A risky maneuver

BP is poised to remove the

capping stack that was placed on
top of the failed blowout preventer
(BOP) on July 15, ending the oil
leak. Then the company will
replace the failed BOP before
1 In preparation, permanently sealing the well.
the system was Capping
purged by stack
pumping fluids
through the BOP 3 Now, the cap and
and the cap Connecting the damaged BOP
to a vessel at the spool will be removed
surface
4 The BOP from
2 Ambient BOP the second relief
well will be put on
pressure
the damaged well
tests were
conducted
Cap 3

BOP
The
damaged
BOP will be
saved for
examination New
BOP

Wellhead

© 2010 MCT
Source: BP, Upstream Graphic: Julie Sheer, Lorena I. Elebee, Los Angeles Times