So that Didn't Stop the Oil - Now What?

It is always difficult to predict what the outcome will be. As far as I understand they have inserted a pipe in the main spilling pipe. Their intentions have not been been made public, whether they want to clog the old pipe to the rig (the leaking one) or the pipe in the seabed. They will have to overcome the reigning pressure, before they can get one mud particle into the pipe. They probably know what is possible. What can happen? If only the end part will be clogged, the whole pipe will be stressed and depending on the condition: hold or crack. If they can get the mud down, the chance of dealing with the well is fair. I think they will pile up a high enough column of mud that overcomes the pressure equivalent of the gusher. I hope it works. See our threads: oil spill #362 and later and "house of the rising oil". Other post are also about this subject. Welcome on the forum.

BP should set up a simulation room, (same size pipe , crack and pressure) and offer a 1000 GA's to the person who can stop the leak in a dry run.

I don't think OP can imagine the degree of difficulty involved.

This is physics. If they pile up mud @SG 2 over 1500 meter. That is some pressure at the BOP. If the source pressure is lower, they might succeed. In the vertical pipe.

The seawater pressure at that depth is about 2300 psi. For SG2 mud, it would be about 4600 psi. If the (closed) wellhead pressure is 8000 psi, fuggetaboutit. I can't remember if that last number has been mentioned in all these threads, which are sorely lacking in basic data and calculations.

On CNN I saw a animation in which they will feed the mud from one of the side inlets of the BOP. In the graphical display the diameter was also many times smaller. How is it in reality? When I talked about the mud pile, I meant the height AND applied under supplementary overpressure by the mud pumps. (sorry if that was not clear) However If it happens as shown on CNN, I will hold my breath. The mud might end up in the pipes and on the seabed. Pressure and volume will fight against transport with the flow, to the way out. If all the pipes stay in place there might be a better outcome. Speaking about suspense... I really wish the well will be killed.

As the riser is allegedly still in place would they not be able to make a hydraulic crusher that has 2 or 3 times the power of the Blow Out Preventer (BOP) in order to crush the riser, where they have access to the riser above the BOP?

Sort of like clamping on a bigger more powerful BOP above the original BOP and squashing it off there.

Or might that pressurize the riser and force that to crack between the new crusher and the BOP?

So why not use a large inflatable balloon and insert into the end of the pipe and inflate it. Perhaps it would be better to inflate it with seawater, or you could pump mud or cement into it.

We use a hippity Hop here on 24 inch Reactor Pressure Vessel pipes as a temp dam when needed, but not when the pressure is much above atmospheric. If they could get one maybe a mile down into the well riser, inflate it with sea water then fill the space above with concrete that ought to hold her...

Right - all the while the oil and gas mixed with sand and possible larger particles is flying by. Good trick! İt ain't so easy to work by remote control at a mile of depth!

I suspect that however they finally succeed in stopping this leak, it ain't going to be an "easy" or inexpensive fix. I'm tired of people telling me that simple suggestions indicate a lack of appreciation for the scope of the problem. If a suggested solution is not worth pursuing, it would be more helpful to explain the reasons, than to tell the responder that they don't understand the complexity of the problem.

Sometimes that is because the people you are talking too want to be the heroes that come up with the solution.

I heard a story one time about a major multi-car pile up on a freeway and one guy started directing everybody in what to do. One guy walked up and said "Excuse me, I'd like to help." The guy directing told him to go stand somewhere that he had everything under control. The other guy asked again "but I'd really like to help." He was told "Not right now I'm busy." So the other guy bothered him again, "Look I really think you could use my help." The guy in control of things responded "What, what can you do to help?" The other guy says "I'm a doctor."

İ think İ did explain that.

GA for that one. Not only is it a good answer, that is precisely the direction I would recommend. I have used expandable rubber plugs to seal high pressure leaks in concrete. Although it's true that I don't have detailed knowledge of the underwater oil industry, I do have a grasp of physics and mechanical engineering. 5000 psi air tanks are available to SCUBA divers (I'm sure much higher pressure to commercial and military). Pressure sources are available to expand rubber stoppers that could be inserted into the riser. I'm sure Richard Feynman would point out that at those temperatures and pressures, rubber is not elastic, but that problem can be solved.

Tanks are actually really easy to design for extremely high strengths the smaller in size the tanks get.

Capture a large percentage of the oil in a fabric sphere. Just like a water balloon. A 100' diameter sphere can hold almost 4 million gallons. Let the fabric be resistant to oil transmission. Fill one, follow it with bouys, but let it drift. Adjust the bouancy so that the shere is below the water surface. Provide a pressure relief flap to let expanding gas escape. track it and suck the oil out at resonable depths and at the conveience of available support. Fill one, then fill another. 100' too big? Use a 50' diameter balloon to hold almost half a million gallons.

I give this idea freely to anyone with a big ship as long as it is called "BillyBallz".

So far they are talking about pumping mud and cement into the pipe. While this may work my thinking is that it would be like trying to pump mud into a garden hose, I havent tried it but imagine it might be difficult if not impossible as you would have to overcome the oncoming pressure. A balloon seems to make more sense if you could fill and pressurize it.

Hi all,

I have mentioned my idea previously. (other listing)

A simple metal circular hinged clamp to be lowered over the pipe,
(open) and a tank of air created to hold the clamp closed. (giant tongs)
(maybe with hydraulic backup) Please see my simple sketch below.

Simple, cheap, and effective in materials, labour, transportation.
Easily duplicated, cost effective, have standby units.. off the shelf, to fit!
Please consider this BP, - with all other earth/wild life despoilers!

BP please note: royalties would be appreciated for this poor engineer.(71)

Maybe not the best pic/idea in the world, but cheap and workable?

jt.

How does putting a ring round the pipe block the end up, Sorry i dont understand ?

that is just for the holes that are in the fallen riser pipe. Any other leaks such as at the 90 degree bend above the bop's, and any rock formation leaks would obviously have to be handled otherwise. And "Ring" is not really correct. it is a cylindrical clamp-on patch... like a hot tap

chris

I see thanks for the explanation.

somthing like that then with the end covered to form a blanked tube could be used to blank of ent of broken pipe perhaps.

cant see why not, but nothing is ever perfect, which is why having to make repairs a mile under water is so bad.. because you have to be able to see in order to adapt the design of the repair to the exact conditions of the fault.

chris

In the past nothing worked other than relief wells. Why would it be different now?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHmhxpQEGPo