gom blowout

[setliff]

cap is not leaking per BP

[setliff]

somebody help me---cnbc reporter

says pressure now 6700psi

says no crude leaking

says they want to increase pressure to ~8000psi

now how can they possibly do that if they have all valves already shut off?

[prince_jake_33]

I have wondered about the gas bubbles in the column of oil. If gas increases in the column of oil and gas, less weight is exerted, causing higher pressure at the top. Only a guess.

[dan_s]

Tests show the cap is holding but there is some concern about slow pace of pressure build. It could mean a small leak in the casing but nothing detected so far.

http://www.aolnews.com/gulf-oil-spill/a ... l/19558240

Dan

[setliff]

Ships head back to oil spill as storm breezes by



By DAVID DISHNEAU and HARRY R. WEBER, Associated Press Writers David Dishneau And Harry R. Weber, Associated Press Writers – 1 hr 4 mins ago

NEW ORLEANS – BP's evacuation of the Gulf of Mexico was called off Saturday and ships headed back to resume work on plugging the leaky well as remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie breezed past.

The temporary plug that has mostly contained the oil for eight days held, and the real-time cameras that have given the world a constant view of the ruptured well apparently never stopped rolling. Dozens of ships evacuated the Gulf, but the storm had weakened to a tropical depression by the time it hit the spill site Saturday morning.

Thad Allen, the retired Coast Guard admiral running the government's spill response, called it "very good news." But the setback was still significant. Work came to a standstill Wednesday and will take time to restart.

Allen said drill rig workers who spent Thursday and Friday pulling nearly a mile of segmented steel pipe out of the water and stacking the 40-to-50 foot sections on deck would have to reverse the process.

It could be Friday before workers can start blasting in heavy mud and cement through the mechanical cap, the first phase of a two-step process to seal the leaking oil well for good.

And the threat of severe weather remains. Already, another disturbance was brewing in the Caribbean, although it wasn't likely to strengthen into a tropical storm.

Hurricane season moves into its most active period in early August and extending into September.

[dan_s]

That is good news. If they can get the well permanently plugged before a real hurricane enters the GOM it will be great news for the entire sector.

I'm currently working on my Newsletter and Sweet 16 Detailed Update. Both will be available on the website Tuesday afternoon.

Dan