Surface ship Oil leak What’s next for leaking well

carries 50,000 BP will attempt to plug the Gulf oil well by injecting heavy mud into
barrels of mud it to reverse the oil flow so it can be capped. How a “top kill” works:

Heavy mud Bent

Deep underwater
Twice density riser
of water 6 5/8 in.
Site of (17 cm) 3 BOP
second Biggest
drill pipe worry Mud
1 leak Mud pumped
at a rate of 50 goes up and
Pipe from barrels a minute out riser;
surface ship makes leak
connects to 3 in. bigger
BOP lines Manifold
(8 cm)
hoses
2 Underground

4 Enough mud must go Then well can be

Ship uses 30,000 down well to force oil 5
horsepower capped, or killed
back into reservoir
pumps to inject
heavy mud into Blowout
preventer
well
(BOP) on
If top kill fails Other methods BP could try
top of well Lower marine riser plug (LMRP) cap
Riser cut from top of BOP; cap inserted;
sends oil to surface ship
Manifold
Sea floor 5,000 ft. Junk shot Debris injected into BOP to clog
controls
Oil (1,500 m) down it, slow oil flow
mud flow
flow Second BOP Placed on top of first one
© 2010 MCT Source: BP, Technology Review Graphic: Judy Treible, Melina Yingling, Lee Hulteng