BP: Waiting For Weather, Government Before Starting 'Static Kill'

21st Jul 2010 21:59

By Susan Daker Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES HOUSTON(Dow Jones)--BP PLC (BP, BP.LN) said Wednesday it's waiting on government approval in order to start an operation that could speed up the permanent sealing of a broken well in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, the company has received approval to proceed with another 24-hour testing period of the well's fitness, said Kent Wells, a BP senior vice president. The well has been undergoing testing for several days, after a cap was placed on top of it last week, Wells said. The cap has been preventing up to 60,000 barrels of oil a day from flowing into the sea. BP would like to attempt a so-called "static kill," which could plug the leaking well with heavy drilling mud. The static kill could make it easier to complete a relief well, which is the seen as the final way to shut down the gusher. The disaster started in late April with the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. Wells did not give a specific time frame for when the approval would be granted. Meanwhile, the company continues to monitor the weather for possible delays to the "static kill," operation. -By Susan Daker, Dow Jones Newswires; 713-547-9208; [email protected]. (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 21, 2010 16:59 ET (20:59 GMT)