In what is being described as a ‘milestone’ for the Macondo Well in the Gulf of Mexico, BP began pouring cement into the well. Earlier this week, BP pumped heavy drilling mud into the top of the Macondo well, pushing back the flow of oil and gas and making the cementing possible. The cement will need to cure for 24 to 36 hours and should be completed by Friday. After the cement has dried, BP will resume drilling the relief well that will permanently plug the Macondo well from below.
Filling the well from top to bottom with cement will force the oil and gas back into the reservoir and should eliminate any possibility of a leak.