May 30, 2010 - 3:02am The LMRP contains the annular preventers
The LMRP contains the annular preventers (the rubber doughnut valves that close around the drill pipe to close off the annulus). Theoretically the lower one is still closed around the drill pipe and removing the LMRP would open the wellhead to the sea.... well, depending on the state of the lower rams, but there is a good chance they are open. Thus removing the LMRP would mean dealing with a possibly (probably) open well and higher leak rate. If they are uncertain about the ability to rather quickly install the new BOP on a flowing well it is a risky proposition. Cutting away the riser (necessary for the proposed capture tube to be attached) is also a requirement for removing the LMRP - so, that describes the situation as I see it.
There may be additional preparation required to ready and attempt to install a BOP, so if the new capture tube is ready then trying it out to mitigate the flow is reasonable even if they want to try the BOP. Status quo means watching more and more of the leak exit at the riser kink anyway, so just cutting it away now makes sense. Apparent inactivity will mean bad press, so doing something is preferable to just waiting for the relief well to complete and kill it from below.
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