Relief well for Macondo well makes ranging run

    Sept. 16, 2010
    Crews on the Development Driller III semisubmersible made a ranging run on Sept. 16 to determine the relief well’s location in relation to the Macondo well in 5,000 ft of water on Mississippi Canyon Block 252 off Louisiana.

    By OGJ editors
    HOUSTON, Sept. 16     -- Crews on the Development Driller III semisubmersible made a ranging run on Sept. 16 to determine the relief well’s location in relation to the Macondo well in 5,000 ft of water on Mississippi Canyon Block 252 off Louisiana.

    “Upon completion of the ranging run, a decision on the next steps will be made,” BP said in a brief update posted on its web site at about 11:30 a.m. CDT. BP operates the Macondo well.

    National Incident Commander and retired Adm. Thad Allen said Sept. 15 that he expected the relief well would intercept the Macondo well on Sept. 16. He expects the relief well will be used to pump cement into the bottom of the Macondo well, permanently sealing it.

    An Apr. 20 blowout of the Macondo well caused an explosion and fire on Transocean’s Deepwater Horizon semi, killing 11 people and setting off a sequence of events that resulted in a massive oil spill.

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