The cap on the leaking well will remain closed, as many vessels and rigs will be preparing to move out of the path of Tropical Storm Bonnie, National Incident Commander, Thad Allen said on Thursday.
Allen said that the rig drilling the relief will also be moved, due to the potential risk that might be posed on account of the Storm. Allen said that he had directed BP to take measures to ensure the vessels operating the ROVs are the last to leave and the first to return in order to maximize monitoring of the well.
Such actions Allen said, may delay the effort to kill the well for several days. Allen said that a decision had been taken to leave the cap on, even if the well is unattended.
Meanwhile, forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Thursday at 11:00 pm:
“Tropical Storm Bonnie was located near latitude 23.4 north and longitude 76.5 west. Bonnie is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph. A turn toward the west-northwest and a faster forward speed are forecast on Friday. On the forecast track, the center of Bonnie is expected to pass near or over the Florida Keys and the Southern Florida Peninsula on Friday and move into the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Friday night and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Slow strengthening is possible during the next 48 hours. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 45 miles, mainly to the northeast of the center.”
South Florida residents were urged on Thursday by the Florida Division of Emergency Management, to follow the progress of Tropical Storm Bonnie, head local advisories and be prepared to implement their family disaster plans.
The NHC reported that the storm system had already caused flooding in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Governor Boddy Jindel earlier on Thursday, declared a state of emergency in Louisiana.
