Posted: 5/30/2010 4:09:27 PM EDT
| How do we plug the well? |
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That was sooo 2006. 
This. 
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Oil is coming out of the riser, both from the top and several points with the most right at the BOP where the bend caused the most damage. Think of a mile long pipe about 22" in diameter. It was covered with syntactic foam for buoyancy, this fractured when the DW Horizon sank. Naturally, the BOP being a stiff anchor, the riser nearly crimped at the BOP. The plan is to use a diamond wire cutting tool to cut the riser just above the BOP. Then the Lower Marine Riser Package Cap will be lowered onto this stub of the riser with a gasket in between. The gasket won't maintain well pressure but should maintain the difference between the new riser full of oil and outside sea water, about 600 PSI. This will keep sea water from entering and forming hydrate plugs below 1600 feet or so. Unlike the Riser Insertation Tool which had been used at the other end, they will not choke the flow other than to maintain control of the natural gas at the Enterprise (conventional drilling ship with crude oil processing/storage). This will contain all the oil, effectively stopping the "leak". But it isn't an efficient means of producing. It will be the first Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel if not by ABS/MMS designation (FPSO, used where a subsea pipeline isn't practical or economically viable). |
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Quoted:
Oil is coming out of the riser, both from the top and several points with the most right at the BOP where the bend caused the most damage. Think of a mile long pipe about 22" in diameter. It was covered with syntactic foam for buoyancy, this fractured when the DW Horizon sank. Naturally, the BOP being a stiff anchor, the riser nearly crimped at the BOP. The plan is to use a diamond wire cutting tool to cut the riser just above the BOP. Then the Lower Marine Riser Package Cap will be lowered onto this stub of the riser with a gasket in between. The gasket won't maintain well pressure but should maintain the difference between the new riser full of oil and outside sea water, about 600 PSI. This will keep sea water from entering and forming hydrate plugs below 1600 feet or so. Unlike the Riser Insertation Tool which had been used at the other end, they will not choke the flow other than to maintain control of the natural gas at the Enterprise (conventional drilling ship with crude oil processing/storage). This will contain all the oil, effectively stopping the "leak". But it isn't an efficient means of producing. It will be the first Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel if not by ABS/MMS designation (FPSO, used where a subsea pipeline isn't practical or economically viable). Are they trying this? |
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Quoted: Quoted: Oil is coming out of the riser, both from the top and several points with the most right at the BOP where the bend caused the most damage. Think of a mile long pipe about 22" in diameter. It was covered with syntactic foam for buoyancy, this fractured when the DW Horizon sank. Naturally, the BOP being a stiff anchor, the riser nearly crimped at the BOP. The plan is to use a diamond wire cutting tool to cut the riser just above the BOP. Then the Lower Marine Riser Package Cap will be lowered onto this stub of the riser with a gasket in between. The gasket won't maintain well pressure but should maintain the difference between the new riser full of oil and outside sea water, about 600 PSI. This will keep sea water from entering and forming hydrate plugs below 1600 feet or so. Unlike the Riser Insertation Tool which had been used at the other end, they will not choke the flow other than to maintain control of the natural gas at the Enterprise (conventional drilling ship with crude oil processing/storage). This will contain all the oil, effectively stopping the "leak". But it isn't an efficient means of producing. It will be the first Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel if not by ABS/MMS designation (FPSO, used where a subsea pipeline isn't practical or economically viable). Are they trying this? Yes, placing mud mats currently. This will allow placement of the equipment needed and keep water clarity. |