Fear of well rupture caused BP test delay

[sinkingfeeling]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38200524/ns/disaster_in_the_gulf/

HOUSTON — On orders from federal officials, BP delayed a key pressure test on the new oil cap below the Gulf late Tuesday because of concerns that the test could damage the wellbore, a BP executive said Wednesday.

"There were a couple of other concerns around ways flow could escape and we needed to go examine those before we proceeded," Doug Suttles, BP chief operating officer of exploration and production, told CNN.

An unstable area around the wellbore could create bigger problems if the leak continued elsewhere in the well after the cap valves were shut, experts said.

"It's an incredibly big concern," said Don Van Nieuwenhuise, director of Professional Geoscience Programs at the University of Houston. "They need to get a scan of where things are, that way when they do pressure testing, they know to look out for ruptures or changes."

[Subdivisions]

1. That well is fucked. I'm afraid we're stuck with the leak. n/t

[damntexdem]

2. Fear of well rupture?

They probably know damn well that it likely will rupture.

[Ganja Ninja]

3. I'm surprised that they would even think of attempting this without

the relief wells in place and ready to go. I think BP was looking for another shortcut and this time the government said no.