The work began Wednesday afternoon and the flushing procedure will involve the following steps:

• The Discoverer Enterprise will attach a drill string to the top of the existing sealing cap.
  
• The middle blind shears of the sealing cap will be opened.
  
• The Q-4000 will pump an 'anti-freeze' mixture down through the existing manifold and into the BOP's choke and kill lines. The liquid used in the flushing will be completely contained and carried to the surface through the Enterprise drill string.
  
• Following the flushing, the sealing cap's blind shear ram will be closed.
  

In anticipation of a successful test, and as directed by the National Incident Commander, the DDII is preparing its BOP for further use on the MC252 well. In doing so, a storm packer will be set in the DDII well prior to moving off the second relief well site.

Further information