BP’s top kill effort to plug a leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico appears have stopped the flow of oil and gas and ’stabilised the wellhead,’ according to US news reports.
The US Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen told New Orleans radio show WWL First News, ’They’ve stopped the hydrocarbons from coming up. They’ve been able to stabilise the well head, they are pumping mud down it.’
Allen told the station the task is to now ensure the mud can hold the oil and gas back long enough for them to cap the well.
’The goal is to put enough mud down the well bore to the point where there is no pressure exerted back by the hydrocarbons and then allow a cement plug to be put in place,’ he said.
Great news, however gathering up the clouds of oil should be foremost.
Just food for thought, my suggestion is employing a dragnet, fabricated of a permeable material that will allow water to pass through. There couild be a larger guard net at the throat to try and prevent
the marines life to enter.
At the tail end a hose to pump/barge collection vessel, after which the oil/ water can be separated on land,
Yes, good news.
More food for thought though about collecting the current leaking oil.
Suspend a large, strong (V large/V Strong) membrane horizontally just above leak site. Floating oil will collect in centre of membrane like an air bubble in a bag underwater. Attach pipe to this point and collect all the floating oil….
Good thinking Jim, encirle the leak site with a large diameter “Tube” that would rise to the surface. The oil would ( by it’s lightnes rise to the surface and be easily skimmed off. This could be “hung” from a manuverable barge, with a hole in the middle. At the bottom, mechanical augering anchores, to secure the bottom.
Not to be tacky, but this would be ackin to a hughe profilactic, but open at the top end.
oil tankers have compartments, yes…encircle the oil spil area(s),pump the surface water / oil into these tanks, let gravity do its work, drain the water from the base of the tank. it might catch some of it…
Really good news. Congratulations to all those involved in capping and stopping the flow of crude oil and gases. Now priority should be of recollecting/dispersing of the spilled oil. It should treated as responsibility of all to help in cleaning the areas atleast by self restraining in passing adverse comments. There should not be any much damage as the nature will help to subsidised the dangerous effects of pollution.
Where dose your news feed come from?
There is a “cap” on the well head but there’s still plenty of oil, methane, and now methonal ( to melt Hydrates ) and still dispersant , leaking or being pumped in at the site!? What was the point of an open public call in line for suggestion on resolving this, a P.R. stunt ?