That’s right, two and a half years after the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history, oil is still leaking near the infamous Macondo well. And, reminiscent of the early days of the disaster, BP is again not making the scope of the problem clear, according to Rep.
What happened at the Macondo well?
Within minutes the gas had spilled over the rig, reached the engine room and ignited, causing the first of two catastrophic explosions. Those explosions and their aftermath killed 11 men, damaged vital hydraulic control lines and ultimately caused the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon.
What caused Macondo blowout?
A final report into the April 2010 Macondo deepwater well blowout and resulting massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana identified a number of causes for the blowout, concluding that a central cause was failure of a cement barrier in the production casing string.
How was the Macondo well sealed?
After the tight-fitting temporary cap stopped the flow of oil from Macondo last July, BP embarked on a two-part plan to permanently seal the well. After that, the static kill worked, allowing BP to fill the entire well with cement from the sea floor down to the reservoir, 18,000 feet (5,486 meters) below sea level.
How long did Macondo flow?
| Deepwater Horizon oil spill | |
|---|---|
| Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap | |
| Location | Macondo Prospect (Mississippi Canyon Block 252), in the North-central Gulf of Mexico, United States (south of Louisiana) |
| Coordinates | 28°44′17″N 88°21′58″WCoordinates: 28°44′17″N 88°21′58″W |
| Date | 20 April – 19 September 2010 (4 months, 4 weeks and 2 days) |
What is the significance of the Macondo well?
The prospect was the site of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion in April 2010 that led to a major oil spill in the region.
What does a blowout preventer do?
A blowout preventer, or BOP, is a large specialised unit weighing up to 400 tonnes that is used to prevent an oil spill from occurring. It works like a valve to close an oil well, similar to a plumber closing a valve in a pipe, and are proven to be highly effective in ensuring well safety.
What is the blowout preventer and what problems did it have?
WASHINGTON — A House energy-panel investigation found that the blowout preventer that failed to stop an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico had a dead battery in its control pod, leaks in its hydraulic system, a “useless” test version of a key component and a cutting tool that wasn’t strong enough to shear through steel …
What can we learn from the Macondo well Deepwater Horizon blowout?
Macondo Well Deepwater Horizon Blowout: Lessons for Improving Offshore Drilling Safety. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13273. mud with lighter seawater and checking for flow, is a standard technique for establishing the integrity of the cemented barrier.
What were the consequences of the Deepwater Horizon blowout?
The blowout of the Macondo well on April 20, 2010, led to enormous consequences for the individuals involved in the drilling operations, and for their families. Eleven workers on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig lost their lives and 16 others were seriously injured.
When did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill stop leaking?
After several failed efforts to contain the flow, the well was declared sealed on September 19, 2010. Reports in early 2012 indicated that the well site was still leaking. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is regarded as one of the largest environmental disasters in American history.
What’s new in blowout preventer equipment system for drilling wells?
Revise Blowout Preventer Equipment System for Drilling Wells (API Standard-53, 4th edition) to establish additional testing or monitoring requirements that verify the reliability of those individual redundant blowout prevention systems that are separate from the integrated system tests currently recommended.
