BP declares Deepwater Horizon well to be fully closed
“official time of choke fully closed 2:25 this afternoon (well fully closed)”
Starting the Testing Program and Open Thread
By Katherine Sayre, Press-Register
Published: Thursday, July 15, 2010, 2:51 PM MOBILE, Ala. — A BP official said oil stopped flowing from a well in the Gulf of Mexico at 2:25 p.m. as testing began on a cap over the leak, the first time since the spill began in April. BP Senior Vice President Kent Wells, in a technical briefing, said “it felt very good not to see any oil going into the Gulf of Mexico.” “What I’m trying to do is maintain my emotions,” Wells said. “Remember, this is the start of our test.” The procedure — known as a well integrity test — should determine whether the oil can be blocked without damaging the well. Officials have said the cap could be used to either block the oil or move the oil to containment ships floating on the surface, until a relief well can be completed. Gov. Bob Riley, speaking from Dauphin Island this afternoon, said “I think a lot of prayers have been answered today.”
