The physics behind the Macondo cap
The cap seems to be working in as far as it has stopped the volcano from coming out of the ocean floor. What they have not done though is stop the Methane Hydrate from filling up the layers of limestone where the oil was previously stored under the earths crust. The answer to the real issue depends on how much Methane Hydrate is left in the deposit below the oil field that was used to supercharge the oil out of the field and up into the water. The issue of the well walls holding is a red herring. The longer the pressure deep underground is allowed to build up means the more damage that will be done to the underlying hard layers containing the field and the potential for earthquakes and volcanic activity is greatly increased.
In the best case scenario they have tapped out the Methane Hydrate reserve and allowed it enough space in the underground layers to disperse evenly which over time will eventually find it’s way to the surface. It is much more likely that the pressure consistency being observed is due to the remaining Methane Hydrate is in fact just spreading out further into the oil field and at some point the pressure on the containing rock structure will become too great. This will cause it to breakdown and allow the Methane gas to disperse and attempt to find another way out of the ground. In fact it has most likely already happened as the hole which the oil is coming out of is not big enough to allow all the pressure to escape and relieve the pressure on the oil fields outer walls due to the technical incompetence of the people involved in setting up the disaster in the first place.
Watch for increased seismic activity due to Methane Hydrate gas dispersal deep underground.
If they have actually tapped out the Methane Hydrate reserve and the pressure that is contained by the cap is the limit of what there is left to deal with then the cap could be left on permanently and/or the remaining oil could be siphoned at a later date. However in that situation there is still the problem of a very large hole under the oil field where the Methane Hydrate deposit used to be stored.
In reality it is a combination of all the above that is now taking place and they are trying to play down the issue of having to deal with a much bigger problem at a later date when the pressure keeping the Methane Hydrate field intact is dispersed and it collapses under what remains of the oil field and the external pressure from all sides.
No matter what way you look at it this is criminal negligence of the highest order. In China they execute people for much less. What is America and Britain going to do?

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