Posted on 05/24/2010 7:56:01 PM PDT by mojitojoe
BP oil leak: Fallen Deepwater Horizon was tapping second largest oil deposit in the world
If there is a single aspect to the dangers of the BP oil leak, it lies in the question CEO Tony Hayward and other BP executives have been avoiding since the first drop of oil went rogue: How much oil is leaking?
The real answer is - more than anyone wants to admit, because the well holds enough oil to make Saudi Arabian drillers jealous.
The oil field the Deepwater Horizon had tapped is said to be the second largest deposit in the world. Viewzone.com reports, “The site covers an estimated 25,000 square miles, extending from the inlands of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas. “
The oil deposit is so large, it could produce 500,000 barrels of a day for more than a decade.
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
Concur. Former colleague had swab info from an offset operator's geologist, it was an oil amplitude, but not supercolossal, clearly not in the same league as "Thunder Horse" (formerly "Crazy Horse") and "Mars".
If there is a failure in the casing failure at the coupling, 300 feet down.
How is that going to help at this point?
thnx
This was this evening LJ and it was a big event. It lasted around 27 minutes until they cut the feed or the camera was damaged.
It ain't rock. Gulf Coast geology west of Mobile Bay is, down to about 8000' of overburden, you're dealing with fairly soft formation -- the clays are still fairly soft and not completely compacted, sands have high porosities and perms like beach sand.
No "rock" about it, until you get into chalk and limestone country over in Florida.
How do you know that is live? Some sites are saying this is video from the past and is not live. The time and date are now gone so I can’t tell.
Hey Travis BP thought they could mine the depths with all there experts too and screwed the pooch your argument is flawed
The hopeful possibility of the current state is that oil is simply doing what oil does at various rates of pressure, as it passes from one space to another.
There isn’t one continuous pressure but many as the oil moves.
Yes. Here is a recorded video of them working on the choke and kill flanges.
http://bp.concerts.com/gom/rovs_24052010.htm
Dang! ROV pulled away before they could get that last bolt out. I think there was a big flare-up from the riser and they didn’t want to get slimed.
Cause they say it’s live and I believe them. Also, when they switch to other ROVs, the time and date is shown and matches central time.
Wow. Watched the vid - I have to say that a lot of folks are bagging on the BP crew - but I am impressed.
And I am truly praying for their success.
Are you watching the live stream? It’s about to get interesting when they remove that last bolt.
It won’t help. And I think that’s their biggest fear.
Under dynamic conditions (i.e., flowing), the pressure upstream (below) the BOP is apparently ~3000 psi.
Under static conditions (no flow) the pressure under the BOP will increase to the formation pressure minus the 13000 ft static head of oil/gas mixture in the annulus.
The question is...will the 16” casing hold that pressure? The burst strength of the 16” casing is apparently ~10,000 psi.
What happened to the date and time? The video looked the same until that event earlier. Did the other cam get damaged and this one doesn’t have the date and time clock?
I’m impressed to. It’s fascinating to watch, still not sure it’s live, some are saying this is footage from the other day.
I’m impressed TOO.
What happens if it bursts?
Uncontrolled flow directly from the formation for two months until the relief well gets there.
Meaning lots more than there is now or the same, but until August when the relief wells are done?
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