BP Claims “Bottom Kill” Could Stop Oil Spill In 20 Days

Except for the first few days of the spill, (back when BP’s public relations team still had the government, some scientists, and most of the public believing its gross underestimation of how much oil was actually escaping from the deepwater well) there have been few positive reports about what’s going on in the Gulf.

Seventy-nine days later, BP is suddenly optimistic again, predicting that the long-anticipated “bottom kill” tactic could be ready to stop the oil spill any time between July 20 and July 27.

Hooray! The end is in sight! …Right?

If you’ve been paying attention to any coverage about the oil spill crisis, you know it can’t be that easy.

According to a Wall Street Journal interview with BP managing director Bob Dudley, however, that ambitious timeframe is only possible “in a perfect world with no interruptions.”

To make matters worse, the U.S. Coast Guard has almost no confidence in BP’s claims.

In a Thursday morning briefing, National Incident Commander Thad Allen said that he hoped the early estimate was right, but reiterated the government estimate that the relief well would most likely be in place by mid-August, at the earliest.

Allen said the relief well will be in place to penetrate the leaking borehole in seven to 10 days. The process of filling the hole with mud and then capping with cement will take another seven to 10 days and, he said, might have to be done a number of times, depending on where the oil is coming out (Washington Post).

Allen also cautioned that plugging the well correctly depends on whether or not engineers can cause the mud and cement infusion to strike the blown-out well exactly where the oil is pouring out. If history is any sort of an example, the chances of them getting it right the first time are pretty small.

Though it may seem that the oil spill’s days of massive growth might be over, it’s important to remember that this isn’t the first time BP has left it’s ugly mark on the Gulf.

An Associated Press investigation found that “there are more than 27,000 abandoned wells in the Gulf of Mexico, of which 600 belonged to BP.” If each of these treated with the same “careful attention” that was used on the Deepwater Horizon, the AP’s description of the Gulf as “an environmental minefield that has been ignored for decades” coudn’t be more accurate.

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Image Credit: Flickr - deepwaterhorizonresponse
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class John Masson.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Philippa P.

11:58AM PDT on Aug 9, 2010

It's the beginning of August now; and, we can see how well BP has been acting.

send a green star

Jami W.

9:20PM PDT on Jul 29, 2010

hey everybody its the end of July whats that you say BP still hasn't fix the oil leaks theres a big shock who would have thought that certainly not me

kurt k.

6:30PM PDT on Jul 12, 2010

The Theatrics continue...
another case of truth being waaaay stranger than fiction

check out these coooooincidences, and let
the disillusionment become complete

http://stream.adamdodson.org/items/view/2945

at some point you must decide if you are
a red-piller or a blue piller - let it be now

Deborah H.

11:12AM PDT on Jul 12, 2010

The dispersants are far worse than the oil. Life will NEVER be the same, yet there are still people stupid enough to want to continue drilling and using oil. There is technology being suppressed that could provide fuel and energy, but Big Oil is interested only in profit.

Lyn V.

4:17PM PDT on Jul 11, 2010

We all would love to believe them -- but hey, they havent come up with anything concrete until now -- so why should we believe them ------

Barb F.

2:27PM PDT on Jul 11, 2010

second the comment of Peggy Peters, nothing BP says is likely to be of any truth.

Ralph B.

9:16AM PDT on Jul 11, 2010

Why can't we just wait until the Oil is 2feet deep on top of the water and don't add anymore dangerous dispersement Chemicals.
That we the oil co's could suck the oil off the top and run it thru the refineries So that HI Hummer owners could have plenty of Gas.. I hear they get 9 miles to a gallon.. I know all the dead fish and animals floating in the oil might be a problem.. God Help us all... as the Oil pours full force into the Gulf today.....

ashley j.

9:09AM PDT on Jul 11, 2010

i hope that they can find a way to stop this soon. what really bothers me is that they are already planning for more drilling in other places. pretty soon the whole ocean will be oil because of their greed and ignorance. when this stops i hope people dont forget what a horrible disaster this has been.

Peggy P.

7:18AM PDT on Jul 11, 2010

Not to be cynical but I turn a deaf ear on anything BP states or claims. I like to believe the best out of people but the proof is in the pudding or in this case, gushing oil surrounded by death!!!!!

Ronni G.

5:51AM PDT on Jul 11, 2010

I've always been blessed with a positive attitude, but I'm afraid this whole issue has turned me into a cynic! I am finding it hard to believe anything that comes out of the BP camp, but I still hope for the best - a positive result.