According to Associated Press reports on May 30, 2010, the procedure known as “top kill” with which British Petroleum was attempting to stop the leak from the Deepwater Horizon oil rig has failed.
Mud Fails to Stop Oil
BP had hoped to use the procedure, which involved pumping tons of mud down into the ruptured pipe, to counteract the flow of oil and gas for long enough to cap the leak with cement. The pressure of the leak proved too great, however, and the attempt was abandoned over the weekend.
BP had rated its own chances of success at 60 to 70 percent, clearly less than confident at the reliability of a procedure that had never before been attempted at 5,000 feet underwater. The inclusion of a “junk solution,” involving jamming the leak with masses of golf balls and other trash, lent an aura of desperation to the procedure.
BP's next attempt to stop the leak will involve cutting the ruptured pipe off and securing a funnel-shaped cap over the end of the pipe. If this procedure fails, it risks making the leak even worse, as the bent pipe appears to be slowing the flow of oil; if the pipe is cut off the oil will be flowing freely until the cap is secured.
The Deepwater Horizon has been losing anywhere from 20,000 to 90,000 barrels of oil a day into the Gulf since April 20, 2010. BP had maintained that the well was leaking at a rate of 5,000 barrels a day until last week when it was forced to increase its estimates.
“Fundamental Mistakes”
In a Congressional Hearing on May 25, BP representatives admitted to what they called “fundamental mistakes” on the day of the explosion. Drilling continued in the face of numerous abnormalities, including tests for explosive gas in the well pipe being “inconclusive.” A finger pointing session ensued, with BP, Transocean Ltd. (the rig owner and operator), and Halliburton (the concrete contractor) all attempting to shift blame to the other companies.
A relief well is being drilled that will theoretically re-route the oil and stop the leak, but it is not expected to be completed until August.
Public and government pressure on BP are growing daily as the spill continues to grow and more and more people and animals are affected. If the attempt to cap the pipe fails, there is a risk of the leak continuing until the relief well is completed, a scenario that would increase the current size of the spill by at least 200 percent.
More:
- Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig Was Given "Categorical Exclusion"
- Deepwater Horizon Spill May Be 19 Times Bigger Than BP Reports
- BP May Face Criminal Charges As Oil Continues To Flow
- BP Protests: Is British Petroleum a Culprit or Just a Scapegoat?
Sources (accessed May 30 2010)
Nuckols, Ben. " BP turns to next attempt after top kill fails," The Associated Press, May 30, 2010.
Power, Stephen. " BP Cites Crucial 'Mistake'," The Wall Street Journal, May 25, 2010.
