BP caps Deepwater Horizon well
13 Jul 2010
London – BP has completed the installation of the new sealing cap on the leaking MC252 well in the Gulf of Mexico, with the installation of a three-ram capping stack on the Deep Water Horizon LMRP (lower marine riser package).
The operation, said BP, was completed at around 7pm CDT. This is to followed by a series of integrity tests in line with procedures approved by the US National Incident Commander and Unified Area Command.
During the test, which will run for at least 6 hours, and could extend up to 48 hours, the three-ram capping stack will be closed and previously installed sub-sea containment systems – the Q4000 and Helix Producer – will be temporarily suspended.
These procedures, said BP, should effectively shut the well so that no oil will be released to the ocean for the duration of the test. The company added, however, that this will not mean that flow from the wellbore has been permanently stopped.
“The sealing cap system never before has been deployed at these depths or under these conditions, and its efficiency and ability to contain the oil and gas cannot be assured,” said BP – repeating cautions made about the previous procedures used to contain the leak.
The Helix Producer containment system started operations on July 12. The Q4000 containment system continues to capture oil and gas from the MC252 well and flare the hydrocarbons safely at the surface.
Relief well operations continue throughout this period and remain the sole means to permanently seal and isolate the well.
