Posted on 05/29/2010 2:27:01 PM PDT by boycott
Okay, I am not an expert in this field but sometimes the most simple ideas work the best. It should be obvious rather quickly that I am not an expert in this field.
I really just want to hear other's suggestions so I'll offer mine to spare you any embarrassment of your suggestions .... as silly as it may be ................
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As a temporary solution, a dome that is weighted at the bottom that is somewhat self-leveling -- something that would resemble sandbags joined/tied together so that it would seal off most, if not all, of the leak. The bags (or whatever the containers) could almost be self-leveling (it could be steel balls, chain links, sand, or whatever in the self-leveling bags). At the top of the dome is a large and obviously long pipe where the oil/gas mixture would be forced to exit at the surface into tankers. Pumps could be used to help maintain the flow-rate. Pumps may or may not be desired.
I am not sure of the type (or types) of pipe. I know there is a lot of pressure a mile below the surface. You may have to use a heavy steel pipe near the bottom. I wonder if something a little more flexible (imagine a big garden hose -- certainly much thicker and more ridgid.) could be used a little higher up. A combination of various types of pipe could possibly be used (steel, fiberglass, plastic, etc.). Pipe supports may be also needed.
If the area of the leak is 10', make the dome 20'+ around it. The shape isn't so important. What is important is sealing it off on the bottom and forcing the oil to the surface using pumps (if desired or needed.) via the pipe.
My suggestion is only for temporary recommendation until the relief well is done. You could then possibly drill closer to the area of the leak and I believe you could get there more quickly.
-- I believe all this could be done pretty quickly. Fusing large plastic pipe together could be done very quickly.
They might could use the first dome they tried to use or something like it. Put the weighted leveling devices on the sides and a steel pipe in the top of it. Then join the steel pipe with plastic (or fiberglass, etc., or whatever) as you get shallower. Use chain/ropes to lower the dome, pipes, pipe supports, etc.
I know my suggestion may be way off but sending golfballs and mud down the rig wasn't very complicated either. I am not fond of the NUKE OPTION I am hearing either.
I don't like the idea of waiting and doing nothing until August when they can drill the relief wells.
My thoughts are that if they could pick up just one idea from anyone, it might could help bring an end to this nightmare. It's day 40 and this slow-motion disaster continues before our eyes.
If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them. Also, please send them to ......
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/546759/
BTW, I am in no way affiliated with DeepWaterHorizonResponse.com or any other organization involved in the response. I am just a guy that lives on the Gulf of Mexico that loves sealife / wildlife, beautiful sandy beaches, and our way of life.
yorkie01
NO WAY!
If somebody comes up with another stupid idea of blowing anything else up ...The FBI, CIA, Military, and OATH Keepers needs to step in!
Let me make my point....You have pristeen conditions nearly in the hole to this point except for 2-4 things ...casing ,drill steel, many joints of reduced casing, joints
Rock that is not in the way...just try to blow some of the casing up an you will find yourself looking at a hell of a mess...
It was. It failed.
With a fail safe, no-human-action-required, mechanism?
the ‘bowl’ could be inflated soon after a major spill or leak or blowout
Yes.
I did search myself. Here is what wiki says:
In deeper offshore operations with the wellhead on the sea floor, there are five primary means in which a BOP may be activated. The means are:
* automatic based on excessive pressure;
* automatic based on excessive flow;
* remote by an electrical command from the surface through a cable;
* manual based on external movement of a valve lever done underwater
Obviously I’ve never worked with a valve that deep but here is my guess. Most excessive flow valves work not off of flow but pressure differential across the valve. If there was a flow valve up on the platform or if their was NG coming up the pipe, there may not have been enough dP to force the valve closed before it was damaged. That’s why I come back to the idea that an external source of stored power actuated by a “dead man switch” (a NC hydraulic relay, if you must) being required.
Plug the leak with Obama, Pelosi, Reid and BP CEO
I have drilled straight up ....Yes that is right straight up and have used fir trees to plug holes at 2000 feet down hole that was “straight up” CORING WIRELINE no one has been more sucssesful go figure... cemented a “river” 100,000 minute, underground off with cement in a cement mine in Riverside California. Drilled on Nv test site .... On how to do shit means keep the idiots out of the way
Most BOP's have 'dead man switches which actuate when communication to the actuator is lost.
You gonna dig it up? It likely would take Michelle’s too.
My idea, dig up Teddy’s fat ass, haul it out there on a barge, and use that as a cap.
LOL
“I wonder what Sarah would have done.”
Action would have been taken the day the rig went down and oil started spewing. She would have been on site, and we would have competent people in gov’t to deal with this. BP would be towing the line instead of spewing their nothingness and we would have tankers sucking up anything coming to the serface. Before now the leak would be sealed and we would not be facing a Gulf disaster of epic proportions.
Romney likely would not be doing much different than Zero has done, btw.
That would work, too!
Drill on both sides of it, insert low yield tactical nukes, Pop ‘em off underground and collapse the well with the pressure waves.
Won’t work. Lard floats.
Normally they’re dropped to seal the perforations but the kicker here is the main leak is above the BOP and they’re coming in from the side.
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