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TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2010


Action on the ocean floor In a flurry of activity that began Saturday, BP engineers successfully placed a new 18-foot-tall cap on the well and plan to shut down its flow of oil for a vital test. What has transpired at the wellhead since Saturday:


Saturday Old cap Riser stub


Drill pipe remnants


Robot


Blowout preventer


1


The old, loose-fitting cap was removed from the top of the well’s failed blowout preventer.


Sunday Oil flow


Drill pipe remnants


Flange transition spool


2


Blowout preventer


The jaggedly cut stub of the riser pipe was unbolted and


pulled off, exposing two remnants of drill pipe sticking out the top.


Blowout preventer


RIC FELD/ASSOCIATED PRESS


PANAMA CITY, FLA. Michelle Obama makes a point of walking barefoot as she strolls on a Gulf Coast beach with officials. Tourism has dropped since the oil disaster. But “there are still thousands of miles of beaches not touched by the spill,” the first lady said. “Everybody should come here.”


Kinds of rigs used in deep water banned spill from A1


before it is plugged at its base with mud and concrete. On Saturday, BP yanked away


the “top hat” containment cap that had been lopsidedly parked on the well since early last month. Over the next 48 hours, technicians used robotic sub- mersibles and hardware lowered from the surface to reconfigure the well’s outlet. Instead of the jagged hole of the sheared-off ris- er pipe, the well was fitted with a new, simple chimney-like open- ing, which Monday spurted a plume of oil made frothy by in- jected chemical dispersants. The new chimney enabled BP to deploy a huge structure known as the “3 ram capping stack.” It has three valves that can be used to close the flow of oil. First it had to be installed — no slam-dunk in the cold, dark, highly pressurized deep-sea environment, where ice- like methane hydrates can quick- ly form and clog openings. With the new cap in place, oil and gas still flow out a perforated pipe at the top of the stack.


Next will come the critical “in-


tegrity test.” It’s really a pressure test. How the well performs in the test will shape everything that follows. Before the test begins, BP will stop collecting oil from the well. Although the top hat, which fun- neled oil to a surface ship, is no longer in the picture, there is still oil flowing to a surface rig called the Q4000 via a line attached to the blowout preventer. The Q4000 has been burning about 8,000 barrels (336,000 gallons) of oil a day. On Monday, a new ship, the Helix Producer, began si- phoning oil through a different line connected to the blowout preventer. That ship potentially could capture up to 25,000 bar- rels a day if ramped to full pro- duction. To test the well’s integrity, BP


will gradually shut down the flow of oil and gas until the flow stops — nothing out the top, nothing to surface ships. BP engineers and government scientists will scruti- nize the pressure building in the well. “Higher pressures are good


Obama viewed slightly better than lawmakers


poll from A1


the economy negatively, although compared with the depths of the recession in early 2009, far fewer now describe economic condi- tions as “poor.” Only about a quar- ter of all Americans think the economy is improving. Recent economic develop- ments — a declining stock mar- ket, problems in the housing in- dustry and an unemployment re- port showing only tepid job growth in the private sector — may have bruised the president’s ratings. Just 43 percent of all Amer- icans now say they approve of the job Obama is doing on the econo- my, while 54 percent disapprove. Both are the worst, marginally, of his presidency. Even a third of Democrats give him negative marks here. And overall, intensity runs clearly against the president on the issue, with twice as many people rating him strongly nega- tive as strongly positive. At the same time, Democrats


generally continue to hold the edge over Republicans when it comes to dealing with the nation’s fragile economy. But that Demo- cratic lead is slimmer than it was in 2006 before the party won back control of Congress. And among those most likely to vote this year, 39 percent trust the Democrats more and 40 percent the Repub- licans. About 17 percent of likely voters put their confidence in nei- ther side. Public opinion is split down the middle on the question of wheth- er the government should spend more money to stimulate the economy in a way that leads to job creation. Among those who sup-


Democrats nationally remain on the defensive as they seek to retain both houses of Congress this fall.


port such new spending, 18 per- cent change their minds when asked what they think if such out- lays could sharply increase the budget deficit. In that scenario, 57 percent opposed another round of spending.


About six in 10 Democrats say


they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who favors new government spending, while 55 percent of Republicans say they would be less likely to do so. Inde- pendent voters are divided on the question, with 41 percent more apt to oppose and 35 percent to support. On at least one issue pending in Congress there is broader agree- ment: A sizable majority says the government should extend un- employment benefits. Most Democrats and independ- ents support increasing the time limit on government payments for jobless claims, and they are joined by 43 percent of Repub- licans. The notion clearly divides the GOP: Sixty percent of conser- vative Republicans oppose the idea, while 57 percent of moderate or liberal Republicans support it.


This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone July 7-11, 2010, among a random national sample of 1,288 adults including users of both conventional and cellular phones. Results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points; it is four points for results among the 1,151 registered voters surveyed. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by TNS of Horsham, Pa.


Complete data from the poll can be found at www.washingtonpost.com/polls


Low marks on deficit On the question of Obama’s leadership, 42 percent of regis- tered voters now say they have confidence that he will make the right decisions for the country, with 58 saying they do not. At the start of his presidency, about six in 10 expressed confidence in his decision-making. Obama’s overall job-approval


rating stands at 50 percent, equal- ing his low point in Post-ABC poll- ing; 47 percent disapprove of the job he is doing. For the first time in his presidency, those who strongly disapprove now signifi- cantly outnumber those who strongly approve. Among those who say they defi-


nitely will vote in November, 53 percent disapprove of the way he is handling his responsibilities. The president’s approval rat- ings reached a new low among whites, at 40 percent, with his positive marks dipping under 50 percent for the first time among white college-educated women. On the issues tested in the poll,


Obama’s worst ratings come on his handling of the federal budget deficit, where 56 percent disap- prove and 40 percent approve. He scores somewhat better on health-care reform (45 percent approve) and regulation of the fi- nancial industry (44 percent). His best marks come on his duties as commander in chief, with 55 per-


cent approving. Obama’s overall standing puts


him at about the same place Presi- dent Bill Clinton was in the sum- mer of 1994, a few months before Republicans captured the House and Senate in an electoral land- slide. President Ronald Reagan, who also contended with a serious re- cession at the outset of his first term, was a little lower at this point in 1982, with a 46 percent to 45 percent split on his approval ratings. Republicans went on to lose about two dozen seats in the House that fall.


Of course, Reagan and Clinton subsequently rebounded and went on to win reelection easily.


THE WASHINGTON POST


Obama advisers find some hope from that history, even as the his- torical record foreshadows Demo- cratic losses this November. The latest poll was conducted


by conventional and cellular tele- phone Wednesday through Sun- day among a random national sample of 1,288 adults including interviews with 1,151 registered voters. The results for the full sur- vey have a margin of sampling er- ror of plus or minus 3.5 percent- age points.


balzd@washpost.com cohenj@washpost.com


Polling analyst Jennifer Agiesta and polling assistant Kyle Dropp contributed to this report.


news. They indicate that the well bore has integrity,” said Doug Sut- tles, BP’s chief operating officer. If the pressure doesn’t rise as


expected, that will suggest that the well has been damaged below the seafloor. Suttles played down the possibility that the test could damage the well and cause leaks into the surrounding rock forma- tion.


But clearly these will be anx- ious moments in the gulf. “The last thing you want to happen is have the well blow out and collapse around the well- head,” said Greg McCormack, di- rector of the Petroleum Exten- sion Service at the University of Texas. “When that happens, you have a heck of a time killing that well.” “You can think of it as this


great big faucet that we’re going to slowly crank down and turn off the flow and then check the pres- sure over a period of time,” BP spokesman Steve Rinehart said Monday. The pressure readings will offer clues to what’s happen- ing out of sight, below the gulf floor, in the well bore, Rinehart


on washingtonpost.com Following the saga


To join discussions, see interactive graphics and view video and photo reports of the cleanup effort and fallout, visit washingtonpost.com/ wp-srv/special/oilspill.


said. “Will it hold? Or will it leak out?” he said.


If the pressure test suggests


that the well hasn’t been compro- mised, BP will leave the well “shut in.” That won’t mean the well is dead. The killing of the well is still the job of the relief well. About the end of this month, Sut- tles said, BP will intercept the Macondo well and attempt to kill it with heavy mud and then con- crete. The deep-sea activity and


Washington political pronounce- ments formed a backdrop for the first public hearing by the presi- dential commission investigating the spill. Oystermen and sports


- ABC News poll Discontent grows as voters divide


Seven in 10 independent voters say they are inclined to look around for someone new to vote for in this year's congressional elections — another new high in Post-ABC polling — reflecting the growing dissatisfaction with those in power, regardless of party.


Q:


If the elections for the U.S. House of Representatives in November were being held today, would you vote for the Democratic candidate or the Republican candidate in your congressional district?


(Among registered voters) Democratic


All Independents Q:


46% 40%


Republican 47% 47%


Other 3% 5%


No opinion 5% 8%


Regardless of how you might vote in your own congressional district, do you think it’s more important to have the Democrats in charge of Congress, to help support Obama’s policies, or to have the Republicans in charge of Congress, to act as a check on Obama’s policies?


(Among registered voters) All Independents Q:


Democrats in charge Republicans in charge 43% 39%


51% 54%


No opinion 6% 7%


Which political party, the Democrats or the Republicans, do you trust to do a better job handling the economy?


Democrats All 42% Republicans Both Neither 34% 3% 17%


No opinion 5%


(24% answered “neither” among independents) Q:


Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling the economy?


APPROVE 43%


All Q: 20% STRONGLY


DISAPPROVE 54%


41% STRONGLY


Do you think the federal government should spend more money to try to boost the economy in a way that creates jobs, or do you think that whether or not jobs are created should be left to the private sector?


But if it would sharply increase the federal deficit: 39%


All All


Q:


Should spend more Left to private sector 48%


48% 57%


No opinion 4%


4%


Because of the economic downturn, Congress extended the period in which people can receive unemployment benefits and is considering doing so again. Supporters say this would help those who can’t find work. Opponents say this would add too much to the federal budget deficit. Do you think Congress should or should not approve another extension of unemployment benefits?


All


Should Should not 62%


36%


No opinion 2%


3


Robots tied the drill pipe remnants together to get them out of the way.


Monday


New tight-fitting cap


Flange transition spool


Blowout preventer


5


A new, tight-fitting cap with valves was lowered onto the spool by a perforated pipe, which let oil flow out temporarily.


SOURCE: BP


anglers described businesses in peril. A senior Coast Guard offi- cial testified that tar balls will wash up for “weeks, if not months.” Some witnesses pleaded for the commission to take a stand on the drilling moratori- um. Among the most vocal were representatives of companies that service the oil industry. They contended that jobs will be lost permanently and that rigs will leave the region. Larry Dickerson, chief exec- utive of Diamond Offshore Dril- ling, said two deep-water rigs that had employed 150 people will move to Egypt and West Afri- ca rather than wait out the ban.


4


A device called a “flange transition spool” -- basically a 12-foot-tall collar -- was bolted to the top of the blowout preventer.


If all goes according to plan . . . Today


● The perforated pipe will be detached and the cap will be gradually closed.


● Lines that had carried oil to surface ships through the blowout preventer will be shut, temporarily stopping oil flow into the ocean.


● Engineers will measure the pressure in the well to determine the condition of the pipe and concrete below the seafloor. If they appear to be in good shape, engineers may leave the cap closed.


BONNIE BERKOWITZ AND ALBERTO CUADRA /THE WASHINGTON POST


He speculated that the cause of the Deepwater Horizon disaster will be found to be “reckless oper- ating mistakes,” probably tied to pressure to hasten drilling. His employees, Dickerson said, talk about the federal bailout of the auto industry: “They ask how come they get bailed out and we get driven out?” The commission must deliver a


report to President Obama six months from Monday. achenbachj@washpost.com flahertym@washpost.com


Flaherty reported from New Orleans. Staff writer StevenMufson contributed to this report.


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