BP is cutting the riser right now!

BP.com ^ | 05/31/2010 | BP

[omega4179]

Very interesting.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

ROVcam ping

[Wilum]

I can't get over how addictive watching this is; reminds me of the Gemini and Apollo days.

[airborne]

I was just getting back from a hockey game in Hershey at that time.

My Bears lost. :^(

[djf]

Does anyone know? Are they getting any oil at the business end of the cap?

[commish]

Excellent post Repeal. As you said all efforts are now focused on containment and not stopping. With the constant checking by the ROVs on the bottom of the BOP it is obvious they are extremely concerned or now have concrete evidence that there is damage to the well head itself.

As horrible an option as it may seem to many, letting this thing gush may end up being the best option, because if that BOP Stack topples and the well head fails, what is coming out right now will look like childs water gun next to a fire hose.

[airborne]

Since no one is talking about it, I assume it isn’t possible to try a “junk shot” like they did earlier, and then concrete it over?

[Wilum]

Wasn’t Hershey part of the old Eastern Hockey League (not to give my age away).

[ZX12R]

Does anyone know? Are they getting any oil at the business end of the cap?

Looking around this morning for information, including the oil drum site, I find nothing about what may be going up to the surface. Looking at the live video, it's hard to imagine a significant amount being redirected. Still gushing like crazy.

[airborne]

American Hockey League since the 40’s.

10 Calder Cups, and trying for # 11.

[ArmstedFragg]

Telephone news conference at 6am PST.

[Pan_Yan]

Man, is that cap swaying back and forth.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

if that BOP Stack topples and the well head fails, what is coming out right now will look like childs water gun next to a fire hose.

Could they put some "stays" around the BOP to prop it up in a vertical position...help prevent metal fatigue in the pipe below?

[ZX12R]

Man, is that cap swaying back and forth.

I hope that's the ROV swaying, and not the well head.

[downwdims]

She is gushing real good

[airborne]

With all that oil gushing, plus currents at 5,000 feet, I think it’s likely it’s the ROV that’s moving.

I hope!

[Wilum]

American Hockey League; that's it! Former fan of the old Utica (NY) Devils before they moved to Albany.

Area is to poor to support hockey now but we have a great college team, Utica College, that almost fills the Utica Aud at their home games. We sure miss it around here.

[airborne]

Over 10,000 in Hershey last night, but the long layoff hurt, and we lost 2 - 1.

Game 2 on Saturday. I love hockey in June!

[commish]

Since no one is talking about it, I assume it isn’t possible to try a “junk shot” like they did earlier, and then concrete it over?

No, if the well head is damaged like everything is pointing to a capping of any type would cause a huge blowout because of the pressures it would create.

They are also saying that there is, or may be, damage to the actual well casing itself -- so, again, if they cap the well in any way it would be a moot point if the well casing failed completely below ground. The Oil pressure would then basically shove the entire well out of the ground and it would be a completely uncontrolled and uncontrollable gusher.

The only capping solution is the relief wells and sealing it from the bottom.

If everything continues to fail then at some point they will run out of containment options, and the ONLY option will be to secure the BOP stack as much as possible to prevent a blow out at the well head itself and let her gush.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

How do they seal it from the bottom?

[Pan_Yan]

Look at the camera view looking UP at the top of the BOP. You can see several of the clamps sticking out of the oil plume - one in the middle and occasionally one on the far left. watch the end of the middle clamp in reference to the BOP. It’s bouncing like it’s sitting on a popcorn maker.