Top Kill Continues
BP PLC said its ‘top kill’ operation to stop the flow of oil and gas from the Macondo well on Mississippi Canyon Block 252 in the GoM was going as planned, and a company spokesman said late 27 May that it could take at least another 24 hours to determine the operation’s success. Meanwhile operations on the top kill procedure continue. Heavy drilling fluids were pumped under pressure into the BOP starting 26 May at 1300CDT, and top kill operations continue through 2400CDT on 27 May. It is estimated that the full top kill procedure could extend for another 24 to 48 hours.
If the well were successfully ‘killed’, it is expected that cementing operations would then follow. The top kill procedure has never before been attempted at these depths and its ultimate success is uncertain.
In parallel with the ongoing top kill operation, preparations have been made for the possible deployment of the lower marine riser package (LMRP) cap containment system.
Deployment would first involve removing the damaged riser from the top of the failed BOP to leave a cleanly-cut pipe at the top of the BOP’s LMRP. The cap, a containment device with a sealing grommet, will be connected to a riser from the Discoverer Enterprise drillship, 5,000 feet above on the surface, and placed over the LMRP with the intention of capturing most of the oil and gas flowing from the well.
The LMRP cap is already deployed alongside the BOP in readiness for potential deployment. If it is decided to deploy this option, this would be expected to take some three to four days.
In addition to these steps, planning is being advanced for deploying, if necessary, a second BOP on top of the original failed BOP.