BP intends to join forces with 4 major players

Just two months ago, four of the biggest oil and gas companies were reported to put up at least $1 billion to engineer, construct and deploy technology designed to improve capabilities to contain future underwater blowouts in the Gulf.

As of Monday, BP wants in, too.

“BP announced today its intent to join the proposed Marine Well Containment Company (MWCC) and to make its underwater well containment equipment available to all oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico,” a BP press release stated.

MWCC currently consists of ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Shell.

ExxonMobil will lead the effort, according to its website, on behalf of the four sponsor companies.

“The new system will be flexible, adaptable and able to begin mobilization within 24 hours and fully operational within weeks, be available for use on a wide range of well designs and equipment, be engineered to be used in deepwater depths up to 10,000 feet and have initial capacity to contain 100,000 barrels [of oil] per day with potential for expansion,” ExxonMobil’s website states of the project.

MWCC’s plan is to build a system that surpasses current response capabilities, and according to an NPR report, 40 engineers have been working on the project since its introduction in July.

Once BP has officially joined, the donated subsea equipment will then be used as part of MWCC.

“We are pleased to provide the experience and specialized equipment needed to respond to a deepwater well control incident and intend to join the Marine Well Containment Company,” Richard Morrison, BP vice president for Gulf of Mexico operations said in a release.

According to ExxonMobil, the project’s primary objective is to fully contain the oil with no flow to the sea.

“Once constructed,” the website reads, “the system components will be fully tested and maintained in a state of continuous operational readiness.”

Representatives from BP say they don’t know when BP will fully be on board for the project, but Morrison sees promise in the proposed intention to join.

“We believe the addition of our recently gained deepwater intervention experience and specialized equipment will be important to the marine well containment system.”

For more information on MWCC and its project, go to: www.exxonmobile.com/mwcs.