Allen: Relief Well in Gulf Will Be Finished

(CBS)  Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the government's point man on the Gulf oil spill, said Sunday the authorities will require BP to finish pumping cement down its relief well, forming a final plug.

If not used for the so-called "bottom kill," the relief wells currently being drilled could offer a way for BP to pump oil again from the Macondo Prospect reservoir and sell it. BP officials earlier in the week refused to commit to pumping cement down the relief well.

John Dickerson, guest host of CBS' "Face the Nation," asked Allen about BP's plans: "Earlier in the week there was a little bit of confusion and a message from BP that maybe the relief well might not be necessary?"

"There was an inference early on that there might be an option," Allen said. "That is not the case. I've discussed this with [incoming BP CEO] Bob Dudley. The relief well will be finished."

Special Section: Disaster in the Gulf

BP has poured cement to complete a plug at the top of the well as part of the "static kill" operation, but they needed to wait at least a day for it to harden. Once it does, crews can finish injecting mud and cement from the bottom to permanently seal the hole, finishing the relief well to which Allen refers.

The company had been mulling alternate uses of the relief well, but federal officials have insisted it should be used for the bottom kill. Allen's comments Sunday seemed to close the book on the matter.

But BP officials have also pushed some buttons by suggesting that it might drill again in the same reservoir, citing "lots of oil."

Allen refused to say whether this was an appropriate option for BP.

"That's a policy issue between BP and the Department of the Interior. I'm focusing on the response," he said.

Allen also said BP hasn't been good at compensating Gulf Coast victims affected by the oil spill, and that the company will be held accountable.

"At the well head I think they've done very well," Allen said. "What they are not good at, and has not been part of their corporate competency or capacity in the past, is one on transactions with individual citizens. I think that's where the biggest gap of performance has been and where the most improvement needs to take place."

There have also been concerns that BP is pulling back on cleanup efforts now that oil is no longer spewing into the Gulf of Mexico. Residents have been worried that available help will gradually dwindle.

Allen said that wouldn't happen.

"We're going to keep cleaning it up. We've got a commitment to be there," he said. "BP is responsible. We're going to hold them accountable. I would say this has been the largest environmental response in the history of this nation. We'll continue until the clean-up is done."

Dickerson asked whether Allen can trust BP to do the right thing.

"Well, you know, I don't hardly have an interview where they don't raise the word 'trust' and BP In the same sentence. What I tell everybody is that this is more of a requirement to cooperate, collaborate. We all have to be working on the same mission. We have to achieve the effects we're trying to achieve for the American people. In that regard I think we've been effective."

"I think they've done a pretty good job of that," Allen said.


More Oil Spill Coverage:

BP May Re-Tap Reservoir, Citing "Lots of Oil"
BP Finishes Pumping Cement into Blown-Out Well
Reporting from the Coast Guard's "Decisive"
Report: Oil Rig Co. Had Issues at 3 More Wells
U.S. Says 75% of Oil Gone, but Skeptics Remain

[BCSaugerties]

Why not allow BP to develop the well? If there is oil there you know eventually it will be tapped. Make that time now and give royalties to locals so as to help them economically. BP should have a new 50-50 partner in that well and it should be the people who are impacted. If the locals can share the pain then they should be entitled to share the gain. Every man, woman and child in Alaska receives a check every year making them partners in both risk and reward. I dare you to make it happen.

[sjc_1]

The second well was drilled at the request of the U.S. government as a backup, BP wanted only one. Allen has been very diplomatic on the relief wells. BP said that they did not need them now and Allen said "we are in agreement that they will be done". That means if BP foot dragged any more, they would be hammered into a pulp.

[DocD--2008]

They cannot be hammered into a pulp. Remember their cooperation cannot be made mandatory and their liability if they chose to stand by it is limited by the law congress had passed before. They are already far past that point, they could just say screw it and pull out. Yes that would hurt the company everywhere in the world, but it still is a choice. Congress still needs to fix the mess they created with the limit they set after Valdez. Allen keeps saying it is a requirement not a request, but he has no authority to enforce anything but a request under law. It doesn't make it right, but it is as written so far, Congress still has to do something about it, and they will, long after its needed as usual. Remember, all Congress cares about is the money, and how much they can squeeze into their own pockets, the same as judges and lawyers.

[sjc_1]

We will just revoke their permits and ban them from the Gulf permanently...hammered.

[colomtman]

I was just wondering why no one is saying anthing about the fact that BP drilled 2 relief wells not just 1. What is the statis of that second well that they drilled? Makes me kinda wonder what they are up to. How could they even consider trying to retap that oil pocket. The methane gas that caused the whole problem is still down there.