Thad Allen says seepage not a threat, allows tests to continue on BP’s capped well

Allen said there are “anomalies” much closer to the wellhead, including some leakage in the “capping stack” that’s keeping the gusher contained, and bubbles around the base of the well’s blowout preventer that failed in the April 20 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig.

“It is the collective opinion of the folks that are talking about this that the small seepages we are finding right now do not present, at least at this point, any indication that there is a threat to the wellbore,” Allen said, while emphasizing that monitoring would continue.

Significant leaks could be a sign of damage to the well structure that is allowing petroleum to escape elsewhere.

It remains unclear whether the cap on the well that was closed to allow pressure testing will remain shut, or whether it will be re-opened to resume surface containment of oil.

Re-connecting the systems to bring the oil and gas to the surface could take several says, Allen said, which would mean petroleum would again be escaping into the open ocean. But he made clear that the cap must be opened if it is threatening the overall effort to end the spill.

The ultimate solution is the relief wells BP is drilling to intercept the damaged well and cap it for good, he said.

Allen said pressure in the well is roughly 6,800 pounds per square inch and rising — a level lower than officials had anticipated.

He said it is not clear whether that’s due to depletion of the oil-and-gas reservoir or leakage somewhere in the well structure, and that the question remains under discussion amid competing views.