It is so close because it is going to pierce the well bore. It has not traveled the distance this close.
The relief well drill head must have a pinging device built in
No, they pull the drill string each time they check distance.
best testing of the gusher well by the relief well
The relief well isn't for testing. It is for delivering heavy mud to first balance the pressure and stop the flow, then delivery of the cement to permanently stop the flow.
Good detail...perhaps you can comment if the counter balance mud and subsiquent cementing of the damaged well shaft can be made to occur above one or both of the relief wells so that one of the new bores can become a production well for the overall oil resorvoir? Conversely, if the plug has to occur below both relief wells does anyone think this thing will ever be put into production?
The relief well isn’t for testing. It is for delivering heavy mud to first balance the pressure and stop the flow, then delivery of the cement to permanently stop the flow. >>>>>>>>>>>
Sure and it is testing too...for well casing integrity. It has been running close to the gusher well for a few weeks. 20 ft is what I read a few weeks ago
Do you know whether there are plans to use the relief wells’ rigs to pierce the reservoir after they plug the runaway well? Would they pull back and then drill straight ahead instead of turning to the side? It seems that after all the expense, salvaging two producing wells would be a good thing.
Because of that the government probably won’t allow it. They will say the drilling ban applies there, too. Then the rigs would take of for parts unknown, perhaps drilling somewhere else in the Gulf for China or Cuba.