BP thought they were clear, until the government ordered them to uncap the valves they just capped off according to the New York Times. This try that BP has made, although it is their 10th, has been working as far as anyone could tell. However, reports began to surface that there may be oil and gas seep near the BP oil well, straight from the ocean floor.
Government issues with BP
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill has caused more difficulties than just PR and financial issues for BP. The Jones Act has hurt the response from Obama and is going to hurt the Democrats in elections. Now that seep has been suggested, the cycle of public outrage will no doubt continue. The Times shows us that even though the seep is being investigated still, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen over the spill is allowing pressure testing to continue Tuesday.
Pressure tests show good news so far
When BP capped the well, pressure tests commenced so the potential danger of blowout and seep monitored. There is a lot to monitor with the well going 3 miles to the seabed. Oil and gas might start seeping to the ground, even if it doesn’t explode. Allen explained that not much can be done if that happens.
Russian help?
Andrew Revkin in the Times writes that an “independent set of eyes” might help the oil spill although Obama might want to just use our resources? Oil seeping to the floor might happen at any depth. A suggestion was offered to the Obama administration by a panel of deep sea experts organized by filmmaker James Cameron. Russian submarines could help us monitor the spill at lower depths. A seep could be searched for.
Discover more about this topic here
Deepwater Horizon Response
deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/791891/
New York Times
dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/18/bp-pressed-to-assess-seep-near-its-well/
Voices from Russia
02varvara.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/russian-mir-submersibles-may-go-to-gulf-of-mexico-to-fix-oil-well-gusher/
CNN reports on seep near well head
youtube.com/watch?v=DPeoRnWV4vw
