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 is the 10th try BP has made to stop the spill, and it seemed to be working. Now it has become a big concern that the ocean floor itself is leaking oil.
Problems seep in for BP, Obama
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill has caused more issues 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. Oil seeping out of the floor will make the public angry once again. Through Tuesday, pressure testing will continue since that is what Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen who is in charge suggests should happen, even with investigation nevertheless continuing, according to the Times.
So far, pressure testing looking good
Blowout and seep is monitored with pressure tests after capping the well. There is a lot to monitor with the well going three miles to the seabed. Even if oil does not come back up from the cap due to a pressure spike, there is the potential that oil and gas can seep into the ground. At that point, little to nothing could be done to control its escape, wrote Allen in a recent press release.
Time to bring within the Russians?
Although Obama has his own plans, an “independent set of eyes” could be just what we need to fix this thing, as outlined by Andrew Revkin within the Times? Any depth would be bad for the oil to seep to the ocean ground. James Cameron has a panel of experts that offered a suggestion to the Obama administration. Submarines from Russia have the capability of going miles deep, which would allow BP to continue monitoring oil flow at lower depths. The Russian subs could search for the seep.
Citations
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
