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BP Begins 'Static Kill' Operation

   VOA News 03 August 2010
   The  Blue  Dolphin (l) and the HOS Centerline, the ships supplying the
   mud  for  the static kill operation on the Helix Q4000, delivering the
   mud through hoses at the site of the Deepwater Horizon Oil S

Photo: AP

   The  Blue  Dolphin (l) and the HOS Centerline, the ships supplying the
   mud  for  the static kill operation on the Helix Q4000, delivering the
   mud  through  hoses  at the site of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in
   Gulf of Mexico, 03 Aug 2010

   Energy  giant  BP  says  it  has  begun  its  so-called  "static kill"
   operation  to  permanently  plug  its ruptured oil well in the Gulf of
   Mexico.
   BP  made  the  announcement  Tuesday,  saying  it  made  its  decision
   following  an  earlier  test  to  gauge  how  well the procedure might
   work.   The  operation  involves pumping heavy mud into the well, and
   eventually sealing it permanently with cement.
   The  government's oil response chief, retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad
   Allen,  has said this procedure, combined with relief wells that BP is
   drilling,  should  permanently  plug the leak.  If all goes well, the
   damaged well could be sealed by Wednesday or Thursday.
   The  danger  in carrying out the "static kill" is that pressure inside
   the  well could become too great and cause more leaks.  The operation
   is  being watched with cameras attached to underwater robots..  Allen
   says  engineers  will  closely monitor the well as the operation takes
   place.
   Authorities  have said 4.9 million barrels of oil leaked from the well
   after  it  ruptured  April  20  until a temporary cap was installed in
   mid-July.
   But  officials  said  not all of this oil flowed into the Gulf.  They
   said  containment  activities  conducted  by  BP under U.S. government
   direction  captured  approximately 800,000 barrels of oil prior to the
   capping.
   The  leak  has  caused  environmental and economic damage in the Gulf,
   angering  and  creating hardship for people who rely on the waters for
   their livelihoods.
   BP is facing about $30 billion in cleanup costs.  The company says it
   will  sell  its  Colombian  business  to  a  consortium  of Ecopetrol,
   Colombia's national oil company, and the Canadian company Talisman for
   $1.9 billion.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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