Where did BP get the idea of the dome over the oil spill? It has a surprising beginning.

[Are_grits_groceries]

BP Plc engineers using undersea robots maneuvered a massive metal chamber to fit over a gushing ruptured oil well in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday in their best chance yet to contain a leak that threatens an environmental catastrophe on U.S. shores.

The four-story structure, the best short-term hope of controlling the spewing crude, was lowered to the seabed almost one mile below the surface in an attempt to funnel the escaping oil to a surface tanker.

They got the idea from watching Get Smart re-runs.

http://j-walkblog.com/

I don't doubt it.

[dipsydoodle]

1. The cone of silence

:rofl:

[baldguy]

2. And it worked SO WELL in the original, too.

Using this method for capping an oil well leak works at 200-500 ft - using it at 10 times that depth may be problematic.

[Motown_Johnny]

3. it is still worth a shot, the principle is the same

and it might work

[madokie]

5. Gotta do something

even if its wrong. They have to try and this is a try.

[Are_grits_groceries]

6. I agree, but

I don't think the executives and others should be heralded and treated like conquering heroes if it succeeds.

I hope like hell it works. They still made a hell of a mess, and never bothered to even test any safety ideas to use drilling at that depth. This would be risky with any prior testing. However, it wouldn't be a gigantic unknown, and other ideas could have been developed too.

The heroes are the people cleaning it up and on the ground. The fumes have built up so much near the surface that they are combustible. Unless the wind disperses them, it is very dangerous.

[madokie]

7. I agree with you 100%

[IDemo]

4. Let's hope we don't hear a "missed it by THAT much" out of them

[rucky]

8. WHAT?

speak up, chief