Help, what does his mean? Please say they are finally stopping the spill.
They have to cut off the riser pipe to attach the LMRP rack and sipon off the spill.
The riser is the big pipe (21 inch diameter) that comes off the top of the valve stack (the blowout preventer). The riser goes from the sea floor to the drill platform. When the platform sank, the riser fell into the sea and split open. Now they are cutting it clean off at the top of the BOP to attach another pipe which should pick up most of the oil.
Think of the Space Walks,....but they were easier cause we had a man suited up to twist the wrenches....
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.