briefing.

The relief wells are temporarily suspended while waiting on weather and they're not expecting to get back to anything for a few days. Estimate to set the last casing in the relief well is 4 to 7 days from now dependent on weather.

From BP's briefing Adm. Allen has given the go ahead for the static kill operation. But again, that won't happen until casing is set in the relief well.

In the meantime though, Allen and BP said that it is currently looking good for the well to remain shut in even if they have to move the surface vessels (and thus ROVs) off location due to weather.

Either way it looks like nearly 2 weeks for no oil and gas to be flowing from that well into the GoM. Fingers crossed that it may even remain that way until and during the relief well kill.

Things are finally starting to look up - and just in time for me to enjoy my weekend.

Thanks for all your posts, EHocking, and enjoy your weekend - you deserve it!

 

[geni]

Oh, and the headlines that Corexit is banned in the UK is a little bend of the truth to help stir up controversy where it doesn't exist.

According to a Marine Management Organisation publication on "Oil spill treatment products approved for use in the United Kingdom"

[/LEFT]

UK is kinda paranoid about dispersents post the Torrey Canyon disaster.