1-Jun-10

1. Top Kill

Not a whole lot of information on what went wrong. Sounded pretty difficult to do. I would think that any "bridging material" was more likely to clog the kill lines than the BOP. The path of least resistance for the mud seems to be always up the hole, no matter how much pressure is at the kill line.

2. Relief wells/ LMRP

Previously, BP stated they had other ideas of how to kill the well from the top, including putting a second BOP stack on top of the first. It all sounded pretty scary, ensuring a seal between the two, the massive weight conditions.

Now, they just talk about the relief wells. Kent Wells said the first well is at 12,000 ft, ahead of schedule. Good news.

Now, if they can install the new LMRP containment system, the Macondo well will continue to flow but almost all flow will go into the drill ship.

3. Deep water Plumes Issue

Conventional wisdom says a light oil generally floats. But who says that conventional wisdom is any good! Biologists are constantly seeing more with advanced technology. Early reports from research vessels claimed they identified large underwater oil plumes. But there's a lot of questions that need answers. A lot of good minds from NOAA, the US Coast Guard, and the University of Georgia are independently collecting samples, and piecing together what is going on below the surface. Dispersants make oil more miscible in water, so maybe researchers from University of Georgia are on to something. See link from gulfblog.uga.edu (Dr. Samantha Joye, Univ of Georgia)

Stay tuned on this issue.

Dave Lord

1-Jun-10