Cap temporarily removed from gushing well
The lower marine riser package (LMRP) containment cap was taken off the failed Deepwater Horizon blowout preventer (BOP) earlier today after a vent on the cap accidentally got closed; it appears that a remotely operated vehicle accidentally bumped into the LMRP cap and closed a vent; the cap was taken off the well because with the vent closed, dangerous pressure was beginning to build up inside the well, raising the specter of another explosion, similar to the one on 20 April which destroyed the well
Oil gushes from the now-uncapped wellhead // Source: drudgereport.com
More problems for BP, and oil, again — if temporarily — gushes uncontrollably into the gulf: The lower marine riser package (LMRP) containment cap was taken off the failed Deepwater Horizon blowout preventer (BOP) earlier today (Wednesday, 23 June) after a vent on the cap accidentally got closed, National Incident Commander and retired Adm. Thad Allen said.
During a conference call with reporters, Allen said the incident still was under investigation, but it appears a remotely operated vehicle accidentally bumped into the LMRP cap and closed a vent, causing more pressure inside the riser.
PennEnergy reports that response crews feared hydrocarbons were coming up a pipe being used to run hot water down to the LMRP cap to prevent the formation of gas hydrates. The riser system involves a pipe within a pipe.
The LMRP cap was removed as a precaution, Allen said, adding he expects it to be reinstalled once the safety of the collection system is evaluated and any potential problems, such as the possible formation of gas hydrates, were corrected.
Removal of the LMRP cap allowed more oil to escape into the Gulf of Mexico while oil collection efforts are stopped on the Discoverer Enterprise drill ship, Allen said.
Oil continued to be collected and burned on the Helix Q4000 surface vessel, however. Oil directed to the Q4000 comes through the choke line of the BOP via a manifold on the seafloor and up a riser to the surface.
BP announced on today that Bob Dudley has been appointed president and chief executive officer of BP’s Gulf Coast Restoration Organization, effective immediately. Dudley reports to BP Group Chief Executive Tony Hayward. Allen said he and Dudley had discussed the LMRP cap removal.
The company’s response activities to the Deepwater Horizon accident and the resulting oil spill are based in the Unified Command with the U.S. Coast Guard in New Orleans and now will report directly to Dudley.
“BP’s decision to establish this new organization in no way limits the resources that are available to meet the company’s commitments to clean up the spill and restore the gulf coast,” a company news release said.
