Gulf oil spill: 'Top kill' still in limbo

[robinblue]

Source: greenspace








Gulf oil spill: 'Top kill' still in limbo
May 26, 2010 | 9:05 am

BP officials are still weighing whether to move ahead with their much-anticipated attempt to plug the Gulf of Mexico oil leak, apparently slowed by a desire for more data to help engineers minimize the risks of worsening the spill.

Engineers worked through the night to gauge pressure and run other diagnostic tests associated with the billowing oil. In a sign of the critical importance of the effort, Energy Secretary Steven Chu -- a Nobel-winning physicist -- has personally joined the diagnostic team in Houston.

An administration official said Wednesday morning that Chu and others were meeting to discuss the test results and help inform BP executives, who ultimately will decide whether to move ahead or call off the attempt.
One of the engineers involved in the project wrote on his Twitter account that the BP executives had delayed the effort due to concerns over high flow rates in the well, and had ordered another round of tests............................

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/05/gulf-oil-spill-top-kill-still-in-limbo.html

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I am hoping it will work.

[FSogol]

1. It was approved by the USCG . They'll try it.

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4398964

[DURHAM D]

2. Do they have all the new fittings done on the Christmas Tree? nt

[ShamelessHussy]

3. What are the flow rates, and how much oil is in the well?

:shrug:

[meow mix]

4. "due to concerns over high flow rates in the well"

they know some rates they havent mentioned?

[Teaser]

6. I don't know if flow rate = spill rate

you may know the velocity of the fluid/gas mix coming out of the well, but if you don't know the fluid to gas ratio, you're not going to know how much oil is being spilled.

[Melissa G]

5. CNN reports Fed approval

-- Federal authorities give BP final approval to use "top kill" procedure to plug gulf oil leak.
Above just came in my email from CNN

[florida08]

7. I hope they do it right

If executed incorrectly, however, the top kill could blow the fail-safe systems, dramatically increasing the flow of oil.

[robinblue]

8. that comment is scary.

[blm]

9. fundies will be celebrating... 9-11 affirmed their pov that we are in endtimes, and this disaster

could very well hasten the end of life on this planet.

Sickening what Republicans and their fascist quests have done to an entire planet.

[florida08]

13. lordy

I hope not but I know what your saying. Marketeers are probably betting on it right now

[Nihil]

14. They wouldn't be the first though ...

> Marketeers are probably betting on it right now

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x248916

[riskpeace]

10. Day 36 of Planning, Testing, Mulling, Weighing Options, etc.

So sad and so very frustrating.

It was weeks ago when I had to give up my plan to stay drunk until they plugged the leak. That would have been economically problematic and BP's in no rush to pay claims.

[tnlefty]

11. *snort* a belated Welcome to DU riskpeace!!

I'm still working on your plan off and on! :hi:

[Jamastiene]

12. It's pretty bad when we cannot even afford to numb the pain

while they goof off, make millions doing it, and let the oil kill the Gulf.

The least could do is make booze free until they either stumble on a solution by accident (they sure aren't going to figure it out on their own, we've seen that much) or the Earth finishes bleeding to death. If they want us to STFU at them, it's the LEAST they could do.

Welcome to DU. :hi: