BP is cutting the riser right now!

BP.com ^ | 05/31/2010 | BP

[Mich Patriot]

“Grope..... haven’t you done that?”

PRICELESS, thanks.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

This will likely be a week long effort....conducted with robots 5000 feet down...

Think of the Space Walks,....but they were easier cause we had a man suited up to twist the wrenches....

[crz]

LOL! I just knew somebody would do that!

[Xenalyte]

In very simple terms: they have to cut the top off the old well to put a new top, complete with cap, on it. A clean cut is necessary for sealing.

VERY difficult at this depth and with machines.

[FreeperDoll]

My thought is this ,if there is a pipe up from the ground why couldn’t you put a cork in it like a wine bottle?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OH ...and this does not stop the OIL from coming up the drilled hole....it is just an attempt to capture SOME what comes up....

[P-Marlowe]

They probably don’t have to worry about the blade overheating.

There's a lot of lubricant handy.

[al baby]

Harbor Freight

Now thats stuff is carp

[sig229]

There’s no sound! (;>

[hole_n_one]

It would be cool if you could here the radio chatter of the ROV operators, etc.

Are you sure that you shouldn't be ewe?

[barbarianbabs]

OH MY POOR BP stock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[OBXWanderer]

That is cool. They probably don’t have to worry about the blade overheating.

or have to worry about a fire watch...

[chemicalman]

This may help:

http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=9033657&contentId=7062491

[Sacajaweau]

Why not cut it off and insert a pipe OVER the existing pipe (obviously it has to be a little bigger). and side bolt them together. There'll be some leakage but that should help pressures a bit

21 inch (I'm guessing OD) isn't that big...

[Lazamataz]

That is damned cool.

[streetpreacher]

I’ve been groping ever since the One was sworn in.

[illiac]

That is about what they are planning to do....The Oil Can website has some pretty good graphis and text on this new plan....hope that helps

[Lazamataz]

21 inch (I'm guessing OD) isn't that big

I've been trying to tell Xena that, but she won't have any part of me.

[barbarianbabs]

Do and deep-water fish ever swim by?

[steve86]

My thought is this ,if there is a pipe up from the ground why couldn’t you put a cork in it like a wine bottle?

They are pretty sure the well casing is damaged down beneath and wouldn't hold the pressure. Plug the top and it would leak under the seafloor causing an even more difficult problem (it may already be leaking under there).