Louisiana Environmental Action Network

Unified Command reported today (May17, 2010) that the Riser Insertion Tube, a device that was implemented by BP in an attempt to siphon away the bulk of the oil leaking from its damaged well, was only capturing around 1,000 barrels per day of leaking oil. Although an official estimate of the actual leak rate has yet to be released independent estimations put 1,000 barrels per day at only a fraction of the rate of the leaking oil. BP will attempt to slowly increase the amount of oil captured over the next few days. BP COO Doug Suttles said that he will be "pleased to capture 2000 barrels" of oil per day with the Riser Insertion Tool.

Suttles also reported today that BP would implement a process called a "top kill" in an effort to stop the flow of oil from the leaking well. Suttles reported that BP was able to take pressure readings from the Blowout Preventer (BOP) which were "fairly low" giving them confidence about implementing the top kill which will be implemented later this week or early next week.

The top kill process was used to regain control of oil wells sabotaged during the first Gulf War. It has never been used on deep undersea wells.

The process involves first reconfiguring two valves on the BOP so that they can be used to pump material into the BOP. Then a "junk shot" will be performed which is basically just the injection of material into the BOP in an attempt to clog the flow of oil at the bend in the riser pipe. BP reports that, "(the) 'junk shot' will include well-known materials such as pieces of tires, golf balls, pieces of rope, etc." If the flow of oil can be sufficiently clogged with material then heavy drilling mud will be pumped under high pressure into the BOP in an attempt to fill the well with enough drilling mud to effectively "plug" the well.

Today the Unified Command also reported that weather this week will be good for response operations and that 4 controlled burns were planned and that surface and subsurface dispersant deployment will continue.

Shuttle reported taking a flyover of the spill area today and that he witnessed the  smallest amount of heavy oil to date. Surface and subsurface dispersant use was credited with accomplishing this. U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry reiterated that the important thing is to focus on the reduction of surface oil.

NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco released a statement saying, "Media reports related to the research work conducted aboard the (Research Vessel) Pelican included information that was misleading, premature and, in some cases, inaccurate." NOAA, at a press conference today, said that the researchers on the Pelican are "doing pretty good work," but wanted to clarify that the Pelican found hydrocarbons in the water but it is not clear exactly what it is. NOAA emphasized that there was no evidence that there are layers of oil in the water column. Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper Paul Orr responded to this saying, "why does NOAA appear to be running interference for this private research venture? I sincerely hope that the researchers on the Pelican and any other independent researchers who will be analyzing this incident are allowed to do their work and report their findings without interference from BP or the Unified Command."

Suttles also reported that BP, in response to decreased numbers of tourists visiting the Gulf Coast due to the spill, is giving financial grants to Gulf States to kickstart tourism. Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper Paul Orr responded to this saying, "I think that we need to err on the side of safety, I don't believe that we should be promoting people coming into the potentially affected areas until we have a better understanding of the effects of this spill on the Gulf."

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