re: BOP listing 12 degrees?

i had not seen any inclinometer readings since the initial incident, and honestly, i would have thought that if it was at 12 degrees it would have been readily apparent. evidently that was not the case.

the question is not "what is the inclination of the wellhead now" the question "is the inclination worsening". if it was worsening, that would be an indication that it was falling over -- however, that would most likely go hand in hand w/ broaching - high rate flow around the outside of the well.

what the relief well gives you is the ability to place the desired density mud throughout the blowing out wellbore such that the pressure exerted at the top of the reservoir is high enough that it is > that the reservoir pressure. this is much, much more easily done w/ being able to circulate mud from the bottom, that trying to force heavy mud into the top of the well (the top kill).

after the well is static, then you can start circulating cement plugs into the well to provide permanent isolation.

I hate to answer for him, but I can't imagine the BOP has any effect on what they are doing 18,000 ft below the sea floor.

it would depend on where the casing failed at. it would totally wreck the containment effort for the time being.

i can't really see how it would effect the relief wells, as you are already open to the gulf at the seafloor.