BP Drilling Of Relief Well Proceeding Ahead Of Schedule

BP’s relief well digging is proceeding ahead of schedule. All eyes are on the progress hoping the oil firm is successful in its attempt to permanently stop a leaking deep-water well. Officials from the company say the target depth may be reached within two weeks.

Billy Brown, president of Blackhawk Specialty Tools, said that the first relief well to kill its runaway Macondo well is “very close.” It’s estimated the firm is within 10 feet of reaching its target. Blackhawk, based in Houma, La., has been contracted to provide the cementing process at the two relief wells being dug at the site of downed Deepwater Horizon oil rig.

A second relief well is being drilled as a backup to the first.

This recent announcement gives hope to many in the affected region that BP may permanently stop the leak prior to its previously reported August target date. However numerous challenges remain such as hurricane season which could disrupt drilling efforts, and the final part of the relief well-drilling operation, which involves frequent stops and measurements.

Retired U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, who is heading up the the oil-spill response and clean up efforts said at a news conference on Tuesday that he was “sticking” with the August target despite drilling appears to be commencing a week ahead of schedule.

“They have about 264 ft left to go before they can get to a point where they can potentially intercept the well,” Allen said.

Allen has also said he is in talks with BP officials about hooking up a third production platform called the Helix Producer, which he says is capable of capturing up to 53,000 barrels a day. Rough weather in the region however has delayed it.

Oil-spill response experts are also looking into the idea of installing a new containment cap which could allow them to better capture the 25,000 to 26,000 barrels a day that is currently escaping into the Gulf. That process too however is affected by weather and rough seas. Officials say any new cap arriving and being installed is at least a week away.