07-11-2010, 02:23 PM
If I remember correctly, this was an exploratory well which is used to determine if oil is there and if it can be produced in commecial quantities. If so, it would likely have been plugged and abandoned and production wells drilled at a later time from a central floating production platform.
I am a Shell Oil retiree and was a drilling engineer for a short time many years ago. The drilling of relief wells is not a new thing. Back in the 80s, Shell had a blowout on land in Mississippi that resulted in a dangerous level of H2S (hydrogen sulfide) being leaked into the surrounding area. It required evacuation and relocation of a lot of people for several months. That well was on land which made things a bit simpler than the current BP situation. If I recall correctly that well was 20,000 to 25,000 feet deep. It was successfully intercepted with a relief well and the well was killed. I was in a Shell conference at the time the intercept was announced and everyone stood up and cheered.
I am a Shell Oil retiree and was a drilling engineer for a short time many years ago. The drilling of relief wells is not a new thing. Back in the 80s, Shell had a blowout on land in Mississippi that resulted in a dangerous level of H2S (hydrogen sulfide) being leaked into the surrounding area. It required evacuation and relocation of a lot of people for several months. That well was on land which made things a bit simpler than the current BP situation. If I recall correctly that well was 20,000 to 25,000 feet deep. It was successfully intercepted with a relief well and the well was killed. I was in a Shell conference at the time the intercept was announced and everyone stood up and cheered.