BP Plans to Park Oil Box; Unload New Equipment

[tekisui]

Source: AP

ON THE GULF OF MEXICO — Crews planned Sunday to park the giant oil containment box on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, and offload equipment that could be used in a new attempt to stem the flow of gushing into the sea.

The equipment being offloaded from another vessel would use a tube to shoot mud and concrete directly into the well's blowout preventer, a process that could take two to three weeks. But BP PLC spokesman Mark Proegler told AP that no decisions have been made on what step the company will take next.

The company was considering three options, including the technique known as a "top kill," Proegler said.

Crews planned to secure the box about 1,600 feet from the massive leak site, much farther away from where it was placed Saturday after icelike crystals clogged the top when it was over the leak, according to a daily activity sheet reviewed by The Associated Press.

It could be at least a day before BP can make another attempt at putting a lid on a well spewing about 200,000 thousands of gallons of crude into the Gulf each day.

The company's first attempt to divert the oil was foiled, its mission now in serious doubt. Meanwhile, thick blobs of tar washed up on Alabama's white sand beaches, yet another sign the spill was spreading.

It had taken about two weeks to build the box and three days to cart the containment box 50 miles out and slowly lower it to the well a mile below the surface, but the frozen depths were just too much. BP officials were not giving up hopes that a containment box — either the one brought there or another one being built — could cover the well. But they said it could be Monday or later before they decide whether to make another attempt to capture the oil and funnel it to a tanker at the surface.

more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gIXWYBTpLtSayJtg41LKXpxSxVPAD9FJEJH80

[backscatter712]

1. Top kill is risky.

I'm no expert, but IIRC, the pipes have been getting seriously worn by the sand that's in the oil grinding them continuously.

Top kill could work if they can force enough mud and concrete & such to clog the well, but it could also cause overpressures, burst the pipes and make the leaks ten times worse.

[flamingdem]

3. What is top kill exactly? nt

[backscatter712]

7. Essentially injecting stuff down the well to try to stop it from the top.

They'll pump drilling mud, heavy liquids, golf balls, pieces of rubber, cement, into the well at the blowout preventer (or what's left of it) to try to block the well from the top.

The risk is that it could put strain on the pipes, which have been getting continuously sandblasted from the inside by the rushing oil that's carrying lots of sand in it. It could stop the leak or slow it significantly, or it could cause a major blowout.

[flamingdem]

8. Then I doubt they will risk it, sounds like the last thing to try if ever nt

[Motown_Johnny]

5. I would bet on that "ten times worse" thing

[SidDithers]

2. K&R...

thanks for the update.

Sid

[marmar]

4. I fear that no one really knows what to do.

nt

[Motown_Johnny]

6. I would have tried pumping warmer water down into the "dome" so the ice didn't form

but I guess that is just me

[backscatter712]

10. They were talking about doing that...

as well as pumping methanol into the dome with the warm water, which would dissolve the methane hydrate.

Not easy to do at 5,000 feet underwater...

[flamingdem]

9. bingo... ARROGANCE AND GREED are on parade with no solution in sight nt

[marions ghost]

11. It's hard for me to believe that they can't seal this thing forever

if they wanted to.