Is it Over?

BP says the well is capped. They make no promises, and still refer to this as a test. But I think the caution is a welcome addition to the company's approach.

Seeing as the most attention this site ever got was when I called for a boycott of BP, it seems only fair I release the whole statement below. But I will also make clear I have no intention to stop by a station with the green and yellow logo on my way home to work today. This is not the end of our national nightmare. It is more like waking up the first time Freddie Kreuger showed up in a dream. You've gotten away from the frightening demon for now, but you know you will have to face the nightmare again. We still have millions of gallons on oil off our West Coast. It is still coming this way. And while this may help Tony get his life back, those of us living on the Gulf Coast will have trouble sleeping for a long time.

Here is the statement from BP:

Following installation of the capping stack and in line with the procedure approved by the National Incident Commander and Unified Area Command, the well integrity test on the MC252 well commenced today.

The well integrity test will last at least 6 hours and could last up to 48 hours. During the test, the three ram capping stack is closed, effectively shutting in the well and all sub-sea containment systems (namely, the Q4000 and Helix Producer systems) have been temporarily stopped. Although it cannot be assured, it is expected that no oil will be released to the ocean during the test. Even if no oil is released during the test, this will not be an indication that oil and gas flow from the wellbore has been permanently stopped.

Information gathered during the test will be reviewed with the relevant government agencies, including the federal science team, to determine next steps.

The sealing cap system never before has been deployed at these depths or under these conditions, and its efficiency and ability to contain the oil and gas cannot be assured.

During the well integrity test, operations on the first relief well have been temporarily stopped while the well was at 17,840 ft as a precaution. Operations on the second relief well have been temporarily suspended at 15,874 feet to ensure that there is no interference with the first relief well. The relief wells remain the sole means to permanently seal and isolate the well.