Watch the BP Cam! Thread #16!

[gateley]

Welcome!


Thread #15: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8480038&mesg_id=8480038

:bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

Special thanks to NYC_SKP, jaxx, Subdivisions (Club Commandant), Junkdrawer, flamingdem, Statistical, HughMoran, Feran, lamp_shade, Lochloosa, and soooooo many other DUers for the amazing coverage, education, and laughs!

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Great site w/multi-screens: http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/bp-live-oil-spill-cam.html

All cams (BP site) http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=9033572&contentId=7062605 Thanks to Strelnikov!

WKRG Video Stream:http://www.livestream.com/wkrg_oil_spill

ABC Video Stream:http: http://abcnews.go.com/video/video?id=6046305

Akamai Link: http://mfile.akamai.com/97892/live/reflector:46245.asx

Fox Feed: http://interactive.foxnews.com/livestream/live.html?cha ...

CNN Feed: http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=str

Explanatory video (MUST SEE!): http://bp.concerts.com/gom/kentwellstechupdatelong053110.htm (I tried to find an update but wasn't successful )

Latest Oil Drum: http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6554 ( they may have moved on by now, they'll have a link)

Subsea Response Links (great to view when there's downtime):
https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AYETicASkH8SZGZmN3ptcXpfN2M2cmR3c2M5&hl=en

Great forum with lots of pics and video if you need to catch up: (although the DUUSBPROVC is giving them a run for the money!)
http://www.doomers.us/forum2/index.php/topic,68178.4545

The Oil Drum IRC Chat Room:

Server: Freenode
Channel: #theoildrum

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[Duer 157099]

1. Woot! Here to cheer on the successful mating of dear TC4 and Mr. Wonderful BOP

Now c'mon already, let's get the show on the road!

[scheming daemons]

3. It would be cool if the ROV arms lit up a cigarette afterwards...

...

[Duer 157099]

6. Or if they had 2 monkey fists shaking all over

it would look like this

:woohoo:

[rzemanfl]

2. Looks like an Ed Wood movie to me. n/t

[csziggy]

7. I was thinking a James Cameron movie, coming soon to a theater near you!

After all, they are spending loads of money streaming these cameras out to millions world wide. I'll bet BP is expecting to make a bundle on a feature film based on the video from this.

[rzemanfl]

12. What will they call it? "We Killed the Fucking Gulf of Mexico and

the Economies of a Whole Bunch of States, Come Watch!"

[csziggy]

39. "Wall-E: The Prequel"

Personify the ROVs, leave out the people as active participants, other than human greed and disregard for our planet. She the ROVs heroically trying to save the environment, despite the interference and stupidity of humans. A tearful, bittersweet ending when they slow down the oil flow but realize it is too late and too little to save the planet. Under the credits show the humans leaving the poisoned planet, all life dying but one small plant that is left....and one small robot that is scavenging the garbage the humans left.

[flamingdem]

4. Where did it go?

[Duer 157099]

5. Cold feet?

:shrug:

[warrior1]

13. If they are able to attach the cap

how are they going to keep in on?

[Duer 157099]

8. Oh she's back. Had to have her hair braided n/t

[Junkdrawer]

11. .

[Duer 157099]

9. Is Operation Mount the BOP on??? All obstacles clear ... n/t

[drm604]

10. Here we go...

[Duer 157099]

14. I think the action is about to begin!!!

I wonder if they're having performance anxiety with so many watching?

[NYC_SKP]

15. I think there's a misperception about the force and speed of the spew...

The opening is 20" diameter, or about 314 sq in, the equivalent of a hole about 18" square (if that makes it easier to picture.

I did some math, based on the range of estimated leakage (25,000 to 100,000 barrels/day) and took the convenient figure of 86,400 barrels a day.

Convenient because there are 86,400 seconds in a day.

That's a barrel every second!!!



But wait!

Taking the number of cubic inches in a 42 gallon barrel and dividing by the opening area, we get a linear flow rate of 30 inches of crude emerging every second.

Alternatively, we can say that it's flowing at 2.5 feet/second.

Now that's not really that fast, take your hands and place them low and raise them 30" to get an idea.

Also, this heavy fluid is in nearly equally dense seawater, not in air.

In short, this is nothing like a fire hose pressure, as others have suggested.

Hoping Statistical gets in here to check my math.

~~~~~

:hi:

[time_has_come]

28. So what is your conclusion/persnal opinion of flow rate? n/t

[NYC_SKP]

33. 30 inches per second.

About 1/4 or 1/3 the speed a person walks.

:hi:

[time_has_come]

122. no,volume

and the speed is faster than that

[Duer 157099]

16. Nooooooooo! You fuckers!

2 cams went black!

[wtmusic]

18. Pervert! Voyeur!

Use your imagination! :D

[drm604]

20. Yea, I lost one of my feeds.

I only see one now. I have to find another...

[csziggy]

24. I'm wondering if they are taking a dinner break or a strategy meeting

Or maybe an operator shift change before the actual docking. Both the Enterprise ROV cams went blank at the same time. Those guys have been at it for five or six hours straight and I would really like to think they would be fresh before starting something so important.

[wtmusic]

29. Probably something veering wildly out of control

not that anyone might think BP had the situation under control, or anything :silly:

[wtmusic]

17. I believe this is correctly termed "floor-play". nt

[rzemanfl]

19. Now they have a still from Star Trek. n/t

[Duer 157099]

21. It'd be funny if all the cams went to this

[Cleita]

27. They should at least be able to go to the local when it's all over and knock

back a few brews and high fives.

[rzemanfl]

22. OMFG! The Capitol Building fell a mile under the Gulf of Mexico.

Funny, I didn't feel a thing.

[Cleita]

23. Not there yet?

[gateley]

25. Is anybody getting anything besides the monkey fist?

[Duer 157099]

34. Only monkey fist here. Sends a message doesn't it?

[csziggy]

35. You could go to Boa DeepC ROV 1 and watch the guy in the red coverall

Walk back and forth. BSkandi ROV 1 and Q400 ROV 1 are on, but they are just hanging out, doing nothing.

I suspect a dinner break, bathroom break and strategy meeting, in that order. The Enterprise ROV operators have been going for hours I bet they need a good long stretch and break before the serious job ahead.

[drm604]

37. That's the only working feed I can find.

This one: http://mfile.akamai.com/97892/live/reflector:44838.asx?bkup=45135

[csziggy]

44. No - gone again. REFRESH! The Enterprise feeds are back!

Refresh your feeds.

Nevermind.

[Duer 157099]

38. Enterprise feeds were just back for a few seconds... n/t

[scheming daemons]

26. Seriously... WTF are they waiting for? Time is of the essence....

...

[Duer 157099]

30. What's a few million barrels between friends?

Since the blackout happened at the top of the hour, maybe it is/was a shift change as mentioned above.

[NYC_SKP]

31. More methanol to both of them, should give em a buzz and put 'em in the mood.

That, or some Barry White music...

:P

[gateley]

32. They're trying to make sure they get it right. Measure twice...

[scheming daemons]

36. Shouldn't the music from 2001:A Space Odyssey be playing in the background?

It is in my head, anyway...

[NYC_SKP]

43. Or, something sexy.... Barry White?

:hi:

[Gin]

46. maybe they are gathering the big wigs before the final try to cap it...

if it works...the news will spread fast

[Subdivisions]

40. Done with work. Back to ROV cam. Looks like I haven't missed much? n/t

[gateley]

64. Just in time - I hope! nt

[wtmusic]

41. What's the feces-encrusted joystick in the foreground?

I know that must have a very important function...

[NYC_SKP]

45. That's not a feces encrusted joystick!

come on....

Follow along!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8480038&mesg_id=8480780

I love how it's been waving in different shots over the last 24 hours as if to say, "curses, damn you!"

:hi:

[wtmusic]

55. Serves me right for going to work today!

*whips self with braided monkey-fist*

Now I feel better

:D

[NYC_SKP]

62. Take a marble and bootlace, presto, a handsome key fob for your special friends!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXdHcH3FRcM

:patriot:

[csziggy]

47. Monkeys fist

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8477765&mesg_id=8479864

Come to think of it, "feces covered" is appropriate.

[Duer 157099]

42. Maybe holding everything still so some debris can settle? n/t

[Duer 157099]

48. They're waiting for us to look away. Oh wait, some movement...

[HughMoran]

49. While we're waiting - has anybody noticed the 2 different flows from the BOP pipe?

The picture is lousy, but on the left you can see a lighter gray/brown liquid shooting out of the cut drill pipe, and on the right you can see the black oil. I don't know why this is, but it's clear when watching the cams that a different color oil mixture is coming from the severed drill pipe vs the outer casing.

[Duer 157099]

51. Maybe related to different pressures n/t

[NYC_SKP]

52. I have been noticing that.

Wondered if, A: some of it's more laden with natural gas, and B: some of it is coming out the drill tube and has a different makeup and color.

It's probably neither, but that's what I wondered.

:dunce:

[jaxx]

60. I see I didn't miss much.....

Did they get the chunk of pipe cut off? I see a big thing with the number 4 coming towards the BOP.....is that the cap??

[Duer 157099]

50. Oh now I get it! They're cueing up "Dark Side of the Moon" n/t

[Junkdrawer]

53. Have the Gate-keeper and Key-master met yet?

Oh Zuul you nut, I want to speak with Dana...

[drm604]

54. The one feed, showing the cap thing, seems to be a series of stills.

Anyone else seeing that? A series of freeze frames.

[MgtPA]

56. Here comes 4!

[Duer 157099]

57. They're within spitting distance ! n/t

[drm604]

58. You're too low!

Pull up! Pull up!

[Duer 157099]

61. Now now, they need to cuddle a little first n/t

[Duer 157099]

59. It's like...a good and an evil smoke monster n/t

[drm604]

66. Snow Miser and Heat Miser.

(Don't ask my why I thought of that.)

[Parker CA]

63. Anyone have an idea of how heavy the cap is? I'd imagine it would need to be VERY heavy. nt

[Duer 157099]

65. Oh my... they need the ROV to help 'em out ... wait, you're taking her away!

[flamingdem]

67. Enough small talk, let's get to the action! nt

[Duer 157099]

68. I see juices mingling! ... n/t

[Subdivisions]

71. Eewww! n/t

[Duer 157099]

69. It's her goddamn big feet. And what's she got, like 6 of them ? n/t

[drm604]

70. Looks like the ROVs are moving in.

I think maybe they're going to help guide it on.

[jaxx]

72. Okkkkkk the final count down.

This is what we've been waiting for, through Jaws and the diamond saw and all the things inbetween. I hope that cap works and it slows the oil a lot. Good luck ROV people...do your thing!!

[Parker CA]

74. Seriously. The intensity in the ROV operators room must be ridiculous right now. nt

[Duer 157099]

78. I dunno, if they have even half a sense of humor, they might be cracking up n/t

[Subdivisions]

77. It's been a loooong wait. 16 threads worth! Everybody send them good

vibes for this to work and catch a good amount of oil.

[jaxx]

88. Fingers crossed....vibes to the max

[Duer 157099]

73. She's probably whispering in his ear: ..." you've been naughty, haven't you?" n/t

[thewiseguy]

76. ?!?!

Are you sure you are ok?

[Duer 157099]

112. You had to be there I guess n/t

[Cleita]

75. Looks like it's showtime. Things are moving in and happening.

:bounce:

[Subdivisions]

80. Wow. I'm glad I got here in time! =) n/t

[drm604]

79. That ROV has hold of it

and is moving it!

[Duer 157099]

81. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Baby!

[Subdivisions]

86. Lol. You're nuts! =) n/t

[gateley]

82. Do you think they're experiencing problems, or just part of the process? I'm almost

in tears because they're so close, I'm rooting so hard for them to be successful! :

[wtmusic]

83. oh. baby.

Oh...oh...baby.

:blush:

[Subdivisions]

99. LOL! Love your sig pic! n/t

[drm604]

84. Everything's obscured.

Can't tell what's going on. :shrug:

[Duer 157099]

85. uh oh

[drm604]

87. WTF is going on?

I wonder if they even know?

[Duer 157099]

89. doesn't look good does it

[Gin]

94. please work #4

[Subdivisions]

90. Holding my breath here... n/t

[Cleita]

95. Nail biting time again.

[thewiseguy]

96. I think they are putting the cap on...

Honestly I have no idea.

[Subdivisions]

103. They already put the cap on. Then everything went black. n/t

[Duer 157099]

91. Time to apply the proper amount of suction n/t

[Phoonzang]

92. Did it just start leaking from another part of the pipe?

[KansasVoter]

93. Give it time. Adjusting!

[anAustralianobserver]

97. positioned right but how are they going to lock it on??

[drm604]

98. Backing off.

If it's in place, it doesn't seem to be doing much good. :(

[jaxx]

101. Different feed close up to the goings on

http://mfile.akamai.com/97892/live/reflector:47175.asx?bkup=21144

[NYC_SKP]

107. Thanks for that. n/t

[Duer 157099]

104. It's because there's no seal between them

the oil is just coming out of the seam (which they expected)

[Duer 157099]

100. She's holding on, like riding a bronco. They need to start sucking n/t

[wtmusic]

102. Flecks of methane ice flying around?

Maybe she's plugged up.

[thewiseguy]

105. I think the cap is on

I see some wires/tube in the oil plume where the BOP should be.

[thewiseguy]

109. I may be too soon but there is still oil gushing out

[NYC_SKP]

111. Close, right next to one another but not on top yet... nt

[Duer 157099]

106. #4 is a trooper

[flamingdem]

108. Comments from fellow peanut galleries

http://webchat.freenode.net/


<18:34> <pzingg> NASTY
<18:34> <Ghambit> Are you crazy? They're not capturing ANYTHING right now. It's all leaking.
<18:34> <rick-home> They do not WANT a blow out. CONTROL is everhting.\\
<18:34> <sarty> i cannot believe it is staying on there
<18:34> == Nom1 <~18be24c4@gateway/web/freenode/x-xlkokmotbtqnjvqe> has quit
<18:34> <Lerch> OK, all fixed our work here is done, lets go home..
<18:34> <WillWill_> JustOnePerson: There isn't water in the pipe
<18:34> * schmorp finally starts breathing again
<18:34> <Kusan_> oh my god, it worked!
<18:34> <ThatSoundGuy> BP has no problem at sucking
<18:34> <oleOily> Hydrocarbons and Small Pipe
<18:34> <sarty> how on earth is it staying??
<18:34> == SlingShot <~slingshot@208.185.214.4> has joined #theoildrum
<18:34> == Stak <~47a719f0@gateway/web/freenode/x-vgnodooeufdlbovf> has joined #theoildrum
<18:34> <oelsardine> thing is leaking like hell
<18:34> <missmoa> oh oh blue line
<18:34> == jhb50 <~43cc0e93@gateway/web/freenode/x-ujqzxeetljgozbtz> has joined #theoildrum
<18:34> <rick-home> Ghambit they're not supposed to yet.
<18:34> <seph> they cannot capture till it is secure
<18:34> <ndlsjk> they aren't sucking oil yet
<18:34> <Trailman> As mentioned in the video. Once it's in place, they'll first sink the nitrogen to the CAP, then they'll begin drawing oil up. But until they have it flowing you'll see this billow. Remember, it's almost a mile to the surface. Once they have that going, with only oil in the pipe, they'll close the openings in the CAP
<18:34> == jt__ <~4cc8c02d@gateway/web/freenode/x-tgcyqvyybgrzpuki> has quit
<18:35> <terrymr> Gravity
<18:35> <Wednell> as long as methanol tubes didn't get crimped I think we're looking good

[Duer 157099]

110. This is MUCH more engrossing that the finale of LOST. Serious.

[jimlup]

113. I missed the moment ... how much did the plume change when they capped it?

How much did the plume change when they capped it? Are they getting any of it? It looks like a significant amount out the sides but maybe they don't have it really "sucking" yet.

[Subdivisions]

116. I think it probably froze up. That's why you see all the oil coming out the bottom =( n/t

[Duer 157099]

114. Run!!! Evacuate the planet!!! (says Monkeyfist) n/t

[NYC_SKP]

115. It's happening!!! It's a mess to see, check this feed:

http://mfile.akamai.com/97892/live/reflector:46245.asx

This one too: http://mfile.akamai.com/97892/live/reflector:47175.asx?bkup=21144

:bounce:

[Duer 157099]

117. Maybe next they put C-clamps around them? n/t

[NYC_SKP]

118. Fear NOT!, DU Under Sea BP ROV Club Members.... Fear Not!

I know it looks like a big bad sloppy mess, but I think this is a process.

First they have to be satisfied of the positioning.

Then they may have steps to take to secure it.

Then they probably have to activate the pump assist contraption, etc.

Only after these steps are done can we gauge by any visible oil spewage whether or not this has been a success.

And, as you know from past ops, all that could take hours and hours.

:patriot:

[jaxx]

119. Thread #17 is up

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8481464

See you there.

[Duer 157099]

120. The fact that #4 is seated and staying there is already amazing

I didn't think they'd pull even that off.

I think the next steps are doable.

[Subdivisions]

121. Agreed! Fear not for they shall have their

victory over this ghastly beast! Well, at least enough to capture lots of the oil. =)