Deep Sea Oil Well Tech

[dcarrb]

Can somebody explain why the folks trying to stop the Gulf oil blowout can't lower some sort of caisson—like an enormous inverted concrete funnel with a hose running from the outlet to tankers on the surface, over this thing?

What a mess.

dcb

[ensteele]

That was one of the first things that they tried, which didn't work.

[dcarrb]

Originally Posted by ensteele

That was one of the first things that they tried, which didn't work.

Yeah, I'm sure you're right, but I was thinking what they tried was supposed to fit precisely over, or attach to, the "blowout preventer." I'm just trying to understand why a giant containment vessel, heavy enough for the sides to sink deeply into the sea bed, can't be lowered from a ship-borne crane and maneuvered into position with robotic submersibles. Seems so obvious, I have to be missing something.

dcb

[dcarrb]

I didn't put this in the "Political" forum for a reason.

dcb

[dbarnblatt]

Originally Posted by dcarrb

Yeah, I'm sure you're right, but I was thinking what they tried was supposed to fit precisely over, or attach to, the "blowout preventer." I'm just trying to understand why a giant containment vessel, heavy enough for the sides to sink deeply into the sea bed, can't be lowered from a ship-borne crane and maneuvered into position with robotic submersibles. Seems so obvious, I have to be missing something.

dcb

Thats what the first attempt was... Remember that they are dealing with a depth of around 1 mile. That is the main problem. It would be like trying to thread a needle using 20' chopsticks.

[SoCal LS-L]

Amazing they never had a contingency plan for something like this.

Gee who could have thought that the propulsion system used to keep the free-floating oil rig in place could have EVER failed, ripping open the oil pipe.

I would not want to be a BP shareholder right now......

[dcarrb]

Guess I should have been paying closer attention early-on. Honestly I didn't pay this situation much mind when it first happened, then weeks passed.

I know; a mile of water is a fantastic depth. Still, if they can retrieve a spoon from Titanic—over TWO miles deep—one would think they could clumsily guide a big ol' concrete box over a busted oil well. It just doesn't add up.

(I'm not trying to place blame or suggesting some silly conspiracy or malfeasance or anything of the kind; just trying to wrap my brain around why this is happening.)

dcb

[lhopp77]

Originally Posted by dcarrb

What a mess.

dcb

Yes, I agree and the government hasn't done anything!!! What morons. It took them 20 days to even order their main disaster ship to the location.

Hearings were also interesting where government officials knew beforehand that there were some problems and even more potential for bigger problems.

Lee

[Lookin4SVX]

Isnt that because they want problems?
So that there will be no new offshore drilling.
To help keep oil prices up.
Which is all that is propping up our Dollar.

[Freeman]

I'd just lay a big ass rock over it.



DONE!

[dcarrb]

Originally Posted by Freeman

I'd just lay a big ass rock over it.



DONE!

That might have had a better chance of success than a "top kill."

Given the pressures at that depth, imagine the force with which the oil and gas is being ejected from the well. I would have been astonished if pumping-in drilling mud and assorted other muck had actually stopped the flow.

dcb

[ensteele]

That is going to be a very hard fix. About a mile down and with the pressures that they have to deal with.