Question by billy25685: How much fluid will flow out of a 20″ pipe assuming 5000psi?
Since BP engineers and the US government can’t finalize their numbers, I’m betting the Answers Community has a good answer.
There were some pressure ratings called out during the “top kill” operation, let’s assume 5000psi.
Yes some mud and gas is coming out of the pipe but for simplicity just assume all fluid flow.
Best answer:
Answer by jpopelish
In effect, something like 5000 psi is being used up to push oil and gas up through about two miles of well bore and pipe. How much that pressure will deliver depends on the bore diameter and roughness of that two miles, what else in in there (the drill pipe) and the viscosity of the fluid. It is not a simple calculation. Besides, I haven’t heard how much of that 2 mile deep bore holds drill pipe, and how much is unobstructed. Oh, only the riser pipe above the blow out protector has a 21 inch diameter. The well casing below the BOP is much smaller and the uncased bore below that casing is a bit larger than the casing, but is still smaller than 21 inches. And it is a good thing, because a 21 inch bore pipe, all the way to the reservoir would deliver several (10?) times as much oil as we are seeing.
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Regards,
John Popelish
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