Oil Spill Containment Question - Non-Wakeboarding Discussion

(WakeboardNJ) · (WakeboardNJ) **Join Date: Mar 2010** 06-10-2010, 12:26 PM

Forgive me in advance if I missed this in the news, but I have a questions about the Gulf Oil Spill.

I hope I get this all correct....

The BOP (BlowOut Preventer) sits ontop of the Well-head on the Ocean floor. It has 2-3 safety measures that all failed. These BOP's are all contained in a single unit called the LMRP (Lower Marine Riser Package). On top of the LMRP is the pipe that connects to the Oil Drilling Platform and how the oil is transported to the surface and pumped elsewhere.

When the Oil Platform collapsed and fell into the sea, it broke/tore the pipe that connects to the LMRP and allowed the oil to gush out.

With that all being said, here are my question: (an I do understand the tremendous pressures of the oil coming out of the pipe, the extreme depths and so on regarding this unique situation.)

Why does it appear that they are only trying to fix a leaky pipe and not the BOP's. I would think that by this time, they could have dis-assembled and reinstalled a new BOP or similar LMRP on to the Well-Head and successfully contained the leak.

(WakeboardNJ) · (WakeboardNJ) **Join Date: Mar 2010** 06-11-2010, 6:43 AM

I can't seriously be the only person that has looked into this? Anyone have any knowledge on this?

(dav51lin) · (dav51lin) **Join Date: Aug 2004** 06-11-2010, 8:06 AM

BP had no plan whatsoever to deal with this.

(psudy) · (psudy) **Join Date: Dec 2003** 06-11-2010, 8:08 AM

Why don't they just put a smaller pipe in the leaky pipe and run it up to a tanker?

(dav51lin) · (dav51lin) **Join Date: Aug 2004** 06-11-2010, 8:11 AM

why didnt they have a relief well?

(psudy) · (psudy) **Join Date: Dec 2003** 06-11-2010, 8:15 AM

Why don't they just pinch the dam thing shut!

(zo1) · (zo1) **Join Date: Aug 2002** 06-11-2010, 8:52 AM

I think we should kill two birds with one stone... Give Oprah a scuba set and have her sit her fat ass on it and we fix the leak and rid ourselves of Harpo(on)

(psudy) · (psudy) **Join Date: Dec 2003** 06-11-2010, 9:17 AM

I like that Idea!

(WakeboardNJ) · (WakeboardNJ) **Join Date: Mar 2010** 06-11-2010, 9:26 AM

Dave C, Agreed. Not sure on the relief well, is that a normal protocol for the oil industry? I don't honestly know.

+1 for Manzo. I have always disliked her!

I will agree that I have no experience in this area, but the fix itself is not rocket science. Granted it's 5000ft below so your limited to what the submersibles are capable of doing, but still, there has to be a better, easier, more logical solution then what the current clowns are doing.

I had thought, why not just drop the 100ton cap over it like they were planning but without the tube connected to the top. Literally seal it off, even if only a temporary fix to buy some time. IMO they should only be looking to buy time until the relief wells are drilled, which is promised to be the permanent fix to this epic catastrophe.