BP seeks to permanently seal oil well in Gulf of Mexico
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British oil giant BP said it could seek to permanently seal the ruptured oil well in the Gulf of Mexico, although a recent tropical storm delayed the works in the sea.
BP has been speeding up the preparation for its "static kill" plan, the first in a two-step process to choke off the well with mud and cement. It can begin as soon as the crew finish work on the relief well needed for a permanent fix.
The engineers on research vessels were conducting relevant tests at the site and the increased pressure in the wellhead indicated that it had integrity, BP said.
After the deadly rig explosion on April 20 opened the gusher about 1.6 km under the Gulf of Mexico, hundreds of millions of liters of crude oil spewed into the sea before BP managed to seal the leak in mid-July with a tight-fitting containment cap.
According to the "static kill" plan, BP hopes to drown the well next week by injecting mud and cement into the wellhead via the cap.
However, debris from the ruptured wellhead caused by Tropical Storm Bonnie suspended the process briefly.
U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, who is tasked to handle the oil spill, said Friday the delay was needed in order to clear the debris.
BP's incoming head Bob Dudley, who is currently in charge of the cleanup operations in the Gulf of Mexico, expressed Friday his confidence in the process, saying "We are hopeful by Tuesday the static kill will have been performed."
Earlier on Thursday, Allen said the plan would start by this weekend, ahead of the scheduled start time on Monday.
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