News - Local
BP Says Its Engineers Have Begun "Static Kill" Process
Posted: Aug 3, 2010 3:42 PM by Melissa Canone
Updated: Aug 3, 2010 3:47 PM
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - BP says its engineers have begun pumping
heavy drilling mud into the blown-out Gulf of Mexico oil well in
hopes of choking it for good.
BP spokesman John Barnes says crews launched the so-called
"static kill" process Tuesday at 3 p.m. Central time to plug up
the well and then possibly seal it with cement.
The well has leaked millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf
since a BP rig exploded in April and killed 11 workers. The company
was able to bottle up the leak last month with a cap, but engineers
always considered that a temporary solution.
BP engineers say the static kill may permanently plug the well
but they may not know for sure until they finish a relief well
later this month.
They then plan to pump mud and cement through that to
permanently suffocate the source of the oil.
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