New oil leak kit for Gulf

The Marine Well Containment Company (MWCC) made up of the major explorers in the region, ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron and Conoco Phillips, have asked engineers Technip to design the underwater well-containment […]

The Marine Well Containment Company (MWCC) made up of the major explorers in the region, ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron and Conoco Phillips, have asked engineers Technip to design the underwater well-containment equipment which will be used to provide emergency response services in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

The kit makes a direct connection and seal on a subsea well to prevent oil from escaping into the ocean. The system will be equipped with a variety of adapters and connectors to interact with any well design and equipment used by oil and gas operators in the gulf. It will be able to be scrambled to scene within 24 hours and can be used in all weathers and in depths of up to 10,000 feet.

“We are on schedule to develop this specialized containment equipment that will significantly increase the industry’s response capabilities in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Lloyd Guillory, project executive. “In addition to the construction of new equipment, we are continuing efforts to secure existing system components to be available for near-term use.”

The containment system is expected to cost a billion dollars when finished and will start working in six months and be fully operational by 2012.

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