Posted on 05/22/2010 6:08:16 PM PDT by Libloather
'Top kill' planned to stop oil leak
By the CNN Wire Staff
May 21, 2010 11:20 p.m. EDT
Washington (CNN) -- A "top kill" method intended to stop the runaway flow of oil in the Gulf of Mexico will likely be tried early next week, BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles said Friday.
In the procedure, thick, viscous fluid twice the density of water will be pumped at a high rate into the site of the leak to stop the flow so that it can then be sealed with cement, Suttles said.
"Our best estimate is probably Tuesday," he said, noting that the operation has never been tried in such deep water.
The timing for the "top kill" effort appears to be slipping: BP Managing Director Bo Dudley said Thursday night that the company would try the procedure this weekend.
Suttles offered no explanation for the discrepancy.
"We're working very, very hard with BP on the timeline for the 'top kill,' " said U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, national incident commander. "That's the ultimate near-term solution."
Obama announces oil spill commission
BP is working to assemble "a massive amount of equipment" at the site, Suttles said, including three deep-water rigs, drilling rigs, sub-sea support vessels and up to 16 robotic submarines.
"These operations are quite complex, and we won't start the job until all the equipment has been staged and all the equipment is in place," he said.
But no one expects the effort to solve all the problems associated with the spill.
"We will not rest, even if they secure the flow, even if this 'top kill' is completed successfully next week," Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
A report. Thanks. That's gonna help a ton.
I just called and emailed BP. They've already inserted a hose into the pipe. How about a different hose with a balloon at the tip? Blow air into the deflated balloon and it should fill the pipe. If they can pull it off, insert a hose, with a balloon tip, which also has a hose in the center. That way, they can take care of the pressure and recover some of the oil.
I suggest taking a copy of the health care bill and stuff it down the hole. That should be big enough to clog it up.
LOL!!! I needed that! -- For a minute I thought you were talking about shutting up Obama.
There is a secondary leak in a crack in the pipe near the BOP so sealing the end completely would increase flow back there
Never thought of that. I'm calling BP now...
Multiple balloons?
implode it.
My favorite suggestion thus far has to be the one from DU; a couple of hose clamps and split water hose.
I think this is flexible hose it probably can’t handle the pressure of that well. but the top kill seems to be smaller high pressure hoses to carry mud down. I hope you can pump against a mile of seatwater.
They should have left the box over it until they found another solution
"I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
They could pump a lot of shredded DVD and VHS tapes of Steven Seagal movies.
"Wow, that many, Rob."
"Yep, no one wanted them."
"Pump away!"
Just get used to it, and absorb the upward-cascading consequences.
Buy and store and much protein as you can.
If Red Adair were alive, he would know what to do!
Ridiculous! We have had larger spills without such events. Why do you make this crap up?
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