BP reports that static kill on Gulf oil spill is a success

BP says the “static kill” of its ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well has been a success and is a big step towards sealing the oil spill permanently.

“The well pressure is now being controlled by the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling mud, which is the desired outcome of the static kill procedure carried out,” BP said in a statement.

The well is being monitored, and further pumping of mud maybe required as BP reports “Further pumping of mud may or may not be required depending on the results observed during monitoring.”

BP began pumping mud into the well from vessels on the surface at 2000 GMT on Tuesday, in order to counter the pressure from the oil pushing out of the reservoir below the seabed.

The company could eventually seal the mouth of the well with cement.

The apparent success came 106 days after a devastating explosion aboard the BP leased Deepwater Horizon rig on April 20th unleashed the biggest oil spill in US history.

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