Question by Whispering shhhhhhh: What is the worst case scenario if the next attempt, “top kill,” doesn’t work to stop the oil spill?
Best answer:
Answer by Uh oh
I have heard of a military ship that has handled things like this in the past. I don’t believe it has done so that deep, but it needs to be approved by the President (it may have already attempted too, I again am not sure). I think they will keep attempting as many options they have, they are the experts in this. They have “captured” some through the siphon and may have to resort to that until they can continue to come up with new ways to cap the hole. In the long run, whatever the result, the “inventors” of these drills and rigs will need to come up with better safety techniques and protocols. This was a bunch of men throwing their weight around to impress and rush a job. They should be fired (in both companies) immediately. All crewmen should be informed as to the ramifications of “rubber” coming up through the oil rig. “Safety awards” should not be given based on popularity. New inventors should come up with ways of capping deep water drilling, since the Sierra club is he!! bent on not having any shallow drilling. Would like to see them contribute more expertise that politicizing everything under the sun! I am sure there are several “environmental scientists” that may have the knowledge to invent a “fix” that could be standardized.
All in all, we have learned a great deal from this particular oil spill. The Exxon one was where we learned “dawn” could be used to disperse the oil as well as clean off the wildlife.
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2 Responses
Stop drilling oil in deep water completely, unless they can provide a proven solution to solve this kind of disaster.
Deep water drilling is one of the most complicated and questionable ways to extract fossil. The point is, how can anybody guarantee a flat form to last forever? specially when the area is visited by a hurricane (path) almost every year?
If we didn’t learn anything now (including the Exxon Valdez), then don’t blame no one next time…
***05/29/2010 News update*** So far the “top kill” didn’t work according to BP. Trying to find some more ways to cap the gusher.
I believed that they dropped a huge concrete block similar to a Pyramid type (with center hole?) but removed it and replace it, (the one with a control valve) but still leaks so they tried to send the mud (cement) through it.
A giant concrete block should have been a good idea if there is an existing (heavy duty) huge pipe/fitting built in the middle with pressure control -ready fitting/attachment, whatever type of attachment they used in sending the oil to tanker. If this giant concrete block is dropped dead center to where the gusher and attach a huge hose to send the oil up, maybe, just maybe that it will contain some or most of the oil instead of spreading all over.
5000 ft deep? that would be a very long hose (heavy duty) and probably weighs hundred of tons, but if the hose can withstand the pressure then there’s a chance that the oil will be send to a collection point.
I cannot understand why they took it off and replaced it with the one that exist now but doesn’t work… Just a thought…
If this does not work, it could potentially increase the amount of natural gas and oil flow by opening up a wider area.
I don’t see how it is going to work. Pushing “mud/cement” into an oil gusher is really futile especially at those depths. They have way under estimated the pressure of that oil line.
The only thing that will work is tapping into the line that is gushing right now with a sheath and bringing it to the surface.