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 in the well during the process. The pressure within the well needs to get to a “static condition”. The final 100 feet of relief well should be drilled after the kills are complete.
Getting it done before a hurricane
The static kill and the bottom kill are set to be complete by late August. The Associated Press reports that BP has many reasons to try the complicated static kill despite the fact that the relief well is almost complete. The relief well would do better after a static kill. It’s also a good way for BP to hedge its bets in case the relief well takes longer than expected to work. The process also needs to be complete with the threat of storms within the way. 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.
Further reading
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
