Reply #6: They have to intersect the bottom of the other well because

[meeshrox]

of pressure gradients. If they go deeper than the broken well, they have to pump the reservoir until the pressures equalize. The rocks (shale) have pore spaces in them like limestones do, but with a different configuration. When the oil is pumped from one zone or area from below, such as if the relief well were half-way down, the oil level at the top of the reservoir does not go down. It's not like sticking a straw into the bottom of a punch bowl and sucking the liquid out, and having the oil leave a large empty space in the rocks. It's more like sticking a straw into a sponge. When you pull from one area of the sponge (or reservoir), the pore spaces do not drain the same way. You're not going to get all of the liquid out by pumping from the bottom of the sponge. It's much easier to tap directly at the broken well.

What they need is to drill several more relief wells. The well that blew in Australia needed 5 of them to bring the pressure down enough to cement the broken one. If we finish in August with 2 wells and more are needed, it's just that much more time to drill more.

Everything they've done is a show for the public to think they are actually trying. The reality is that the pressures involved are too great for the efforts they keep trying, such as the top hat. John Stewart's mentos and fishing line demonstration is the most accurate depiction I've seen!