Tropical Storm Bonnie halts oil spill cleanup, but oil cap holds

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico 2010 became the target for Tropical Storm Bonnie as it pulled away from the Bahamas Thursday . Oil spill containment and cleanup was brought to a standstill. Thad Allen, the federal director of the spill response, had not yet given word to BP saying the massive flotilla engaged in the oil spill containment and cleanup must evacuate. Better weather could have to return before a final effort to kill the well is attempted. But the feds are confident, as outlined by Allen, the storm will not force them to disconnect the oil spill containment cap that has stanched the flow from the ruptured well. Article source – Oil spill cap will stay in place when Tropical Storm Bonnie hits by Personal Money Store.

Oil spill containment delayed by Tropical Storm Bonnie

Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm system could become Tropical Storm Bonnie later Thursday and reach the Gulf of Mexico by Saturday. The Associated Press reports that a relief well to permanently seal the ruptured well was nearly complete before work on it was stopped. Original plans were for crews to reinforce the last few feet of the relief well with cement on Wednesday and Thursday, before killing it once and for all by pumping mud to the gusher. If Tropical Storm Bonnie forces work crews to evacuate, it might be two weeks before they can resume the effort to kill the well. For months, BP has said the relief well would be finished by the end of July in hopes the blowout could be plugged by early August.

Relief well must be complete before static kill attempt

Another option being considered to plug the BP oil leak called is called a “static kill”. The New York Times reports that to permanently stop the flow of oil and gas, a static kill is performed by pumping heavy drilling mud into the well via the blowout preventer. A static kill can’t start until the relief well casing is fully installed, to avoid damaging the relief well if something goes wrong. If the static kill works as advertised, the relief well will still be needed to confirm the well has been killed. To kill the well for good if the static kill fails, mud could be pumped to the relief well for several days, or maybe weeks.

Oil spill cap performance breeds confidence

Despite Tropical Storm Bonnie, the government told BP it could leave the oil spill containment cap attached. Bloomberg reports that Allen said data from the well gave them “growing confidence that keeping the cap on would not damage the leaking well. Pressure inside the well has risen to 6,863 pounds per square inch since BP sealed it July 15, indicating oil and gas is not being forced out elsewhere in the well bore, as outlined by BP’s website. Every single day the pressure holds gives the team more confidence, a BP official said.

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