Safety officials say debris has now been cleared from the gas well which blew out and led to a two day rig blaze in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said the removal of the debris would allow crews vertical access to the South TImablier well, and give access to a camera to be sent into the wellbore.
“No gas releases are reported from fixed wireless detectors placed some 30 feet from the top of the well or detection devices carried by all onsite personnel,” the bureau said in a statement.
More than 40 people had to be evacuated from the Hercules 265 rig after the blow-out last month. Hours afterwards the rig caught fire and partially collapsed.
A relief well is now being drilled to allow operators to intercept the original well and pump cement into it.