U.S. NAVY SALVAGE REPORT DEEPWATER HORIZON ... - ESSM

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response
Chapter 6 - Conclusion of Operation
BP crews working at the well head closed the recently installed three-ram capping stack on July
15, 2011 at 1425. While the closure was considered a test and not expected to fully contain the
well pressure, it did hold and in essence, became the moment the well stopped leaking crude oil
into the Gulf. At that time, SUPSALV had 128 operators on station, 17 MARCO Class V
skimmers deployed, 3 Vessels equipped with five Vessels of Opportunity Skimmer Systems
engaged, and 60,700 2 feet of oil containment boom deployed in the Gulf region. The amount of
oil spilling into the Gulf had been reduced in the last few weeks as more effective processes
were employed to collect the oil at the well head. Additionally, poor weather conditions from
Hurricane Alex had curtailed the ocean skimming process.
Figure 6-1. Total product recovered by SUPSALV assets during DWH Oil Spill Response.
There were three productive skimming days in the middle of July but no productive collection
thereafter. A chart of product recovered by SUPSALV assets and average product recovered is
2 SUPSALV deployed 98,000 feet of boom to the GOM operating area and installed 63,200 feet over the
course of the operation. Tropical Storm Alex (29 Jun – 7 Jul) damaged boom in exposed areas and crews
recovered portions that were damaged reducing the total set on July 15 to 60,700 feet.
6-1