When the process is complete, the barge will transport the oil for discharge at an onshore terminal. In the first 12 hours of June 9, approximately 7,920 barrels of oil were collected and 15.7 million cubic feet of natural gas were flared. On June 8, a total of approximately 15,000 barrels of oil were collected and 29.4 million cubic feet of natural gas were flared.
According to BP, the LMRP containment cap never before has been deployed at these depths and conditions, and its efficiency and ability to contain the oil and gas cannot be assured. Preparations for additional planned enhancements to the LMRP containment system continue to progress.
The first planned addition will use the hoses and manifold that were deployed for the ‘top kill’ operation to take oil and gas from the failed Deepwater Horizon blow-out preventer (BOP) through a separate riser to the Q4000 vessel on the surface, in addition to the LMRP cap system.
This system is intended to increase the overall efficiency of the containment operation by potentially increasing the amount of oil and gas that can be captured from the well and is currently expected to be available for operation in mid-June.
The second planned addition is intended to provide a more permanent LMRP containment cap system by directing the oil and gas to a new free-floating riser ending approximately 300ft below sea level.
It is then proposed that a flexible hose be attached to a containment vessel. This long-term containment option is designed to permit effective disconnection and reconnection of the riser to provide flexibility for operations during a hurricane. It is expected to be implemented in early July.
In the meantime, work on the first relief well, which started on May 2, continues and has currently reached a depth of 13,978ft. The second relief well, which started on May 16, is at 8,576ft, and preparing to drill ahead. Both wells are still estimated to take approximately three months to complete from commencement of drilling, BP said.
