FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The lower marine riser package (LMRP) atop the Deepwater Horizon’s failed blowout preventer (BOP) was removed for nearly 10 hours Wednesday, according to BP officials. The containment system was pulled from the MC252 well site around 8:45 a.m. as a precaution after a robotic submarine collided with the unit and sea water was discharged from a diverter valve aboard the Discoverer Enterprise — the collection vessel on the surface.

The LMRP was back in place at 6:30 p.m., and collection operations resumed a half-hour later. Some oil and gas continued to be captured through the BOP choke line via a manifold to the Q4000 recovery vessel throughout the LMRP downtime, however.

“They have indicated that the problem was a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that had been around the package that bumped into one of those vents that allows the excess oil to come out,” Adm. Thad Allen said during a press conference. ”They actually closed it thereby creating pressure and the back flow potentially off the water vent.”

He noted the containment cap was removed both to relieve pressure and check for hydrates in the system.

This isn’t the first time this has happened, according to Allen. He said, “We’ve had two what I call confliction issues with ROVs. And I have talked a lot about what they call simultaneous operations. There are an unbelievable amount of ROVs operating down there. It’s certainly eyes and ears for the relief wells.”

A riser insertion tube was knocked loose by a remotely operated vehicle during an earlier operation, and the tube had to be reinserted. Allen pointed out there are risks any time multiple vehicles are working so closely together.

For the full story, pick up a copy of the June 26 Fairhope Courier.