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 ...
good thing you got your fishing trip in. Barataria Bay is closed as of 8 PM tonight.
The guys I've talked all seem to think that the only way
to cap this blowout is to drill wells around it and draw
down the field,,,
They can lay another undersea pipeline to Port Fourchon
and pump the gas and crude to the refineries,,,
Ain't no other way to do it...
bflr
again that could be helpful to create a solid plug.
BP is taking suggestions @ 281-366-5511.
I think I said that.
Good one, thackney - you've got it.
The only real way to stop it is to drill another well...horizontally enter the well from several directions and plug the well from underneath.
BP should have 5 drilling rigs around that well right now racing to cement that leaking well.
They can directionally drill with pretty good accuracy.
MaObama shut down all drilling off shore until “It can be looked at closer and protections can be put in place.”
As far as the current BP “fix”; This is the most viable procedure they can use to kill this well. It's called “bull heading” and will force the production fluids back into the formation to stop the flow. They will also include excessive fluid weights to help create an overbalance, then chase the plug with a heavy cement slurry, mixed to set up extremely fast. They can then squeeze more cement into the casing annular to repair the integrity of the seal, in stages.
I agree with Thackney that these “flow rate” numbers are highly fabricated.
Drivel
I agree with Thackney that these “flow rate” numbers are highly fabricated.
The people make this site wonderful and you two, Psycho and Thackney are some of those special people. Thanks for the information.
The effort will be made using the bop as an entry point below where the fallen riser connects. The weight of the drill mud will eventually overcome the pressure and can then be capped with some unnamed type of cement/concrete
What's the typical ratio of crude to clathrate hydrates in a comparable benthic layer well?
What's a volume/time estimate for this leak based on the physics of the observed pipe diameter, the rated capacity of the hardware which was exceeded, and the existing spill slicks?
What is the environmental impact of using Corexit 9500 in the quantities now deployed?
Enlighten me with your anti-drivel, oh sage.
Or learn to read. Your choice.
Thanks, I’ll call.
Two relief wells have been under way for a while. They are the ultimate fix. All the other attempts are parallel efforts that might fix it earlier than the time required to complete the relief well.
There is no such thing as a typical ratio. Fields exist in gas/oil ratios from essential 0 to 100%.
Thank you young man, but I didn't call on you. Please don't interrupt the class. If you know the answer, raise your hand, and I may call on you. If not, please remain quietly in your seat and FReepmail me.
I know the answers.
How about the reverse effect using flexible pipe that is braided on the end how ever length you need. Have it pointed on the end and shove it into the pipe and release the pointed end and let it swell up from the pressure. The higher the pressure the tighter it grips the broken pipe.
I just called BP and they are emailing me a form to fill out a form wanting to know the details on my idea. When I started to describe my idea the lady stopped me and asked me alot of questions about how to get ahold of me. The last thing she asked,”Who I worked for?”. I told her I own an autobody shop and the idea popped into my head one night.
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