Try a Belt and Suspenders

Isn't there supposed to be an entire crew of highly trained and paid blowout preventers already walking around on the decks of each of those rigs?

yes, but...

an even higher paid a$$hole representative overriding them was part of the problem, so I heard...

two BOP's is one solution. If nothing else, it would help. If there was casing and drillpipe blocking the seafloor bop's and they failed, then wouldn't the second bop's face the same issues? I grant you that the operating pressures of the surface bop's gives you more cutting pressure, plus more options to deal with leaks, but it also exposes you to fires..

what you need are the tools to work at that depth, and that means heavy duty submarine vehicles that can basically crawl out from shore, and drive to the site, and have the monster operator controlled appendages that can work with great strength and great dexterity in the extreme environment, and deal with all the recent scenario had to offer.

I recommend that they use the "Zil" screw tractor method for crawling on the seafloor, and otherwise the vehicles would be heavy duty cylinder shapes with rounded ends. (capsule shaped to resist the pressure.)

Chris

The screw tractor was first shown in the 30s as I remember, in Michigian with a model T style chassis. Woody Believe we did it first.

Waldig,

It was a fordson model.

this is a robust and go-anywhere design. I'm quite fascinated by these types of vehicles. They were featured on cr4 here somewhere... (also here)

a couple of my own designs... (here and here)

and here is a stack of pictures and videos of different designs.

http://cruisin2.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/24cts7s.jpg
http://autoinfonews.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/3da6b3f92e500x_fordson_snow_01.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i8/dgwparfitt/images/FordsonSnow_Heidrick05.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IQ6Ph3oTQfo/S2Ycr6VgD9I/AAAAAAAAATY/MMaIX7xNG-s/s320/MysteryFordson1.jpg
http://www.formandreform.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/nazi_vehicle-00x248.jpg
http://www.ksl.com/emedia/slc/944/94424/9442498.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hVOW2U7K4-M/SlRfLiIk1II/AAAAAAABDDk/vF_fTwpJjo8/s640/4i7e5tysrthdsgdfg.jpg

http://www.formandreform.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/2496479726_ec3ef5a947-300x225.jpg

http://screwasylum.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/zil3.jpg

http://patentpending.blogs.com/patent_pending_blog/images/capture1118200644350_pm.jpg
http://patentpending.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/capture113200475128_pm_1.jpg
http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/50389706.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=E41C9FE5C4AA0A1418C5490F5B75E953D85262073EA10922B605254EEC5DA252B01E70F2B3269972
http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/50389710.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=E41C9FE5C4AA0A1418C5490F5B75E95391394DA95079115A9741A9833B309026B01E70F2B3269972
http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/50389711.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=E41C9FE5C4AA0A1418C5490F5B75E953A0A622B2B7B115E57B780BBDE36ED4AAB01E70F2B3269972

http://www.farmcollector.com/uploadedImages/FCM/Blogs/Looking_Back/Snow-Vehicle.jpg?n=2173

http://www.ptc.com/WCMS/images/70717/70717en_image1.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/12/capture1118200644403_pm.jpg

http://gsl.erdc.usace.army.mil/gl-history/images/gl_img_92.jpg

http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/velo/velo11.gif

http://patentpending.blogs.com/patent_pending_blog/2006/12/screw_vehicle.html

http://vekotus.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/chrysler.jpeg

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/download?mid=b14bf3abe562216baf88f4dd9665765&rtyp=lt&ctyp=other&ts=1253372904000

Chris

DId you know that there is one on Utube going thru its trials and tests??? Neat, Woody

I think I included one there.. the 9th link (spike.com)_{^{(sorry for so many links.. that's the nature of obsession. )}}

Somehow, I have trouble visualizing a 5000 ft rigid riser that can withstand several thousand psi internal, with a drill string running down it...It must not only withstand the well pressure- it has to withstand the shock wave that will result from slamming the BOP closed...

I suspect one does not need to worry much about anchoring it to the sea bed, but, should it ever fall over, how are you going to pick it up again?

What industry do these "brute-force safety engineering" experts hail from???

Exactly...it wouldn't have helped when the platform has already melded and taken most of the riser with it.
The solution is probably just to implement current procedures correctly. And maybe test bops more thoroughly/frequently.
(Bear in mind I know SFA about this topic, and if all else fails issue some kittens to cheer everyone up)

Del

A BOP contains more than one shutoff already I believe.

Adding a second BOP is just a bit short of silly - guess for added protection you might consider using 6 or even 12 stacked on top of one another.

The solution is to make the system work as designed which it sounds a bit like simply taking care of maintenance and carrying out routine testing.

The real solution is probably to develop a safety culture such as Dupont has where the safety officer has the authority to override a decision of the site boss if he considers it necessary and he has full support from the very top levels. A situation where nothing is bypassed because of Hayward or his flunkies trying to save a buck.

no one can stop the safety officer no mater were the job is because he must shutoff drilling or he and only he is at fault when it fails. there is no B O T in use now that will do what they say will work. as things are now you should see nothing will stop blowouts from happening and as long as we think out side the box nothing will change. new safety valves needed that work without man waiting to turn it off. the safety officer and only the safety officer can shut down work with one call to the authority, if he is not the decision maker then there is no way they should be covered by insurance to work any were. the blame game is those will to work without insurance.

Didn't understand much of what you were trying to say and what I did understand made little sense - maybe you can try again.

Guys,

Each BOP contains 3 shear rams, all with different characteristics.

Latest thought from BP ( I believe) indicate that the BOP internal battery may have been defiunct - don't ask.

Replacing a battery at -5000 ft in water sounds a little difficult.

This is all tied up with changes that were or were not made to the BOP by the subcontractors....

Also tied up with other factors like BOP failed because of Operational Issues - I do not believe that, unless there are things that we do not know!.

I think that the BOP is now with the US Govt to check it out against target parameters and we shall see what emerges.

Two BOPs in the same pipe sounds interesting but hazardous!

Let us see what emerges from the investigation.

Perhaps the drilling experts could stay on top of this for us all.

Sleepy

Without the necessary safety culture in place and that adhered to to the letter it is all meaningless.

As the BOP units are generally underwater I expect they have procedures to maintain the things.

Like I said before, why not 6 or 12 BOPs in place?

Or maybe just one that works!