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.
No time to read all 200+ posts, so I’ll just ask why they are not planning on connecting 5000 feet of 36” pipe then move it over and lower it over the escaping gusher and tap it out on the topside to control the release into tankers which can take it for refining?
Collapse the pipe and sink large tethered steel mesh bags of heavy objects.
Just a thought how to stop the flow of oil coming out of the ground.
Employ a device resembling a canon, in form of a long very heavy metal tube closed on one end with the purpose of launching a projectile. It does not have to have any rifling with the caliber or diameter of the projectile about the same as the bore hole or slightly larger. The projectile could be slightly tapered in front, and be a NONE explosive metal cylinder with a heavy powder charge behind it. Then make an attempt to position it over the original bore hole which may or may not have to be trimmed some what cleaned up to facilitate and allow the entry of this solid metal cylinder or projectile in to the original bore hole.
Then put a heavy powder charge behind this NONE explosive projectile and shoot it in to the bore hole to close it off. Since the projectile would be recessed in this metal barrel or firing tube, arrangements could be made using compressed air to blow out any water first before firing the projectile in to the bore hole, similar to using a torpedo, except in this case it would be none explosive and only used to plug the hole.
The whole contraption in form of a long heavy metal tube could be suspended from cables above and guided over the bore hole and used repeatedly if the initial try would be unsuccessful. Also these metal plugs or projectiles could be cast from solid lead what could be easily bored out and restore the flow of oil in a safe manner once its purpose has been accomplished. Even if the first shot would not be successful repeated attempts may cave in the remaining pipe and pound what is left in to the ground similar in effect to a pile driver.
Well this is just a thought or suggestion; shoot something in to the bore hole when everything else failed to do the trick. I am quite certain if a heavy metal dome was fabricated previously to catch the escaping flow of oil in a fairly short amount of time, the contraption as suggested by me could be rigged up just as quickly.
Just a thought how to stop the flow of oil coming out of the ground.
Employ a device resembling a canon, in form of a long very heavy metal tube closed on one end with the purpose of launching a projectile. It does not have to have any rifling with the caliber or diameter of the projectile about the same as the bore hole or slightly larger. The projectile could be slightly tapered in front, and be a NONE explosive metal cylinder with a heavy powder charge behind it. Then make an attempt to position it over the original bore hole which may or may not have to be trimmed some what cleaned up to facilitate and allow the entry of this solid metal cylinder or projectile in to the original bore hole.
Then put a heavy powder charge behind this NONE explosive projectile and shoot it in to the bore hole to close it off. Since the projectile would be recessed in this metal barrel or firing tube, arrangements could be made using compressed air to blow out any water first before firing the projectile in to the bore hole, similar to using a torpedo, except in this case it would be none explosive and only used to plug the hole.
The whole contraption in form of a long heavy metal tube could be suspended from cables above and guided over the bore hole and used repeatedly if the initial try would be unsuccessful. Also these metal plugs or projectiles could be cast from solid lead what could be easily bored out and restore the flow of oil in a safe manner once its purpose has been accomplished. Even if the first shot would not be successful repeated attempts may cave in the remaining pipe and pound what is left in to the ground similar in effect to a pile driver.
Well this is just a thought or suggestion; shoot something in to the bore hole when everything else failed to do the trick. I am quite certain if a heavy metal dome was fabricated previously to catch the escaping flow of oil in a fairly short amount of time, the contraption as suggested by me could be rigged up just as quickly.
I posted elsewhere that it would be great if the surface oil could be scavenged by anyone and sold back to BP at special marked up cost.
Just a thought how to stop the flow of oil coming out of the ground.
Employ a device resembling a canon, in form of a long very heavy metal tube closed on one end with the purpose of launching a projectile. It does not have to have any rifling with the caliber or diameter of the projectile about the same as the bore hole or slightly larger. The projectile could be slightly tapered in front, and be a NONE explosive metal cylinder with a heavy powder charge behind it. Then make an attempt to position it over the original bore hole which may or may not have to be trimmed some what cleaned up to facilitate and allow the entry of this solid metal cylinder or projectile in to the original bore hole.
Then put a heavy powder charge behind this NONE explosive projectile and shoot it in to the bore hole to close it off. Since the projectile would be recessed in this metal barrel or firing tube, arrangements could be made using compressed air to blow out any water first before firing the projectile in to the bore hole, similar to using a torpedo, except in this case it would be none explosive and only used to plug the hole.
The whole contraption in form of a long heavy metal tube could be suspended from cables above and guided over the bore hole and used repeatedly if the initial try would be unsuccessful. Also these metal plugs or projectiles could be cast from solid lead what could be easily bored out and restore the flow of oil in a safe manner once its purpose has been accomplished. Even if the first shot would not be successful repeated attempts may cave in the remaining pipe and pound what is left in to the ground similar in effect to a pile driver.
Well this is just a thought or suggestion; shoot something in to the bore hole when everything else failed to do the trick. I am quite certain if a heavy metal dome was fabricated previously to catch the escaping flow of oil in a fairly short amount of time, the contraption as suggested by me could be rigged up just as quickly.
I say pump all the nuclear waste that was headed for yaka mountain into it :)
I do think this sort would work, just not sure about all the pressure from the oil coming out.
I feel BP is doing everything they know how to do, and are receptive to good ideas.
The thing going forward for any new rigs, is have more cut off valves in place, of course I am not an engineer and mostly don't know what I am suggesting. lol
Oh, as for cleaning the oil out of the water, I think the farmers had the best idea. Spread straw on top of the water in the Gulf, leave it for a day or so, then rake it up. The straw absorbs the oil.
I like that. That’s an excellent idea.
Oh, as for cleaning the oil out of the water, I think the farmers had the best idea. Spread straw on top of the water in the Gulf, leave it for a day or so, then rake it up. The straw absorbs the oil.
Agree. I believe you could even burn the straw over the water. It sure beats it going into our marsh land.
Agree. I believe the important thing now is to focus on capturing the oil. There’s too much pressure at this point to try to stop the flow.
No time to read all 200+ posts, so I’ll just ask why they are not planning on connecting 5000 feet of 36” pipe then move it over and lower it over the escaping gusher and tap it out on the topside to control the release into tankers which can take it for refining?
Agree. It’s time to focus on capturing the oil. It can be capped when they have the relief well in place.
I have a feeling that BP has thought of all this themselves, they are the experts, I am just an imaginative idiot, yet smarter than ZERO. rofl
The pipe idea to a tanker would work, it is just how to get it over and around the oil pressure.
What if they put a large concrete/steel top-cover over it with one side having a large valve that can be closed off (slowly if necessary) and the other side has a large pipe going up to the tankers on the surface?
I know BP has a lot of people working on it but they’re also the same folks that pumped golfballs and mud into the hole.
Hopefully, they’ve got some good plans.
BTW, I have forwarded this thread along with any reasonable plans I’ve read on to Deep Water Horizon. They may not read these suggestions but I cannot just sit idle and do nothing. If they GAIN JUST ONE THING from the suggestions, it’s all worthwhile to me.
Anyway, I know we’re all just hoping this nightmare goes away soon.
God bless you for your thoughts and attempts on this. I will not understand them not reading suggestions.
We may not be as educated as they are, but from necessity comes the MOTHER of invention. People have good ideas, and you never know what will click.
Send them everything you think of. Give them this thread, and keep this thread going. Something has to be done.
God Bless you too for your thoughts.
I have forwarded this thread to them. That along with every other thought that I’ve had. They’re trying to take the suggestions in. They’ve had over 7,000 since the spill began.
I’ll give them a lot of credit for being very responsive. They’ve been responsive to both emails and an earlier telephone conversations I had with them.
As I’ve posted, if they can pick up just one idea, it might mean the difference between this thing ending or it going into August.
Keep me posted will you please?
Great job you are doing.
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