junk shot

British  

noun

1. a procedure used by oil companies to stem the flow of oil from a leaking well by pumping debris (such as shredded tyres, golf balls, etc.) into the well at high pressure

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

junk shot

It’s known as a junk shot, safety shot or clean-up shot.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 1, 2021

The junk shot, which came amid the top kill attempt, injected solid materials such as rubber balls, shredded fibrous materials and metals into the well.

From Reuters ● Jun. 11, 2013

My favorite metaphor, among the myriad gushing forth from the Great Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico, is the "junk shot."

From Time ● Jul. 22, 2010

Officials said the pumping process was showing signs of success in conjunction with "junk shot" injections of heavier blocking material, such as rubber, into the wellhead.

From Washington Post ● May 29, 2010

The junk shot serves as a “bridge,” he said, for the injections of mud to strengthen its ability to counteract the leaking oil.

From New York Times ● May 28, 2010