The United States Government allowed BP to keep its well sealed for testing for another 24 hours. This means that the government allows BP to continue its integrity test despite the most recent anomalies which were observed around the well. So far, however, the sealing process has been a success, keeping oil from leaking out of the well for almost a week now, in what has become the first good news since the tragedy occurred.
Now, the latest reports show the presence of methane surrounding the well, and a recorded seep during Sunday morning. These irregularities are the first since the well was sealed successfully, and may affect the testing severely.
Still, Thad Allen, the National Incident commander, has allowed BP to continue for one more day. On the other hand, Allen and his crew will continue to deeply monitor the situation, looking for the slightest hints of malfunctions and any indication that the sealing will only make the situation worse.
BP is also monitoring the situation broadly, and is collaborating with the United States government to gather data and analyze whether the information obtained calls for the sealing to remain, or be taken away, allowing oil to spill out once more to the already vastly damaged Gulf.
The rig explosion in April 20 has caused BP’s shares to fall sharply and reach its lowest drop in 13 years, down to 12 percent according to Thursday’s morning data. This company, Beyond Petroleum, is based in London and is one of the oil giants of the United Kingdom, with its desire to create environment friendly solutions, but now it’s reputation is highly tarnished due to what many consider as the worst oil spill in history, and the most expensive.