Bad weather in Gulf could threaten BP oil spill site

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

Experts are considering whether a possible tropical storm could disrupt work at the site of the BP oil spill.

If bad weather over the Caribbean strengthens and then moves to the site in the Gulf of Mexico, ships will have to be withdrawn.

It could mean no work on the relief well for up to two weeks.

A final piece of casing needs to be cemented in place at the bottom of the relief well before it can then drill into the damaged well.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10711746

[monmouth]

1. My local weather people are saying this storm activity is becoming

disorganized. That's a good thing, I hope.

[Baclava]

2. more wait & see

meanwhile...

Thad W. Allen, the retired Coast Guard admiral who commands the spill response, said that if an area of low pressure over Puerto Rico develops into a tropical depression or storm and heads into the gulf, all the ships at the well site 50 miles off the Louisiana coast might have to depart for safer waters. Government weather experts are evaluating the situation, he said.

If the forecast is for a storm, “we could be looking at 10 to 14 days” when no work could be done on a relief well that is considered the ultimate way to seal the BP well, Admiral Allen said. Containment projects and other work would have to be suspended as well.

No decision had been made yet whether the well, which is now sealed as part of a test to see whether it can hold pressure, would be left in that condition, said Admiral Allen. After nearly three months gushing oil, the well has not leaked since last Thursday, when valves on a cap atop it were closed to start the test. But if officials decided it was too risky to leave the well under pressure during a storm, the valves would be reopened and oil would once again spew into the gulf.

Admiral Allen said it was possible that the well would be left shut but closely monitored by remotely operated submersibles for as long as possible. The submersibles, and their relatively fast-moving support ships, would probably only be away from the site for 3 or 4 days, he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/us/22spill.html?_r=1

[Baclava]

3. Not looking good - Tropical depression forming over the Bahamas

8:45 AM EDT Update 22 July 2010
Tropical Depression 3 Forms in the Bahamas.

Advisories on the system (as a depression or possible Tropical Storm) begin at 11AM, and watches/warnings will be issued for the Bahamas and South Florida at 11. Movement is generally west northwest.

[Baclava]

4. welp - no more "could threaten" about it - it's a comin'

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT03/refresh/AL0310W5_NL_sm2+gif/145913W5_NL_sm.gif