BP riser pipe...

[flabum1017]

I was watching the live feed on the BP site, they mucked up cutting the pipe as we all know. But what I was curious about is there appears to be a flange just below wher they cut the pipe. Couldn't they just unbolt that flange, allow the old riser to blow away, them lower a new riser pie down and attach it? they could leave the other end of the pipe open until the flange was bolted up.... the close the valve at the top of the new riser pipe.... or is that too simple?

[transomstand]

That's been suggested at least 100 times on the Oil Drum forum. Oil is flowing out the top of the BOP at about 3500 psi, the BOP is deformed, and badly damaged. The fear is it wouldn't hold the pressure, or be lifted off the ocean floor. It's also listing about 10 degrees, so it's easier to capture the cut riser with an Oring compression fitting.

This stuff looks goofy to most of us, but we have no idea of how clueless we are, or how hard this is. Nothing is simple down there.

[JohnBoy]

The BOP is not listing. The rise pipe is bent from the rig bending it when it sank. They are currently sending down a new cap that will cover the pipe and flange with the bolts since the riser pipe was damaged and is no longer round from using shears to make the final cut due to a jammed saw, the original cap won't fit. As far as capping it if this doesn't work they will try to stack another BOP on top as another option.

At least that is want I've read and understand. The only sure kill is a relief well cross-section and cement to plug the uncontrolled flow...

[CDave]

Sounds like they should build a bigger "bell" to cover the pipe and let it flow to a surface tanker. Or at least partially cover it to capture what they can until they drill the relief wells.

[flabum1017]

That's been suggested at least 100 times on the Oil Drum forum. Oil is flowing out the top of the BOP at about 3500 psi, the BOP is deformed, and badly damaged. The fear is it wouldn't hold the pressure, or be lifted off the ocean floor. It's also listing about 10 degrees, so it's easier to capture the cut riser with an Oring compression fitting.

This stuff looks goofy to most of us, but we have no idea of how clueless we are, or how hard this is. Nothing is simple down there.

I understand that's a lot of pressure, and it's not an easy task. As for whether or not that BOP can hold the pressure, if it is that damaged, then nothing they do to cap it will work. They can only divert the oil to the surface where it can be collected until the releif wells are done.

What's stopping them fro cross-drilling the well pipe 50 or so feet below the BOP?

[CDave]

What's stopping them fro cross-drilling the well pipe 50 or so feet below the BOP?

Because they would be in the same boat they are in now, I guess. I would think they will have to complete a new well futher down where they can run casing and tubing into one of the cement points. But I'm not a driller so I'm just guessing that's how they will do it.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/05/challenges_involved_in_drillin.html

[JohnBoy]

I understand that's a lot of pressure, and it's not an easy task. As for whether or not that BOP can hold the pressure, if it is that damaged, then nothing they do to cap it will work. They can only divert the oil to the surface where it can be collected until the releif wells are done.

What's stopping them fro cross-drilling the well pipe 50 or so feet below the BOP?

I would assume the BOP can hold. They already pumped drill fluid in there under high pressure and it held. As for drilling 50 feet, I assume they need to go deep where the well bore is small. I read it is much smaller down low and easy to plug down there. Up top it is large and down low it is small so easier to plug. Also they don't want to damage the current well by drilling too close.

It is very complicated and I believe they are doing everything they can, they just don't know what to do since they were not prepared for this and convential stuff isn't working. 5,000 feet under the water and using ROV's is a super hard way to cap a well. Only having one way to kill the flow in a blow out is just bad engineering but I'm sure it won't happen again. The public is upset, the gulf is being destroyed but I do believe BP is doing everything they can to cap this, they just don't know how and no one else does either. No a excuse just the fact and I live in Florida and will be affected by this

Other oil companies have their ROV's there helping them so everyone is involved...

[transomstand]

I understand that's a lot of pressure, and it's not an easy task. As for whether or not that BOP can hold the pressure, if it is that damaged, then nothing they do to cap it will work. They can only divert the oil to the surface where it can be collected until the releif wells are done.

What's stopping them fro cross-drilling the well pipe 50 or so feet below the BOP?

You are correct, there is no attempt being made to seal this well from the top, only to capture oil. There are at least 4 "top hat" fixtures down there now

The well bore can only be intersected near the reservoir at about 18,000 feet. That's the only place the rock is strong enough to tolerate the pressure. Then, the bore must be sealed from the bottom up.

[transomstand]

I would assume the BOP can hold. They already pumped drill fluid in there under high pressure and it held. As for drilling 50 feet, I assume they need to go deep where the well bore is small. I read it is much smaller down low and easy to plug down there. Up top it is large and down low it is small so easier to plug. Also they don't want to damage the current well by drilling too close.

It is very complicated and I believe they are doing everything they can, they just don't know what to do since they were not prepared for this and convential stuff isn't working. 5,000 feet under the water and using ROV's is a super hard way to cap a well. Only having one way to kill the flow in a blow out is just bad engineering but I'm sure it won't happen again. The public is upset, the gulf is being destroyed but I do believe BP is doing everything they can to cap this, they just don't know how and no one else does either. No a excuse just the fact and I live in Florida and will be affected by this

Other oil companies have their ROV's there helping them so everyone is involved...

This is a cost is no object operation, every oil company, and wild well control outfit in the world is in on it. They've even called people out of retirement to assist.

Keep in mind, they're not dealing with a single hole, but a hole with 3 pipes in it, and the annulus(the spaces in between) are where the main problem is. Also remember, the BOP has always been open at the top, even during the kill attempt. The source of the leak is about 3300 feet below the ocean floor.

[RB in NM]

Sounds like they should build a bigger "bell" to cover the pipe and let it flow to a surface tanker. Or at least partially cover it to capture what they can until they drill the relief wells.

At the time the first attempt with the containment bell failed, I sent in a suggestion on a possible fix. The bell was basically icing up and floating, could not be used. My suggestion was to spilt the bell into two pieces, from top to bottom,with either bolted connections or pin type connections at the two sides, send the thing back down as two pieces. once at the point of use, bring the two sections back together, pin/bolt it up and go to sucking.

No reply.

Russ

[Hydrophobic guy]

TIME FOR .................................

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8adFNycaanI/SRXaR-I8V6I/AAAAAAAAARY/U3wtyiE6Bdw/s400/Russian+underwater+test+1955.JPG

[JohnBoy]

^^^ If they do that I will need to move into that extra room you have, I will need to bring my bitchy wife, 2 kids, 2 dogs and all the rats (Read "Damn rat in my garage").

It is said that would empty the whole well and destroy everything as we know it. It is not a option. Not being a dick but read up on this it is a serious issues for us that are caught up in this drama. We don't want to kill an ant with a M80 we want to kill that ant in the least harmful way.

[transomstand]

At the time the first attempt with the containment bell failed, I sent in a suggestion on a possible fix. The bell was basically icing up and floating, could not be used. My suggestion was to spilt the bell into two pieces, from top to bottom,with either bolted connections or pin type connections at the two sides, send the thing back down as two pieces. once at the point of use, bring the two sections back together, pin/bolt it up and go to sucking.

No reply.

Russ

You'll be pleased to know, that idea, and variations of it, were considered. From what I understand, the icing would still take place during reassembly, almost the same as a one piece hat. I guess it happens pretty fast.

The current LMRP has nitrogen being pumped through the recovery pipe, to keep it dry, and the hat has methanol being pumped through it to prevent freezing.