Posted on 05/29/2010 2:27:01 PM PDT by boycott
Okay, I am not an expert in this field but sometimes the most simple ideas work the best. It should be obvious rather quickly that I am not an expert in this field.
I really just want to hear other's suggestions so I'll offer mine to spare you any embarrassment of your suggestions .... as silly as it may be ................
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As a temporary solution, a dome that is weighted at the bottom that is somewhat self-leveling -- something that would resemble sandbags joined/tied together so that it would seal off most, if not all, of the leak. The bags (or whatever the containers) could almost be self-leveling (it could be steel balls, chain links, sand, or whatever in the self-leveling bags). At the top of the dome is a large and obviously long pipe where the oil/gas mixture would be forced to exit at the surface into tankers. Pumps could be used to help maintain the flow-rate. Pumps may or may not be desired.
I am not sure of the type (or types) of pipe. I know there is a lot of pressure a mile below the surface. You may have to use a heavy steel pipe near the bottom. I wonder if something a little more flexible (imagine a big garden hose -- certainly much thicker and more ridgid.) could be used a little higher up. A combination of various types of pipe could possibly be used (steel, fiberglass, plastic, etc.). Pipe supports may be also needed.
If the area of the leak is 10', make the dome 20'+ around it. The shape isn't so important. What is important is sealing it off on the bottom and forcing the oil to the surface using pumps (if desired or needed.) via the pipe.
My suggestion is only for temporary recommendation until the relief well is done. You could then possibly drill closer to the area of the leak and I believe you could get there more quickly.
-- I believe all this could be done pretty quickly. Fusing large plastic pipe together could be done very quickly.
They might could use the first dome they tried to use or something like it. Put the weighted leveling devices on the sides and a steel pipe in the top of it. Then join the steel pipe with plastic (or fiberglass, etc., or whatever) as you get shallower. Use chain/ropes to lower the dome, pipes, pipe supports, etc.
I know my suggestion may be way off but sending golfballs and mud down the rig wasn't very complicated either. I am not fond of the NUKE OPTION I am hearing either.
I don't like the idea of waiting and doing nothing until August when they can drill the relief wells.
My thoughts are that if they could pick up just one idea from anyone, it might could help bring an end to this nightmare. It's day 40 and this slow-motion disaster continues before our eyes.
If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them. Also, please send them to ......
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/546759/
BTW, I am in no way affiliated with DeepWaterHorizonResponse.com or any other organization involved in the response. I am just a guy that lives on the Gulf of Mexico that loves sealife / wildlife, beautiful sandy beaches, and our way of life.
Just stick a new BOP on top of the one that’s not working. Activate BOP. Problem solved!
“the ideal plug is running around Chicago somewhere”
Hopefully he’ll come up with a solution while vacationing or playing basketball.
How about using an atomic bomb, I wonder if 20 kilotons would be enough? I know back in the 1950’s, it was proposed both in the US and USSR and atom bombs can be used for engineering purposes such as digging big holes and so on, maybe we can use one to cause a ruckus down there to the point where it would liberate so much dirt and rocks, it would seal the hole.
Yeah, Any boob can be president if they only use a Teleprompter when they speak - and nothing bad happens.
Anybody can be a firefighter, as long as there are no fires. It’s easy to just sit around the station waiting for a fire.
Unfortunately, Obama is proving what happens when you have an unqualified president and something DOES happen. I wonder what Sarah would have done.
If nothing else, that might scare the oil back down the hole.
A large bomb near the leak would likely collapse everything around it and plug it up.
Let’s get Oprah Winfrey to team up with Art Bell and have the cumulative audiences of her show and from Coast to Coast AM all be given airline tickets to the Gulf Coast were they will all hold hands and have a big group prayer to heal the hole.
Plugs? Talk to Joe Biden!
I doubt it needs to be that big.
Particularly if they could drill a hole near the blowout shaft and pack it will explosives.
Man, everywhere Michelle Obama goes, you need to have a 1972 Pinto as a head car with a huge “Wide Load” sign on the front. B-) B-P
Half cast on both ends with open ends planned. Lower the concrete without closing the plume and utilize the two part valve.
I like it.
So lower some big device over it that has a two part valve and then close one of the valves off? I like it.
While we are waiting to get the leak stopped, why are they not sucking up the oil laden seawater as close to the leak as possible and putting it in tankers? I don’t understand why they are just allowing all that oil to escape.
Put a steel unbrella down the pipe, one that has the ability to grip the inner walls, then open it up...Repeat as necessary.
plug da ho with basketballs.
Nuke it. Supposedly the shock wave can pinch the hole shut.
(A) Shove Obama and the entire Obama Administration down the hole to plug the leak;
(B) Wrap Obama's big mouth around the blown out well head and plug it that way.
Either way, I don't care -- it solves two problems: One with the oil leak, and second with the most failed President in U.S. History.
LOL!! That’s a good suggestion any day. It would help the economy too.
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