Can the relief wells be used by BP for controlled pumping

[shraby]

of the oil into their coffers after they are finished? I've never seen this asked or explained.

[gristy]

1. That is not the intent of the relief well

I believe the relief well will intercept the existing well above the field. So probably not.

[shraby]

2. I know what they are intended to do, but I still wonder

what is done after they have relieved the pressure.

[gristy]

3. They will kill the well that's gushing now with concrete. And probably kill the relief well too.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Bit of a puzzle that

If they then cap the relief well then I'da thunk that pressure would build up again on the original one. I have to assume that once pressure if of the original that will be capped too. I guess uncapping will occur at a later date when technology is high enough to cope in some way.

[Webster Green]

5. The relief well is going to drill into the existing well pipe.

Not into the oil reservoir. Then they will cement it closed.

[dipsydoodle]

6. There is no "reservoir"

as such other than 25,000 sq miles of rock bearing gas and oil. To drill into the pipe they got to find it a mile or so under the sea bed without missing it and its only 7" diameter

[Webster Green]

7. Of course there is.

Call it a formation or a reservoir, whatever you like. And they are aiming at the pipe. It's been done before, though it is (of course) very challenging.

Here, hold this:

BP Spuds Second Relief Well on Macondo
Type: Drilling Operations

May. 2010 - BP spudded a second relief well on the Macondo site to intercept and isolate the wellbore. The GSF Development Driller II semisub initiated the relief well on Sunday, about two weeks after the GSF Development Driller III spudded the first relief well. BP is drilling the wells to intercept the original wellbore above the oil reservoir at approximately 16,000 feet (4,877 meters). Once the wells reach their intended target, the plan is to pump heavy fluid into the well to stop the flow of oil from the reservoir. Next, cement will be pumped down to permanently seal the well. BP estimates it will take approximately three months to complete each well. The Macondo prospect is located on Mississippi Canyon Block 252 in the Gulf of Mexico in a water depth of 4,993 feet (1,522 meters). BP serves as the operator, holding a 65% interest in the prospect; Anadarko holds 25%; and MOEX 2007 holds the remaining 10%.

Link: http://www.subseaiq.com/data/Project.aspx?project_id=562&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Don't fuck with me, man. I've been following this. :smoke: