US Coast Guard: Choke Line Fixed, BP Ready To Start Well Testing

15th Jul 2010 16:54

HOUSTON (Dow Jones)--BP PLC (BP, BP.LN) has fixed a leaking line that has delayed a test of whether a recently place cap can entirely seal off a damaged well in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, the federal response commander said Thursday. The U.K. oil giant is ready to begin testing again, retired U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said in a teleconference. However, neither he nor BP provided a precise time for when this analysis will start. BP promised to issue a news release as soon as the well integrity test begins. The test could last up to 48 hours and if all goes well, the cap could eventually seal off the well, he said. If during the first three hours, the test shows that well has a low pressure reading, the test could be called off and BP would be forced to put in place a system of four different lines that would funnel oil and natural gas up to four different ships on the surface of the sea, Allen said. If the cap survives the 48-hour period, spill responders would then perform seismic testing to check the integrity of the well test before deciding whether the cap can shut in the well, he said. -By Susan Daker, Dow Jones Newswires; (713) 547-9208; [email protected] Order free Annual Report for BP plc Visit http://djnewswires.ar.wilink.com/?link=BP or call 1-888-301-0513 Order free Annual Report for Transocean Inc. Visit http://djnewswires.ar.wilink.com/?link=RIG or call 1-888-301-0513 (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 15, 2010 11:54 ET (15:54 GMT)