Final Macondo kill delayed to September

摘要

Houston-A final killing of BP’s blown-out Macondo exploration well is not expected now until early September, after an August 19 decision to replace the well’s malfunctioning blowout preventer prior to interception by a relief well that has been drilling since May 1. Describing the decision as stemming from an “overabundance of caution,” US National Incident Commander Thad Allen directed BP to begin the procedures required to switch the existing BOP in 4,993 feet of water with a replacement waiting on board Transocean’s Development Driller II drillship at the site in the Gulf of Mexico about 40 miles from Venice, Louisiana.