TIDMBP.
RNS Number : 7962O
BP PLC
05 July 2010
Press Release
July 5, 2010
UPDATE ON GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL
BP today provided an update on developments in the response to the MC252 oil
well incident in the Gulf of Mexico.
Subsea Source Control and Containment
Two containment systems continue to collect oil and gas flowing from the
Deepwater Horizon's failed blow-out preventer (BOP) and transport them to
vessels on the surface.
The lower marine riser package (LMRP) containment cap, installed on June 3,
takes oil and gas to the Discoverer Enterprise where oil is collected and gas
flared. The second system, which began operations on June 16, takes oil and gas
to the Q4000 vessel on the surface where both oil and gas are flared.
On July 3, a total of approximately 25,198 barrels of oil were collected or
flared by the two systems and 57.0 million cubic feet of gas were flared.
Specifically, the LMRP containment system connected to the Discoverer Enterprise
collected 17,022 barrels of oil, and the Q4000 flared an additional 8,176
barrels of oil. To date, the total volume of oil collected or flared by the
containment systems is approximately 585,400 barrels. Information on the volumes
of oil and gas that are collected or flared is updated twice daily on BP's
website, www.bp.com.
Preparations continue for the next step in
containment operations. Work on the first floating riser containment system
planned to be connected to the Helix Producer was delayed by heightened sea
states caused by Hurricane Alex as it passed through the Gulf of Mexico. The
floating riser system is designed to allow more rapid disconnection and
reconnection of the system, reducing the time that collection may be impacted in
the case of, for example, inclement weather.It is currently anticipated that
this first floating riser system will be available to begin first operations
towards the end of the week.
Plans also are being developed for additional containment capacity and
flexibility. These projects are currently anticipated to begin operations around
mid- late July.
The LMRP containment cap system, the Q4000 system, and the planned additional
containment systems have not been deployed at these depths or under these
conditions, and their efficiency and ability to contain or flare the oil and gas
cannot be assured.
Work on the first relief well, which started May 2,
continues. The well reached a depth of 17,725 feet on July 4 and a sixth
'ranging' run was completed. The second relief well, which started May 16, has
now reached a measured depth of 13,871 feet. Both wells are still estimated to
take approximately three months to complete from commencement of drilling.
Surface Spill Response and Containment
Work continues to collect and disperse oil that has reached the surface of the
sea, to protect the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico, and to collect and clean up
any oil that has reached shore.
Approximately 44,500 personnel, more than 6,563 vessels and some 113 aircraft
are now engaged in the response effort.
Operations to skim oil from the surface of the water were temporarily placed
on hold for approximately three days because of the effects of Hurricane Alex.
To date, these operations have recovered, in total, approximately 673,497
barrels (23.5 million gallons) of oily liquid. In addition, a total of 275
controlled burns have been carried out to date, removing an estimated 238,000
barrels of oil from the sea's surface.
The total length of containment boom
deployed as part of efforts to prevent oil from reaching the coast is now almost
2.9 million feet (550 miles).
Additional information
To date, almost 95,000 claims have been submitted and more than 47,000 payments
have been made, totalling almost $147 million.
The cost of the response to
date amounts to approximately $3.12 billion, including the cost of the spill
response, containment, relief well drilling, grants to the Gulf states, claims
paid, and federal costs. On June 16, BP announced an agreed package of measures,
including the creation of a $20 billion escrow account to satisfy certain
obligations arising from the oil and gas spill. It is too early to quantify
other potential costs and liabilities associated with the incident.
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BP Press Office London: +44 20 7496 4076
BP Press office, US: +1 281 366 0265
www.bp.com/gulfofmexicoresponse
- ENDS -
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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