Transcript-Press Briefing with National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen July 13, 2010

http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/779967/

“When we get ready to start the well integrity test, we will first cease production through the Q4000 and the Helix Producer I. We will then divert all the hydrocarbons up into the new capping stack. Valves through the kill and the choke lines for the new capping stack will be opened. And the center bore is already open. So we will be venting basically through three different exits on the capping stack, the kill line and the choke line, and the main line going through the bore. Then in sequence we will attempt to close the stack down and assess the pressure readings. As we do that, the first thing we will do is close the main ram. There are three rams. The middle one will be closed and that will basically shut off the flow outward through the top of the capping stack. At that point we’ll take pressure readings. We will then close the kill line, which is the second remaining outlet and take pressure readings. The third and most critical will be the choke line. There is a special device that has been built on the capping stack. You will see it. If you look at the video, it is yellow. It is long horizontally and it is a curved up pipe for the exit of the hydrocarbons. That choke line will be controlled by a remotely operating vehicle, which will slowly close it incrementally. And this is going to be very, very important because we want to measure the amount of closure, which will be measured gradually by turns of that choke line valve by an ROV simultaneously taking pressure readings. The goal is to slowly close that down and understand the changes in pressure as we are closing it until that choke line is closed. At that point, there’ll be no hydrocarbons exiting from the capping stack. And we will go into a period where we’re going to start taking pressure readings. It will go in basically 6, 24, and 48 hour increments depending on the results.”

“The range of options that could come out of the testing of the stacking cap include knowledge that the cap itself can withstand 8 to 9,000 PSI pressure indeterminately, indefinitely, which means there might be an opportunity to have what we call a shut in of the well. Basically to just hold it at that point. Anything less than that might bring into play a decision to continue to produce. At that point, we will be able to produce off of four lines, the choke and the kill line from the original blow out preventer plus the choke and the kill lines form the new stacking cap. That is intended by around the 18th of July to take us to a capacity of 60 to 80,000 barrels a day, which we think will exceed the flow. So either through a potential shut in of the well or being able to produce most or if not all of the flow we believe is generated, either way we will have a way to contain the oil, if we are successful in the pressure readings.”

US oil spill panel weighs mounting economic impact

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1219829320100712

Oil disaster commission faces unique challenges

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/13/oil.presidential.commission/?fbid=kTW8eLpWtcd

DEEPWATER DRILLING MORATORIUM

U.S. Asks Courts to Dismiss Lawsuit Over Deep-Water Drilling Moratorium

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-13/u-s-asks-courts-to-dismiss-oil-industry-challenge-to-deep-water-drill-ban.html

“Two New Orleans courts were asked by Interior Secretary Kenneth Salazar to dismiss an industry lawsuit challenging a U.S. deep-water drilling moratorium after the government issued a new temporary ban.”

Lifting Drilling Moratorium Too Risky, Bromwich Says

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-07-13/lifting-drilling-moratorium-too-risky-bromwich-says.html

"So long as the spill is out there and has not been contained and the oil-spill response capabilities are all being consumed by the current spill," Interior Secretary Kenneth Salazar finds it too risky, Bromwich told a presidential commission."

Drilling moratorium: US cites weak spot in blowout preventers

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0713/Drilling-moratorium-US-cites-weak-spot-in-blowout-preventers

WILDLIFE, HUMAN AND ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS

Latest Map and Notice on Fishery Closure Area

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_horizon_oil_spill.htm

“The new closure measures 83,927 sq mi (217,371 sq km) and covers about 35% of the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone.”

Deepwater Horizon Response Consolidated Fish and Wildlife Collection Report

http://www.fws.gov/home/dhoilspill/pdfs/collection_07132010.pdf