Retired US Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said today that he spent yesterday in Houston with the government science team led by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and his team, "talking with BP engineers regarding the decision of whether or not to go ahead and cement the well after we have completed the static kill -- having filled it with mud 24 hours before that."
The decision was made last night to cement the well. It was"at a proper condition where we could cement it. That would increase the integrity of the well as far as a potential leak of hydrocarbons and would actually enhance our ability to do the bottom kill after that," Allen said.
Thus, he signed an order last night to BP and about 8:30 Eastern Daylight Time this morning they started pumping cement into the well. When that is done Allen's team will make sure they have all the cement in place.
"The big conversation yesterday really had to do with whether or not the drill pipe was still intact, and how that might impact the cementing plan," said Allen. "We pretty much came to a consensus on that. So today's effort into tomorrow will be to finish cementing off the well from the top down."
Then he stressed: "Let me state, and I have stated this several times, that this is not the end. But it will virtually assure us that there will be no chance of oil leaking into the environment."
Asked how long the cement process would last including the time it takes to cure the cement, Allen said he thought they'd know within 24 hours.
Allen also said that he would "declare this well dead" when and only when they've "intercepted the annulus and we've assessed how much mud or cement we need to do from the bottom that will finally kill this well."
"Now, we will have created a significant milestone, and made a major step forward probably by tomorrow when the cementing is done," said Allen.
"I think we can all breathe a little easier regarding the potential that we'll have oil in the Gulf ever again. But we need to assure the people of the Gulf and the people of the United States that this thing is properly finished. And that will be through the bottom."
How long it takes depends on when the cementing is done, he said.
For more on Admiral Allen's discussion with the media today, view the transcript here.
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