BP Subsea Efforts Continue To Focus On Two Fronts
May 10 2010 - 04:18AM
Dow Jones News
BP PLC (BP.LN) said Monday that at the MC252 oil well incident
in the Gulf of Mexico, subsea efforts continue to focus on two
fronts: first, reducing the flow of oil spilled by physical
containment and second, further work on stopping the flow using a
"top kill" option.
MAIN FACTS:
-The cost to date of the response amounts to about $350 million,
including the cost of spill response, containment, relief well
drilling, commitments to the Gulf Coast States, settlements and
federal costs.
-The containment dome that was deployed last week has been
parked away from the spill area on the sea bed.
-Efforts to place it over the main leak point were suspended at
the weekend as a build up of hydrates prevented a successful
placement of the dome over the spill area.
-A second, smaller containment dome is being readied to lower
over the main leak point.
-The small dome will be connected by drill pipe and riser lines
to a drill ship on the surface to collect and treat oil.
-It is designed to mitigate the formation of large hydrate
volumes.
-This operation has never been done before in 5,000 feet of
water.
-In addition, further work on the blow out preventer has
positioned the company to attempt a "top kill" option aimed at
stopping the flow of oil from the well.
-This option will be pursued in parallel with the smaller
containment dome over the next two weeks.
-All of the techniques being attempted or evaluated to contain
the flow of oil on the seabed involve significant uncertainties
because they have not been tested in these conditions before.
-Work on the first relief well, which began on Sunday May 2,
continues. It is expected to take some three months to
complete.
-Work continues to collect and disperse oil that has reached the
surface of the sea.
-More than 275 vessels are being used, including skimmers, tugs,
barges and recovery vessels.
-Shares closed Friday at 533.9 pence.
-By Iain Packham, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9269;
iain.packham@dowjones.com
Bp (LSE:BP.)
Historical Stock Chart
From Feb 2024 to Mar 2024
Bp (LSE:BP.)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2023 to Mar 2024