” But why not make it a production well to help pay for the cost of the damage and reduce the possibility of natural oil seeps in the area?”
That’s been answered many times here by people that know the industry.
There is too much risk with the well having been compromised.
They will eventually drill in with other wells.
Is there only one relief well? I seem to remember that they were going to drill two relief wells. I figured if the first one worked they could use the second as a production well.