A drilling moratorium seemed inevitable after the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010. The oil industry has loudly criticized the ban. But the drilling moratorium could eventually be canceled due to the cooperative effort of four oil companies. A rapid oil spill response system is being funded by $1 billion committed by Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Royal Dutch Shell. Meanwhile, a procedure called a “static kill” could possibly be attempted by BP that could permanently plug the ruptured well this weekend. However, the procedure might be postponed, depending on the arrival of an approaching tropical storm.
Latest drilling risks overwhelm obsolete response technology
The oil industry got a loud wakeup call from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico 2010 and also the drilling moratorium. While it has poured billions of dollars drilling for oil in ever-deeper waters, oil spill-response and cleanup technology has not advanced much in decades. The New York Times reports that the initial funding for the rapid response system can be used to build containment equipment, including underwater systems and pipelines, that can be able to deal with deep water mishaps. Participating oil companies expect the system will be able to operate as deep as 10,000 feet and capture 100,000 barrels of oil a day.
Oil companies try deeds instead of words
The oil spill response initiative is the oil companies’ best hope to get the six month ban on deep water drilling lifted as soon as possible. The Wall Street Journal reports the system resembles the one developed by BP during 3 months of trial and error after the Deepwater Horizon exploded April 20 . The system, a non-profit venture called the Marine Well Containment Business, is expected to be ready within 18 months.
Approaching storms increase urgency of oil spill containment
This weekend, the ruptured well could be sealed for good using a technique called “static kill”. CNN reports that the static kill involves pumping mud to the well to force oil back to the reservoir below. Officials from BP have said the “static kill” option could succeed where similar tries have failed because pressure in the well is lower than expected. BP officials are still working on the permanent fix: a relief well that is scheduled to be in place by the end of July. The timing of the static kill is crucial because operations might be disrupted for up to two weeks by a tropical storm headed for the gulf.
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