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Liveblogging Top Kill
(Liveblog continues here (I can't liveblog at ZH and my own blog at the same time, so the most updated version appears at Washington's Blog).
5:29: Suttles said that BP will know the operation is a success from
(1) visual observations and - more importantly - (2) pressure data.
Specifically, when pressure data over a period of time shows that no
oil is flowing up in the well, then BP will know the operation is a
success
5:07: BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles says at
Coast Guard press conference that it is too early to know if Top Kill
will be successful. Will take 24 hours to find out. So far, it's going
according to plan. 7,000 of barrels of mud have been pumped so far, up
to 65 barrels per minute. Increase in volume at the riser was expected.
One of the ROV's video cams is obstructed by all of the mud.
4:35: Coast Guard will give an update on the Top Kill effort at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
4:06: CNN reports :
BP
Chief Executive Officer Tony Hayward said Wednesday it will be 24 hours
before authorities will know whether the "top kill" effort to plug the
runaway oil leak in the Gulf is working.
Speaking from a command
center in Houston, Texas, nearly four hours after the effort began,
Hayward said the operation was going according to plan, but cautioned
against trying to reach any conclusions based on the video shots from
the stricken well a mile below the surface.
"It's unlikely to
give us any indication of what's really going on," he said. "Increases
or decreases are not an indicator of success or failure at this time.
We will be continuing for at least another 24 hours, and it will be 24
hours before we will know whether or not this has been successful."
Earlier,
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal had said he expected to know Wednesday
night whether BP's "top kill" attempt to plug the runaway oil well in
the Gulf of Mexico is working.
3:46 Volume
spewing from riser seems to be increasing noticeably. It could be that
spill is worsening, or it could be that the volume of mud being pumped
into the well by BP is being increased.
3:41: Color of material
shooting out of risers is getting darker. Either the type of mud being
used is changing, or the mud-to-water ratio is changing.
3:25:
The water has noticeably darkened around the BOP (see for example the
second feed from left on the top row of the CNN feeds). Remember, this
is more than a mile underwater, so no daylight reaches spill zone. I'm
not sure whether leak volume has increased, chemical composition has
changed to a darker substance or something has changed on the video cam
itself.
3:15: Increased turbidity (cloudiness in the water) surrounding the BOP. New leak?
3:06: CNN is reporting that - according to BP - there is no news (either good or bad) to report on the procedure.
2:29: CNN now has a single webpage with 8 different feeds. Each feed is small, but you can get an overview from starting with CNN's site.
2:00: Please note, it is very difficult for laypeople to have perspective on whether Top Kill is working or not. Things could very well look worse before they get better.
For
example, BP is trying to pump a lot of mud down the line at high
pressure. This could be spewing back up through the riser, before the
whole spill is shut down.
1:50: Definitely numerous, light-colored plumes shooting up from the riser and seabed.
1:43:
Either new leaks are springing from the seabed itself, or the color of
the leak is changing to a lighter color and we can see more detail of
the leaks from the riser.
1:29: This is the moon landing moment
of this generation. People around the world are watching live feed of
the attempt to stop the oil leak.
1:25: Red clots of matter raining down from somewhere. I'm not sure where.
1:24:
Riser leak looks worse, and more methane hydrates. This is not
necessarily unexpected, as shutting off most of leak from BOP could
increase pressure of oil in riser.
1:07: Methane hydrates (snowflake like methane crystals, also known as "clathrates") spewing from the riser. Not in worrying amounts, it is just interesting to watch. For more on methane hydrates, see this.
12:53: I've added a PBS website feeds, showing the leaking riser. Obviously, the riser is still gushing.
12:43: Technical problems with video cams. I'll take a quick break and see if they fix them.
12:26:
The underwater cameras have been inspecting the BOP for some time. To
my untrained eye, it looks like much of the BOP is still intact,
although I noticed a small leak, and some equipment breaks.
The
camera panned around, and there are still 1 or 2 big gushers coming
from elsewhere (One of them looks like the main leaking riser which has
been filed over the past couple of days, although it's hard to tell).
Noon: A Coast Guard spokesman just said could take 3-4 days to know if top kill is working. Similarly, AP notes:
BP
spokesman Steve Rinehart said the company will pump mud for hours, and
officials have indicated it may be a couple of days before they know
whether the procedure is working.
Indeed, as BP notes on its live cam webpage:
Throughout
the extended top kill procedure – which may take up to two days to
complete - very significant changes in the appearance of the flows at
the seabed may be expected. These will not provide a reliable indicator
of the overall progress, or success or failure, of the top kill
operation as a whole.
11:52: Remember, BP has two purposes in video inspections:
(1) To see
what is happening now, in terms of stopping the oil spill, and to see
which equipment is likely to break of spring a new leak;
and
(2)
Documenting for use in future lawsuits, to determine whether BP,
Transocean, Halliburton or someone else was the primary negligent party.
11:50 a.m. Pacific Standard Time: BP is implementing the Top
Kill method on the oil spill right now.
I can see it on the live video feed (I am
providing feed from four websites, as they some sites are periodically
going down):
WKRG's Website
wkrg_oil_spill on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free
Congressman Markey's Website
BP's Website
PBS'
Website
AP notes:
Bob Bea, an engineering professor at the University of California at
Berkeley, said the procedure carries a high risk of failure
because of the velocity at which the oil may be spewing.
"I certainly pray that it works, because if
it doesn't there's this long waiting time" before BP can dig relief
wells that would cut off the flow, Bea said.
For more
on Professor Bea, see this.
Godspeed ...
Updates to follow.
For running comments from oil industry
insiders, see The Oil Drum.
»
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Yeah, "Top Kill", what a terrrible name... Like someone said above "The Dead Sea Solutiin." Someone at BP isn't thinking, but you knew that
Yeah, "Top Kill", what a terrrible name... Like someone said above "The Dead Sea Solutiin." Someone at BP isn't thinking, but you knew that
Don't worry Leo, the land will clean up the water.
Leo, in a long line of idiotic things you have written on this site this is among the most idiotic.
WE already killed the environment, not THEY. Unless you took a sailboat to Greece last time, don't own a car, and are a subsistence farmer, please shut the fuck up.
And while you are at it, get down on your knees and pray to God this works.
And while you are at it, get down on your knees and pray to God this works.
I'm too busy blaming him for letting it happen!
actually HH your are correct some of that oil we are watching could well have ended up in in the gas tank of one of our autos.
But please HH, Leo is one of the good guys along with Krasting, Cheeky, Mayhem (may he rest in peace), Robo (where is Robo?) and a couple of other contributors who add significant value to this blog.
You owe Leo an apology.
Dont own a car, ticked.
Sailing, ticked.
Living on products of subsistence farming. Half ticked.
I am in a position to speak, more than many.
computer powered by wind
avoid plastics
no airplanes, buses or trains
hedgeless_horseman
God?
I also imagine that even that sail boat had petroleum products. Oh fuck it damn near everything in todays worls has some hint of oil related to either it's structure, manufacture or distribution.
No way out.
Another useless moron with anger management issues! Why don't you take a plunge and go see "Top Kill" up close? No need to wear a mask, we'll be cheering for you as we watch you on the live blog feed. Make sure you inhale all the black gunk.
And the only thing I'm praying is that we can speed up the process of radically transforming our energy sources from hydrocarbon to alternative energy sources.
So it is WE and OUR on the upside and THEY on the downside. Way to take credit and give responsibility, Leo. Just like a fucking Greek.
They are fucking corporate criminals and you're a total fucking moron. Get your head out of your ass and label them for what they are: corporate criminals.
Leo, why was BP forced into 5,000 feet of water in order to drill?
Damn, I actually have to defend and agree with Leo. Nobody forced BP to do anything. You didn't get the memo? BP is the master of everything Beyond Petroleum. Lord John Browne's farts are methane-less. They are the green energy company. They embraced the eco-warrior agenda. If you want to cheer for an oil company that opposes everything Greenpeace, then get Exxon tattooed to your ass.
I am going to guess that your answer is the idiotic "because the environuts don't allow them to drill closer to shore in shallower water".
The real answer: easy oil is getting harder to find. That is why oil companies are going after oil in the tar sands of Canada, shale and soon in the very deep water off Brazil (much deeper than 5,000 feet).
These BP bastards should be dismembered. Slowly. Like the way they respond to oil spills.
The long standing BP connections with the US military and government are strong... always have been. We have overthrown several middle eastern governments for them. And don't forget... BP is Americas largest producer of oil and gas by a country mile... or kilometer as the British would say.
Don't believe me? Hear it from them!
http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=488&contentId=2000734
BP will not pay anywhere near the true cost of this disaster... they (and the administration... yes they know...) have lied about the volumes from the beginning... and are injecting Corexit 9500 (deoderized kerosene BTW...) to keep the oil at the bottom of the Gulf where it will continue to contaminate every living organism for decades... just to limit liability claims. The downside is that while the beaches will look great... the Gulf will be for all intents and purposes... well... dead.
Personally I feel like the idiot for initially believing their (BP and US Gov) 1,000... then 5,000 bbl/day claims. I apologize if I dissuaded anybody from shorting these sociopaths... but as I said before... BP doesn't pay!
"Fool me once... shame on you... fool me twice?... shame on you again!"
...or kilometer as the British would say.
Even though we "decimalised" many years ago, we actually cheated and kept certain imperial units, just to confuse everyone. We therefore still think exclusively in pints (of beer) and all signposts in the UK state distances exclusively in miles. Kilometres are just a bit too...French.
I remember the problems early Airbus operators had converting fuel calculations from pounds to kilograms you jokers you!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli_Glider
You nailed it ZeroHead. Great post. No life, no truth is too precious for oil.
Obama needs to seize their assets before they can do some Enron like "Hide the Weenie" which they are no doubt doing right now!
I expect BP may attempt to swap their offshore leases with another oil co. (Exxon?) for leases somewhere else in the world where they can practice their cost-cutting dark art.
dead sea of our own. crapadeadduck
Will work great to attackt Muslim toerists!
One of the best articles I've found with details on what MIGHT have occured to cause the blowout is also at the Oildrum website. the comments are also very worthwhile for a better understanding of what goes on in drilling a well.
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6493
the oil drum has gone pbs on us, there is still good, solid information there, but the message has been modulated. oil industry kool aid alert.
matt simmons on dylan ratigan says we are not seeing the primary leak.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31510813/#37363529
Uh-oh! This is getting ugly. Thanks for the link.
The Oildrum is the go-to site... lots of industry types with the experience to be able to cut through the bullshit we've been hearing from Washington B.P. (Or is that still D.C. ... I honestly forget at times...)
I'll second that. Caught this link today:
I was born and raised near the waters of South Louisiana and I just had to share this with you. If you want to know what Louisianians are thinking right now, then listen to this Garland Robinette clip.
Let'em Freeze in the Dark
Thanks for the link!
what an excellent link - thank you.
The south lost the civil war and have been treated as second class citizens ever since.
Katrina's devastation was bad but the "help" you were given after was appalling.
The help your getting now is worse, in what is the worst environmental disaster the World has seen.
The problem it would appear is you have a President who is African American not only in looks but in his mind.
(Now I'm going to get my first junk here) but Mr President you are the Commander in chief of the free world so I would like you to act like it, shake off the iron shackles that still bind you to the Fields, Grow a pair of balls, take up your pen and do what the last truly Great President of your land did, make an executive decision and sign it into law. Should you suffer for it I will grieve but it is your sworn duty (remember hand on heart and all that) to provide and protect this great land no matter what the cost.
Another leader once said "the only fear I fear is the fear of inaction" and you Sir need to heed that warning as your record to date rivals Emperor Nero.
thumbs up!
Seotero may be too royal for dirty oil, but he has found time to court LeBron for Chicago, meet with the UConn ladies roundball squad and predict a Lakers championship.
delurking to thank you for the great link DaveyJones!
"republican'ts" & "demodon'ts" - hehe. . .
another "fed up and not gonna take it any more" human has his howard beale moment, eh? may he find growing support, daily.
Vegas odds... 2 to 1 against... let's pray for the longshot!
As John Lennon would say...
Mud mud mud... mud mud mud... mud mud mud... it's easy!
All you need is mud... all you need is mud... all you need is mud... mud!
Mud is all you need!
Godspeed guys!
Is there a derivative contract based on this?
Not yet unless GS is adding shrimp futures to the ICE... and bentonite clay (drilling mud) is so plentiful and cheap there is no real play...
I think they would be using Barite mud. Its very heavy like Lead. Bentonite is slippery and remains in soloution sort of so its good for keeping unstable formations from collapsing by filling cracks and pores to hold it together. For weight to keep formation pressures from blowing out Barite is the stuff.
Yup correct...barite was the mudshot ... bentonite for drilling I think...
Barium Sulphate (barite) has a higher specific gravity than bentonite which is what is needed here... reminds me of an old joke...
Q. What does an undertaker charge to bury a casket after dark?
A. Barium Nitrate!
Yeah, I too pray that the Top Kill works.
...
Thanks ZerO for getting me into the junking game! In case you did not check back the other day, I went ahead and junked you! It was easier than I thought. Didn't hurt a bit.
So I'll go ahead and junk you again! Last time though.
Hey your doing great on your junk count... up to 6 already! :)
WOW!!! I am up to 11 now!
Oh, I can feel the righteous wrath!
Is Bravo allowed to junk more than once?
.....
By the way ZerO, I am now about to tuck into more of this oilspill disaster. I used to, for a short time, be a despised mud engineer, pulled a couple of hitches offshore (back when I was as young as our favorite JB).
The whole damn thing is an absolute catastrophe that will Three Mile Island offshore drilling.
Earlier this afternoon I saw various of your remarks below.
Ha!! Lucky 13 DoChen...
It's a truly awful situation isn't it. BTW... what do you think the chances are on this one?
The nice thing is that once you 'junk' and more importantly get 'junked' you just don't care so much anymore about what you post... with both good and bad implications of course...
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