Relief Well Nears Completion As Government Pledges Support For Long-Term Recovery
In a recent media interview, National Incident Commander Thad Allen confirmed that the cement plug placed atop BP's damaged well appears to have resulted in a successful "static kill" of the horrific crude oil leak that has persisted since the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform in late April. Even as pressure monitoring and acoustic surveys offered reassurance that the well had been capped, Commander Allen stressed that BP would complete its efforts toward finishing a relief well.
The relief well would seal the primary drilling bore permanently by cementing the bore deep underground. Commander Allen related that he had spoken personally with BP's new CEO, Robert Dudley, to ensure that the relief well would be finished. To that end, workers are now drilling on the final 100 feet of the relief well, proceeding slowly to ensure that they connect with the primary well as the drilling phase nears completion.
Commander Allen spoke on these issues, and the government's commitment to overseeing and enforcing a long-term recovery effort, in an August 8th appearance on NBC's news program Face the Nation.
As to the Gulf recovery effort, Commander Allen emphasized, "We've got a commitment to be there." He went on to state, "BP is responsible. We're going to hold them accountable."
For more information on the Gulf of Mexico disaster recovery effort and other maritime issues, please visit www.GulfCoastMaritime.com.
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