27,000 abandoned wells in Gulf of Mexico - AP

[JohnWxy]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100707/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gulf_oil_spill_abandoned_wells

More than 27,000 abandoned oil and gas wells lurk in the hard rock beneath the Gulf of Mexico, an environmental minefield that has been ignored for decades. No one — not industry, not government — is checking to see if they are leaking, an Associated Press investigation shows.

The oldest of these wells were abandoned in the late 1940s, raising the prospect that many deteriorating sealing jobs are already failing.

The AP investigation uncovered particular concern with 3,500 of the neglected wells — those characterized in federal government records as "temporarily abandoned."
(more)

[NHLrocks]

1. and they are just starting the leak now? doubt it.

[JohnWxy]

3. Nuthin to worry about. THey'll last forever, even the ones 'temporarily abandoned'.

[Nihil]

4. It helps to read the article ...

>> After repeated requests, federal regulators acknowledged Tuesday that some
>> abandoned wells have leaked in the past. However, a government petroleum
>> engineer, Eric Kazanis, told the AP that abandoned wells aren't considered
>> a risk and aren't "supposed to leak."


>> In its investigation, the AP found a series of warnings. For instance, the
>> General Accountability Office, which investigates for Congress, warned in 1994
>> that leaks from offshore abandoned wells could cause an "environmental
>> disaster."


>> According to a 2001 study commissioned by MMS, agency officials were
>> "concerned that some abandoned oil wells in the Gulf may be leaking crude
>> oil." But nothing came of that warning.



>> Petroleum engineers say that even in properly sealed wells, the cement plugs
>> can fail over the decades and the metal casing that lines the wells can rust.

>> no one — in industry or government — has been conducting checks on wells that
>> have been abandoned for years.


>> Another 3,500 are classified by federal regulators as "temporarily abandoned"
>> but some have been left that way since the 1950s, without the full safeguards
>> of permanent abandonment.

>> The oil that has been gushing from a BP PLC well since an exploratory oil rig
>> exploded April 20 is an uncomfortable reminder of the potential for leaking at
>> abandoned wells. The well was being prepared for temporary abandonment when it
>> blew out

:hi:

[The Croquist]

5. Fine. let's inspect them

but lets use some common sense and prioritize. Right now we have a disaster and lets concentrate on that. Hopefully in another month or so the Deepwater Horizon should be under control. If that happens send the submersibles to some of these wells and check them out. Bill the oil companies for it.

The fact that this well was being prepared for temporary abandonment is besides the point. It isn't leaking because the temporary plug broke but because BP screwed up. I also doubt that BP would have left this temporary abandoned for long. This well would have been a winner and not tapping it will be a mistake. If nothing else, just to relieve the pressure. Both BP and the government could use the money too. At this point don't expect BP to pay any federal corporate income tax this year.

[Nihil]

6. I don't disagree with anything you said there ...

.. I was just informing the poster being addressed that, had he bothered
to read the article in the OP link, he would probably not have made the
comment that he did.

The BP reference wasn't to suggest that Deepwater Horizon was going to be
left for long but as a reminder that when there is no plug in place (for
whatever reason) the oil *will* come out - at pressures that the average
man in the street cannot comprehend.

Even a depleted well will emit oil when the plug (or pipe) gives way.

:shrug:

[The Croquist]

7. You are right

Without significant pressure however the plug is less likely to fail. With significant pressure the owner * would be interested in reopening them. I wonder if they have a way of measuring pressure. I know that there are quite a few wells that after laying dormant for years have come back into production.

I wonder if the pressure at Deepwater Horizon came as a shock to BP.

* Who does "own" these wells? The sea floor was originally leased to a drilling company but have many of the leases expired? If so, after 50 years, is the original drilling company still liable? Is the original drilling company still in business?

[RKP5637]

2. We're living on borrowed time in many areas, anymore. n/t