The long-awaited “static kill” was scheduled to start on BP’s blown out Macondo well Monday. Bonnie delayed the static kill from happening about one week until static kill was done on day 100 of the Gulf of Mexico 2010 oil spill. The “bottom kill” is scheduled to happen following the static kill puts mud to the well to stop it. These kills should be what end the worst oil spill that has ever happened within the U.S. before.
Oil spill cap gives static kill better odds
BP put a temporary oil spill cap on so they could move on with ending this problem. On Memorial Day Weekend, reports the New York Times, an attempt close to the static kill happened but failed. 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
The original preventer that was intended to stop the Gulf of Mexico oil spill from happening will have mud pumped into it. The New Orleans Times Picayune reports that right now on standby are 12,000 barrels of mud. . BP crews are assigned to watch how much pressure is within the well during the process. The pressure in the well needs to get to a “static condition”. After the static kill is complete, crews will drill the final 100 feet of the relief well to intercept the Macondo well.
Getting it done before a hurricane
The static kill and also the bottom kill are set to be complete by late August. BP plans on doing both the kills, reports the Associated Times, despite the fact a relief well is almost finished. A static kill makes a relief well easier to build. BP wants this finished and also the relief well might not work as planned. Perhaps probably the most essential reason is that each day the water temperature within the Gulf increases, so does the threat of an additional violent storm disrupting the cleanup process. Federal officials are hoping to end the BP oil leak once and for all before peak hurricane season, which typically lasts from mid-August to late October.
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
