[rednek]

“Blow Out Preventer” is something called a “ram shear”

Here is BOP’s 101.Most land rig Blow Out Preventers have 3 different components. Offshore BOP’s are really no different - just a little more sophisticated.

#1 Hydril - basically a big rubber bladder than can be inflated hydraulically around the pipe to stop a relatively low pressure event.

#2 Pipe Rams - actuated hydraulically and the two sides close around the pipe like a big clamp. Work great for higher pressure events. Use of the pipe rams require the drill pipe string to be connected to the Kelly hose (drilling mud system) or have a pipe plug inserted if the Kelly hose is disconnected.

#3 Blind Rams - again, actuated hydraulically. Typically used when there is no drill pipe in the hole (IE when tripping pipe to change a drill bit - close the blind rams while the bit changed. This keeps surprises from coming up the hole at you.) When closed, the blind rams completely close off the hole from the outside. The blinds are not typically used when pipe is in the hole. They are a last resort, flames licking my ass, close ‘em as you abandon the rig! The blind rams are designed to cut the drill pipe and close the hole.

From what I have read, the crew had “mud coming back” meaning a rise in pit level which means the gas/oil pressure is pushing mud out of the hole. This is the first and sometimes only warning a crew will get that the well is “Coming to see you!”. The crew should have closed the pipe rams and hydril instantly to shut the well in. At that point they would have had control and could have flared gas or pumped heavy weight mud back in the hole. Apparently this didn’t happen and the well blew out.

My gues is there is about 18,000 feet of drill pipe laying on the floor of the gulf and the BOP stack was destroyed. They will be lucky if they can “top kill” this well. There is nothing to tie onto and no BOP to close if they do have some success. The only way out that I can see is a releif well drilled into the existing well bore.These guys are screwed!...regards - red

[US_MilitaryRules]

****************My gues is there is about 18,000 feet of drill pipe laying on the floor of the gulf and the BOP stack was destroyed. They will be lucky if they can “top kill” this well. There is nothing to tie onto and no BOP to close if they do have some success. The only way out that I can see is a releif well drilled into the existing well bore.These guys are screwed!...regards - red**************

I never even thought of this happening. Has or will anyone admit that this has happened? If it did happen, they have a huge problem to say the least. Good luck BP.

[steve86]

My gues is there is about 18,000 feet of drill pipe laying on the floor of the gulf and the BOP stack was destroyed.

What are you talking about? The BOP is basically intact externally and has had some defective components replaced/adjusted.

[PA Engineer]

My gues is there is about 18,000 feet of drill pipe laying on the floor of the gulf and the BOP stack was destroyed. They will be lucky if they can “top kill” this well. There is nothing to tie onto and no BOP to close if they do have some success. The only way out that I can see is a releif well drilled into the existing well bore.These guys are screwed!...regards - red

This is what I was also able to figure out. That is why I am keeping my fingers crossed. They also have gas and oil intrusion around the casing annular space. I cannot think of any other solution besides relief wells if this does not work. Finally, I do not know how the top kill is going to work without circulation.

[MississippiMan]

That’s a pretty dang good plain-English explanation. Now can you explain to us layman what this “top kill” strategy is?

Thanks...

MM (in TX)