By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 24 -- BP PLC said the lower marine riser package (LMRP) cap was reinstalled June 23 on the Deepwater Horizon’s failed blowout preventer, enabling oil and natural gas collection to resume again after a 10-hr interruption.
Meanwhile, efforts continued to install a floating riser that will enable more oil and gas to be collected as well as allow vessels at the surface to be disconnected quickly in the event a hurricane enters the gulf, spill response officials said.
The LMRP cap was moved following observation of an unexpected discharge of seawater on the Transocean Ltd.’s Discoverer Enterprise drillship, BP said.
The LMRP cap was moved off the BOP as a precaution at 8:45 a.m. on June 23 and retuned to its position at 6:30 p.m. Collection efforts through it resumed at about 7 p.m. on the same day. Oil and gas from the LMRP cap goes to the Discoverer Enterprise.
Capture of oil and gas continued uninterrupted through the BOP’s choke line via a manifold to the Q4000 multiservice vessel.
National Incident Commander and retired US Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said a floating production unit, the Helix Producer, is expected to be in place and to provide another 25,000 b/d of capacity, bringing total collection capacity to 53,000 b/d by July 1. The Producer will connect to a floating riser being installed and tested this week.
The Helix Producer will join the Discoverer Enterprise and the Helix Q4000 in collecting oil and gas being diverted from the runaway well.
US Government Accountability Office.
