Page 10 - Pressure Test News Today

Already flooded with complaints of irregularities and accusations of fraud. taliban attacks kept 20 polling places from even opening. the gulf of mexico tonight, a crucial pressure test of bps macondo oil well is set to begin in about two hours. if the cement dumped deep into the well is hopefully holding. the so-called bottom kill is holding. thad allen will have the final word on whether the well is officially dead. if and when he does, crews will pack up and probably be gone in about a week...

The gulf of mexico. after pumping in cement to seal the well from the bottom the test is the last step needed before the well can finally be declared dead. nbcs ann thompson has spent the better part of the last five months there in that part of the country and is now in lake ponchartrain, louisiana. so lets get the very latest on what youre hearing on this final test, ann. good morning. >> reporter: well, alex, we were out on the developer driller three yesterday, the rig that dug the relief we...

Latest updates on this topic.

Theyre feeling the effects. well take threw live coming up. the end is in sight to the bp oil spillster. we are waiting to hear about a final test in the blown-out well in the gulf of mexico. after pumping in cement, the test of the last step before the well can be declared dead. nbcs kristen dahlgren is live in venice, louisiana. with another good day to you, what are the details on this final test? are you hearing anything in terms of a time update for getting done and finally decided? >> re...

In venice, louisiana. so another good morning. how is it going at this point? >> reporter: hey, good morning, alex. were still waiting for any word to come from about 50 miles off the coast here where that operation is under way. the last we heard from bp was some time yesterday afternoon that they had started the cementing process. that started at about 1:30 local time. it was expected to take a few hours. then they needed to let that cement cure. after that they were going to do their pressure...

Some has to dissipate naturally. we need to monitor. the fisheries while weve re-opened some, some remain closed. you cant put this much oil throughout and not be concerned, and thats how we responded, with a great deal of concern. >> lets talk about bps accountability. how many barrel was oil were spilled? >> the estimates are 4.9 million barrels, and those estimates are based on pressure tests we were able to do when the top hat was put on. >> bp doesnt commit to that figure, do they? >> bp ah...

Nbcs mara schiavocampo joins us live from venice, louisiana. mara, whats next? >> reporter: well, bp says they will alert the media as soon as they begin this test, and they are supposed to start some time today. now, what they are going to be doing is essentially a pressure test. theyre going to shut down the valves on that cap that they put in place earlier this week and then theyre going to look to see if it can -- what the pressure readings are within it. what they want to see, they say, is ...

Latest updates on this topic.

Wells integrity. those results are ambiguous. after more than 24 hours the pressure reading stood at 6,700 pounds per square inch. or psis. just as water in a nonleaking garden hose would build to a certain level, the ideal level would be higher. between 8,000 and 9,000 psis according to admiral thad allen. that may indicate a leak. admiral allen says seismic probes have not indicated a leak in the ground. the low pressure readings are the result of a depleted reservoir. in any event, the pressu...

Latest updates on this topic.