Watch the BP cam

[jaxx]

They put a belt like thing on it and now 2 green can things coming down to it.

http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_uk_english/homepage/STAGING/local_assets/bp_homepage/html/rov_stream.html

Now it just looks like the flow....maddening.

[gateley]

1. I'm glad THEY (and others) know what they're looking at, because it's beyond

me, although I can't seem to tear myself away.

Earlier I saw a saw cutting a pipe -- did you see that?

[jaxx]

2. Yeah I saw that too.

I wonder if the cans are the cap?

[gateley]

10. The only thing I can identify for sure is when they show a flow of oil spewing

out. I watched when the 'claws' were snipping and moving things yesterday, understood it was in preparation for the cap attempt, but as to WHAT they were snipping and moving, it's impossible for me to comprehend.

[lamp_shade]

3. I've caught myself a few times trying to "guide" things around with my cursor.

Anybody else? Maybe I just need to back away from the computer.

[jaxx]

6. LOL yes.

When the jaws just grabbed that line it was like snap!

[NNN0LHI]

8. I am sure the operators of the ROV's are probably limited to working very short periods of time each

I am guessing no more than an hour before the operator needs some time off to get his/her nerves right.

Don't think I could do it more than a few minutes at a time. looks very stressful.

Don

[lamp_shade]

14. I wish somebody would interview one of those operators on TV. I'd like

to learn a little about what they do and how they do it.

[NNN0LHI]

30. Here is what the operating position for an ROV pilot looks like

http://lancemerker.posterous.com/learning-to-pilot-the-rov

[jaxx]

38. Joysticks.

That is wild.

[gateley]

11. Ha! That's funny! Those operators must have nerves of steel and a high tolerence

for frustration.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. The robot hand is making gang signals!!!!

Btw..here is a link to a better pic:

http://globalwarming.house.gov/spillcam

[jaxx]

7. Thanks.

Now I have 2 of them up. :crazy:

[lamp_shade]

12. Thanks. It's a bit smaller than the BP pic, but much sharper and easier on these tired old eyes.

[NNN0LHI]

5. BP's ROV Update with Audio from about a week ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeGLmjT0mc4&feature=youtube_gdata

[jaxx]

9. Interesting.

I'll watch it again when this is over.

[Cleita]

13. OMG! They grabbed one of the pipes and then let go?

[jaxx]

15. They're moving the belt like thing down over the pipe

may be how they are going to put it together....with a wing and a prayer!

[gateley]

17. Are they trying to loop it around that pipe?

[jaxx]

19. It looks to me like they're trying to put the two ends of the pipe

together....but it's just a guess.

[lamp_shade]

21. That's exactly what they did. This is AWESOME.

[Cleita]

18. Oh I'm praying. It looks like they have secured something.

:o

[gateley]

22. I'm barely breathing! nt

[jaxx]

23. Yeah intricate stuff....with claws no less.

It's amazing.

[gateley]

25. The American BP guy said yesterday it's like these guys are performing open

heart surgery on television -- good analogy.

[jaxx]

27. I can believe that.

Whoever is operating those things is really on the ball.

[lamp_shade]

28. ... with nothing but tweezers.

[Cleita]

33. This is fascinating, like watching Sci-Fi.

[Buns_of_Fire]

36. ...with the whole world looking over your shoulder.

But, hey, no pressure.

[Cleita]

24. Me too!

[Chemisse]

16. Anybody know the size scale on this thing?

Could you wrap your hand around the gripping tool, for instance?

[LeftyFingerPop]

20. I *think* that the smaller pipe they are working on now is about a 6 inch diameter.

Someone will correct me if I am wrong.

[Chemisse]

37. Thanks - that helps a lot

It all looked like it could be really tiny or incredibly huge, or anywhere in between.

[LeftyFingerPop]

41. You're welcome. I know, it is very hard to tell the size with no comparison. n/t

[On the Road]

45. I've Seen Oil Drum Discussions

referring to pipes seven inches in diameter. Not sure if those are the same pipes.

[NNN0LHI]

40. Here is the ROV we are seeing out of water for scale

[gateley]

42. It's great to see a shot of the entire thing -- thanks! nt

[jaxx]

43. It doesn't look nearly that big under water.

[NNN0LHI]

46. I don't think we have ever seen a shot of the ROV underwater

It would need to turn its lights and cameras around 180 degrees and point them at itself.

Don

[csziggy]

57. There have been a few times during the last week when one ROV could see another one

Off in the distance through the murk. But with no scale, it is hard to tell how big they are.

[gateley]

50. I know - it looks kind of little and kind of cute.

[lamp_shade]

26. Let go of the mouse, Pam. They've got the controls... you don't.

(talking to myself)

[jaxx]

31. OMG that startled me!

I'm Pam too. I thought I'd lost it. LOL

[lamp_shade]

44. LOL. Now THAT is funny. I'm imagining what my own reaction would have been. Small world isn't it?

[jaxx]

49. Yes it is.

About 3x3 right about now. ;-)

[gateley]

32. Are you shouting instructions to them? "To the left! To the left!"

[jaxx]

35. How do I add this to my resume?

[gateley]

29. CNN just said it will be some time between Wednesday and Saturday when they

will actually attempt the cap. They have another on standby with a little different design should the first one not work.

[jaxx]

39. Ok good to know.

I hope it works...I hope it works....I hope it works!

[Feron]

54. Ahhh. I was wondering why the two hats were down there.

Earlier they showed both of them on the ROV cam.

I just assumed it was old hat and new hat.

[dixiegrrrrl]

34. I begrudgingly give them credit. That robot is a cool tool.

Watching it is nerve wracking, tho, my fingers are twitching !

[jaxx]

47. The freakin thing is amazing.

I have to look away from it to breathe right.

[Cleita]

48. Is that round thing the saw that they are showing now?

[jaxx]

51. Yeah. I wonder if they're making the pipe ends straighter to get together.

That clamp thing doesn't look wide enough to do the job.

[spanone]

52. the sawing of the tube does not seem to be going well.....

[jaxx]

53. Anybody know how thick the steel is they're cutting?

[gateley]

55. This is the second one I've watched, the first one was successful. Don't know how

many tubes they need to saw, but on this one I think it's too early to tell. It's kind of time consuming.

[spanone]

56. is it holding on with it's left 'hand' and cutting with the right? 5000 feet down!!

[NNN0LHI]

58. And with just one little slip of the joystick and it cuts its own arm off

Nerve wracking isn't it?

Don

[jaxx]

61. LOL ouch.

I hope they keep that belt like thing away from the saw.

[jaxx]

59. It seems to have several different sized claws and I don't know

if they're from one ROV or two.

[gateley]

60. Did you see them loop a belt around the pipe? It's amazing what they're able

to accomplish.

[malaise]

156. Amazing is the word n/t

[Buns_of_Fire]

64. Looks like they got it.

Not the neatest of cuts, but I'll give them a pass on this one.

[jaxx]

65. Thick steel, no wonder it took awhile to cut through.

[Buns_of_Fire]

72. A hydraulic line of some sort, is my guess.

I'm glad THEY know what they're cutting into down there.

[jaxx]

75. Yeah they have to be well schooled on the make up of the thing.

[flamingdem]

62. What happened now? How close to cutting off the riser are we? nt

[Chemisse]

63. It was such a good idea for them to make this live video available

It is reassuring to be able to see what is going on directly, and to be able to watch (and even admire) BP's efforts to stop it.

[jaxx]

66. It really was. We have Ed Markey to thank for it according to the website.

But it's addicting when they are working down there.

[flamingdem]

67. Though we may be watching our doom

but that's just me being pessimistic. I'm rooting for the robots and for the people in LA, AL, TX, FL etc.

[jaxx]

68. I know, that's the scary part.

It may not work. But I'm rooting for them too.

[gateley]

70. As am I. I'm of the belief that BP is doing all it can to get this under control. nt

[jaxx]

71. I agree.

There is no reason for them to not want to stop it. It's destroying the ecosystem and the coastline and the fish and everything else.

[gateley]

81. More important for BP, it's costing them $$$ and added ire from their shareholders. nt

[gateley]

69. Agree - we're all "well why don't they put a lid on it?". Sounds simple, but now

we're seeing all that's involved to "put a lid on it". It helps us to understand WHY it takes some time to attempt these actions.

I think BP is doing all it can do if for no other reason than they're losing money the longer it's gushing. I still think they're misrepresenting the extent of it, but the important thing now is to get it stopped. THEN we can worry about going after BP.

[jaxx]

73. Do you think the same guys are still running the ROV??

My gawd I'd lose my mind. This has been going on for well over an hour and it's still in action.

[gateley]

79. I hope they have short shifts. I toured an air traffic control center once and

you could feel almost a physical pressure on your shoulders when you walked into the room. This has to be much more intense, and I'd think that a brain could burn out pretty quickly without breaks. I bet after each stint at the 'wheel' the operators feel as though they've worked 24 hours.

[jaxx]

83. That's good to know. I'm feeling sorry for them.

What stress.

[gateley]

92. That's just conjecture on my part - I don't know the actual length of time these

guys have to work at a shift. But I'm just making myself feel better by stating why it's "logical" for them to get frequent breaks. Hope I'm right.

[flamingdem]

74. Can you identify what they are cutting now? nt

[Subdivisions]

76. It one of the smaller pipes that are alongside the kink riser pipe. n/t

[flamingdem]

78. Thanks. That capture I posted sure is huge. nt

[flamingdem]

77. Screen captures of the last hour or so

Would love an explanation if anyone has a general idea of where we are and how long it is going to take.

[Subdivisions]

80. Nice pics!

They said it would take 4 to 7 days to complete the LMRP operation. Let's hope it works!

[likesmountains 52]

82. Very cool, thanks. I can show this to people who missed watching live.

[jaxx]

85. Those are great shots.

[gateley]

87. Wow - great pics! And there are shots of stuff I missed -- thanks! nt

[flamingdem]

89. You're welcome.

It was from another site but I'll take credit for my obsessive googling on this.

[Subdivisions]

84. Looks like the riser pipe's flange is keeping the saw blade from

being able to reach that least little bit that's left to be cut on that little pipe.

He got a bit more cut on it this time. Looks like the ROV will wiggle it back and forth until that little bit that's still there will break.

[Cleita]

86. I thought that too. It seems they need a saw with a larger diameter. n/t

[Subdivisions]

88. Lol! I guess he realized he could rotate the drill motor body up and solve that problem. n/t

[Buns_of_Fire]

91. I was yelling at them to just give it a big ol' tug.

One reason (of many) they don't let me near the expensive stuff.

[jaxx]

90. They got it!

It's nice to have someone who knows the proper names for what they're doing. Do you know why they cut it off?

[Subdivisions]

93. They're just clearing everything away from the base of that riser. They are

going to want to cut that riser pipe about six inches above the bolts in that flange that bolts the riser pipe assembly (of which the pipe they just cut is a part - and I believe there are 4 of them) to the top of the BOP.

[jaxx]

96. Does this have to do with the new cap fitting on?

[Subdivisions]

102. Yes, which to me looks like it might have problems. That kink has distorted the

"roundness" of the riser pipe just below the kink. Might have a problem with the rubber grommet that is supposed to set down inside that riser pipe. That grommet will be hard rubber and the cold pressure and depth will make it even harder. Without a good round opening at the top of that riser pipe (once it's cut), they may not get a good seal.

[flamingdem]

105. I can't believe they wouldn't have forseen that it would be bent

from the circle shape. Ut oh, sounding shakey. 20% =? % extra flow.

[Subdivisions]

112. It's very possible they've already taken that into consideration, if it is

something to be concerned about. They could probably even image the thing and make a custom grommet to fit it.

Time will tell.

[jaxx]

108. can they cut it down farther where it's rounder?

[Subdivisions]

114. I wondered about that myself and maybe a little. They will be very

careful that they don't cut too much. It's really a shame they can't unbolt that riser assembly because if they could, they could just work with the machined flange. But, alas, that is not to be.

[Buns_of_Fire]

97. When they do that, all hell's gonna break loose.

Until they cap it, there'll be nothing to slow down the flow, right?

[gateley]

99. That's my understanding, and that's what it sounds like when they say the flow

will increase "temporarily".

[Buns_of_Fire]

146. Then I guess what it's boiling down to is that there is no "Plan B" once that pipe's been cut.

One way or another, that sucker is going to have to be plugged or else it'll be even worse than it is now (if that's possible).

"Mr. Limbaugh? We have an immediate 'opening' that requires your unique talents. No, don't bother packing anything..."

[Buns_of_Fire]

94. To give them unobstructed access to the riser pipe?

:shrug:

(Never mind -- you answered my question. Thanks!)

[Subdivisions]

98. Yes, exactly. They are clearing all the riser assembly parts away from the

actual riser pipe. Then they will thread a diamond wire saw around the big riser pipe. The saw will rotate like a band saw and will tighten as it cut the pipe until it cuts it all the way through. Should be very interesting to watch.

[jaxx]

100. I'm glad I don't have to go to work tonight.

I can watch for a long time.

[Subdivisions]

104. I have it up on my bigscreen TV =) n/t

[flamingdem]

110. You might get the Uber Geek award for that! nt

[jaxx]

113. That would be awesome to watch it like that.

[gateley]

119. Geek! nt

[Subdivisions]

121. Speaking of geeks, it'll have to take a break when Big Bang Theory comes on. I'll

have to glance over at my laptop while that is on. My favorite TV show. It's full of geeks, lol!

[gateley]

161. I love Big Bang Theory! Sheldon slays me, and I think Penny is hysterical. nt

[Subdivisions]

165. Raj and Howard are a hoot too. n/t

[Subdivisions]

95. The ROV just went and put that strap back in the tool crib. n/t

[gateley]

101. You certainly seem to have a good understanding of what's going on. Thanks

for for the comments!

[Subdivisions]

107. I am a long-time journeyman mechanical tradesman. Though I haven't

worked in the oil business, I've seen quite a bit of stuff otherwise.

[gateley]

117. Well your comments are helpful, so thanks again. :-) nt

[Subdivisions]

122. You're very welcome. It's nice to understand what I'm seeing and be

able to pass it along to others who are watching.

[gateley]

164. I bet you're realizing you know stuff you didn't know you knew, if you follow my drift. nt

[jaxx]

103. There is a normalcy even 5000 feet down.

These people who run the ROV are dynamite.

[flamingdem]

106. They must wonder about those of us watching

It has to be more than 2,000..

[gateley]

115. The other day I heard over a million people were watching the oil cam -- not

sure if that was just on BP's site or not. And if I remember correctly, there are over 3,000 sites that have live cam coverage.

[jaxx]

116. I bet a lot are watching tonight. This is facinating.

[Subdivisions]

120. They seem to be in overdrive right now. Getting alot of work done. n/t

[Subdivisions]

109. They are the best in the business, I'm sure. n/t

[gateley]

111. Wow - we're zippin' along now. Like a tour! nt

[Subdivisions]

118. That structure the ROV was just looking at is the riser pipe with the

four satellite pipes surrounding it. The ROV is rigging it so that a crane on the surface can lift it up during and after the main riser pipe is cut. It looks to me like they are moving really quick to get this donw. Probably want to make a good report tomorrow when public attention returns to the business at hand.

[jaxx]

123. Post 77 shows that riser pipe crimped really bad.

It looks like it's bashed in more than just at the top.

[gateley]

124. Wow - I've heard "riser pipe" mentioned a zillion times, and I never would have

known that was what it was!

They DO seem to be moving along with alacrity. I hope they're able to have a good report tomorrow, too! :hi:

[Gin]

125. what is that vertical thing the ROV is trying to grasp?

[Subdivisions]

126. That was the handle of that cutting tool. The ROV picked it up and used

it to cut some rubber hoses.

[spanone]

127. i hope it was supposed to cut those hoses......

[jaxx]

128. Yeah they seemed to be in the way.

[Subdivisions]

129. They are really moving on this thing. If they keep up this pace we'll

wake in the morning knowing if it worked or not.

[Cleita]

139. They seem to be taking advantage of a reasonably calm ocean.

If a storm moves in, they may have to stop.

[jaxx]

130. Did they just put that thing inside of the piece?

I wonder what it was.

[jaxx]

131. What is that long green thing they have been moving around...

the one with the hoses they cut?

[spanone]

132. that looked like the mothership coming in......

[Gin]

134. I think I saw a couple jellyfish swim by

[Cleita]

137. I've been seeing things swimming occasionally since yesterday.

I'm wondering which sea life might not be affected.

[gateley]

135. We're saved! nt

[Gin]

136. I think I saw a couple jellyfish swim by

[gateley]

133. What are we looking at now? I had to step away and now I see what just

looks like a lot of fish in the water (but I don't think they're fish -- debris maybe?)

[Cleita]

138. I think there are some fish and other sea life swimming there as they

seem to have a direction they are going in opposite to just stuff swirling around. I'm amazed that some things are still alive and I wonder for how long. Any marine biologists here who can weigh in?

[gateley]

142. Although it could be just "stuff" being sent in a direction because of the pressure

of the flow. It would be nice if there are fish that are okay, but I hope they get the hell out of there!

[Cleita]

150. I actually saw something yesterday, three dark fish shapes who appeared

to be swimming in sync like fish schools do when they weave through the water. If they were in fact fish, maybe they were what is left of a larger school. Also, there seem to me to be some jelly fish too. The water is murky though so it's hard to tell. Of course other sea creatures like shrimp and oysters moving through the water would be harder to tell.

[gateley]

166. I heard one environmentalist say that pretty much any fish that gets in the oil

is almost for sure to die. She may have been speaking about the concentrated oil, though -- I hope so.

[jaxx]

140. Just the water and the oil

Maybe the guys are taking a break?

[gateley]

141. If they are, it's certainly well deserved! nt

[jaxx]

143. More equipment coming down.

On with the show.

[gateley]

145. Yep. Aaaaaannd Action! nt

[jaxx]

149. It looks like we are inside the oil flow.

Strange.

[drm604]

144. What is that?

Anyone know?

[jaxx]

147. I don't have a clue.

[drm604]

151. It's fascinating to watch, but I don't have much of a clue what I'm watching. LOL

I'm an IT guy, so I'm fascinated by the robots and all, but I wish I understood better what they're doing.

[Junkdrawer]

148. The jaws of death....Shear Cutter....

They're planning to cut the riser between the BOP and the current main "leak"...

[Gin]

152. almost looks like fire

[jaxx]

153. Wow so we'll have it soon.

My fingers are crossed.

[Junkdrawer]

154. Picture

[jaxx]

158. Thanks, that helps.

[drm604]

155. So that big piece of equipment was a cutter?

I understood what the overall plan is - cut the riser and install a kind of cap to capture at least some of the output.

You can see it better now and I see the jaws of the cutter.

[Junkdrawer]

157. BP link (snagged from Monkeyfister)...

http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=9033657&contentId=7062491

[HughMoran]

159. So they're using shears followed by the diamond wire cutter

Hmmm, I was not aware of the shears part.

[jaxx]

160. So they are going to cut near the seabed and on the crimped riser?

Why both places, do you know?

[Junkdrawer]

163. I guess so they can haul the riser away when they're through. Visibility will be zero....

once they cut the riser at the BOP.

[jaxx]

162. My gawd no wonder only the oil people have this equipment.

It must cost a fortune and it seems so specialized.

[gateley]

167. I'm going to start a new thread since this a hot one - be back with the link in a sec. nt

[gateley]

168. GO TO THREAD # 2 LINK:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8458952