Watch the BP ROV Under Sea Cams! Thread #20!

[NYC_SKP]

Continued from Thread #19, here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8482744&mesg_id=8482744



It's a new day, we're waiting for full implementation of the current contingency plan. :scared:

Latest Kent Wells explanation of Top Hat and Oil Extraction (June 3 posting): http://bp.concerts.com/gom/lmrp6_060310.htm

And the new multi-view ROV page: http://bp.isevil.org

The latest TheOilDrum thread: http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6558

Other useful links (thanks to all who've contributed):

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

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

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

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

A couple of helpful graphics to explain what you're looking at, oil plume permitting:





And, finally, proof that

DU is on this project:



:hi:

:patriot:

[Junkdrawer]

1. Engineering Question: How can you "pump" a gas/oil mixture?

And if pumping is ineffectual, then all you can do is provide an up path, through 1 mile of pipe, to the surface. And that would have to compete with the seals on the cap.

Isn't that what we're seeing?

[Durtrider]

2. Russian oil well nuked in the 60's

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

Pray that it never goes this far. :(

[Cleita]

6. They had a physicist on TV explaining why nuking wouldn't work for this

situation and could create a more toxic situation that would last not just years but centuries. Radiation would be in the food supply for as long. He is pretty well known and has a show on the Science channel, but I forget his name.

[Feron]

10. Is this it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_ZWgSGzF4w

Michio Kaku on Olbermann last night.

[Cleita]

20. Yeah, that's it.

I couldn't remember which show I saw it on. Also, the radioactive tar balls tossed in your swimming pool during a storm is another point.

[gateley]

30. Michio Kaku - fascinating, brilliant guy. He said if a hurricane came along, radioactive

tar balls would be blown onto the land, end up in swimming pools, etc. Anyway, you're right - no nuking in the Gulf! :hi:

[global1]

26. We Keep Hearing About "Nuking" The Oil Well To Shut It Down.....

now I'm not for using a 'nuclear device/atom bomb' - but surely we have other explosives that wouldn't spread radiation that can do the trick - don't we? What about those 'bunker busters' that Bush/Cheney had built?

[Cleita]

41. Watch the video on Feron's post #10, which explains why none of those options

will work.

[Junkdrawer]

3. And even if you could pump, wouldn't you have to pump in stages.....

I remember that in physics class (a LONG time ago) that water pumps in coal mines had to be staged in 33 ft sections.

[NYC_SKP]

5. Apples and Oranges...

Because we have a one-mile column of water wanting to push the oil up the pipe.

I think.

[Statistical]

23. Yup.

Where the seawater meets the seal you have water pushing in at 2500 psi.

If pumping reduces the resistance of oil/gas up the pipe to less than 2500 psi that is where most of it will flow.
Working fluids (and yes that includes gases) are "lazy" they always go where it requires the least amount of work.

The pumps in essence don't need to pump the fluid to the surface. They simply need to make the pipe to the surface the "easiest" path.

Most of the "pumping" is done by the earth.

[NYC_SKP]

4. Great Questions. I've got to read up on these, but...

I've read that the technique will take advantage of the differences in density between oil and seawater, and the pressure differential between sea level and one mile down.

That pumps, per se, aren't needed (except for the hot water, methanol, etc.)

There were some good discussions on theoildrum threads.

:hi:

[Lochloosa]

7. I agree. The oil is going to go UP without the help of pumps.

It's hard to grasp the amount of pressure 1 mile deep. And that's at the start of the well head. The hole is another 3 miles deep with the earths crust pressing down on the oil.

[HughMoran]

9. Here's a good post from the Oil Drum that might be helpful:

"To lay out some basics plain and clear:

Once the riser is filled with oil and gas there will likely be no pumping needed to get the flow going up the riser so long as it does not clog with clathrates. The density of the material in the riser will be much less than the density of the surrounding seawater which all by itself will provide a strong suction at the lower end of the riser (static pressure outside pipe much higher than static pressure inside pipe).

The challenge will be to control this suction by regulating the flow so that it draws in as much oil as possible without also sucking in seawater.

They want a somewhat leaky seal. The reason for this is so that they can be sure it is not sucking in seawater. They will have to allow some leakage of oil out the bottom as an indicator that they have accomplished this. An almost-but-not-quite watertight seal, such as would likely be the result of efforts to make a truly watertight seal under those conditions, would be the worst option. It would be very easy to allow the pressure at the junction to drop too low so that it sucked water in through the small leaks. This water would rapidly form clathrates with the methane and clog the riser. The clathrates would be stable under ambient conditions at that depth, so they would have to be cleaned out before pumping could be resumed. Meanwhile static pressures in the well below the clog would increase dramatically, possibly leading to an even worse blowout.

Believe it or not, they really have thought this plan through. No guarantee of success, but they are not just slapping things together mindlessly on the fly as some seem to think.
"

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6558#more

[Junkdrawer]

22. Interesting discussion. Thanks. n/t

[HughMoran]

33. Very interesting - the follow-on posts are very informative - people please read it!

starting here -> http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6558#comment-639943

[flamingdem]

8. Is the flow going to be further contained? They are only capturing 1000 per day

Will that number increase as they close the vents? The BP people have NOT mentioned the vents. Wonder if there is a problem.


UPDATE 1-BP's cap funneling oil to the surface-Coast Guard
Fri Jun 4, 2010 10:07am EDT
Related News


* BP hopes cap will eventually capture 90 pct of oil

(Adds quotes, details, byline)

By Kristen Hays

HOUSTON, June 4 (Reuters) - BP Plc.'s containment cap over its stricken Gulf of Mexico well is collecting about 1,000 barrels per day, the top U.S. official overseeing the cleanup effort said on Friday.

A top BP (BP.L) (BP.N) executive overseeing containment efforts told CNN earlier that as that collection rate increases, it could corral "90-plus percent" of the oil.

One thousand barrels is a small fraction of the 19,000 barrels per day that the U.S. government has estimated could be gushing from the well, but the amount should increase as BP closes vents at the bottom of the cap to trap more oil, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen told reporters in a conference call.

"Sometime later today we'll probably be able to get ... an approximation of how much oil we are capturing," he said.

The containment cap is BP's latest attempt to trap oil, after its' "top kill" plan to plug the well failed on Saturday. BP's strategy is now to trap the oil at the well and funnel it to a tanker on the surface until it can drill a relief well to staunch the flow, which could take until mid-August.

Doug Suttles, BP's chief operating officer of exploration and production, told CNN earlier on Friday that the containment cap "should work."

"I'd like to see us capture 90-plus percent of this flow," Suttles said. "I think that's possible with this design."

Both Allen and Suttles said BP would continue working to seal the cap on jagged remnants of a pipe on equipment at the wellhead.

"Of course what we have to do is work through the next 24 or 48 hours to optimize that. But that would be the goal ... We want to stop this oil from spilling to the sea," Suttles said.

Suttles was the first BP official to publicly discuss the cap -- its latest attempt after a series of failures to try to contain a gushing oil and gas leak in the Gulf of Mexico.

BP spent Thursday lowering the cap onto the jagged remnants of a pipe that had been sheared from the top of equipment at the wellhead.

A rubber seal on the bottom of the cap is intended to capture most of the oil, but some is still expected to escape.

Meanwhile, drilling continues on two relief wells expected to intercept and plug the leaking well far beneath the seabed. Drilling began May 2 on the first relief well and May 16 on a second. Both are expected to be finished in August. (Additional reporting by Chris Baltimore in Houston, editing by Alan Elsner)

[spanone]

13. by cutting the pipe, i'll bet they increased the flow by well over 1,000 barrels a day

[Moosepoop]

14. BP is talking about the vents.

Check the CNN link in post #12. I think it's just a matter of reporting and editing differences.

[flamingdem]

25. "The amount has not stabilized, we must wait 2 more days" - BP report

Why is this not making me feel optimistic?

"They want to enhance what they already put on"

[Moosepoop]

38. What report is this from?

I'd like to read it, but I can't find those quotes anywhere.

[Feron]

11. I wonder why that ROV is hanging around that unused cap...

on the seabed floor. They seem to be examining it?

[HughMoran]

15. I've been watching that feed too - what's up with that?

I was thinking that perhaps they might use it as a starting point for an improved version of what they have on there now? It can't be used now since it was designed for a clean cut riser pipe. Unless they're thinking of removing the current cap and attempting another wire cut? Who the hell knows...

[Feron]

28. I love the sign on that cap's container...

"DO NOT FLIP WHEN FULL"

Duh!!! :P

Perhaps they are going to send that cap topside today to join the cofferdam, CRAW, and the DSaw.

[meow mix]

31. its been speculated that another cap will be used do to the gushing

and they are probally building new models as we speak.

[Feron]

40. I would hope so...

This cap is beginning to look like a drinking straw in a firehose.

[Feron]

39. It looks like they just lifted up the old cap..

Now the ROV is hanging out in the cap staging area.

[spanone]

12. bp is declaring victory.....siphoning off 1,000 barrels a day

looks like it's flowing more than ever


Breaking News: Oil successfully being siphoned from ruptured undersea well to ship on surface, BP says...www.cnn.com

[bdamomma]

16. nt

I don't like seeing this.

http://edition.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=str

[Moosepoop]

18. Yes, it is flowing heavily.

They haven't closed the vents yet. They'll be doing that today. Hopefully, that will decrease the flow significantly.

[NYC_SKP]

21. I'm not even going to read that. CNN, BP, which is the bigger liar? One Barrel Every Second...

And maybe Two.

Every second.

1000 barrels is a drop in the bucket, but every drop counts.

:patriot:

[spanone]

68. even if it's true it means N O T H I N G....a piss in the ocean

[lamp_shade]

17. present

[Subdivisions]

19. Man! I've not been getting enough sleep during all this. I just

now woke up! And I even went to bed earlier than usual last nite. I guess this old bod needed to do some catching up on its sleep.

I'm saddened that there still so much oil spilling out around that cap. Why haven't they hooked up all the hoses yet?

[jaxx]

24. Mornin everyone

I've had to read my way through what you posted while I was at work....good job! Lots of really good and new information. I see the oil is still heavy, but we were told to expect that, so I'm sure not going to give up hope that they can contain a lot of it...not all, they said that too.

Whoever posted about the ROV job....very interesting. Nerves of steel also required I'd think.

Do we have any kind of time line for closing the vents?

[NYC_SKP]

27. None that I've seen, jaxx.

You and the rest of the team, thanks.

I'm driving from Sacramento to Barstow today, going to be pretty busy tomorrow, too.

Maybe by the time I log back on in 7 hours or so there will be some progress.

:hi:

[jaxx]

29. Enjoy the day.

Due to the fact of life that I work, I'll be sleeping while you enjoy the scenery. LOL there is always something. I'll watch awhile and come back on later today.

:hi:

[Gin]

37. cant they separate the water from the oil at the collection point

at the ship? Costner's machine does that

I am just thinking simple....so forgive the question if its dumb

[gateley]

32. Wow, NYC_SKP - that video from Kent Wells is so helpful! Everybody, if you haven't

watch it, do!

http://bp.concerts.com/gom/lmrp6_060310.htm

It seems to me things are (to paraphrase Thad Allen) going to plan!

Thanks so much for #20!

:hi:

[jaxx]

34. Glad you reposted that, I had missed it.

People are thinking this is the end of the capping try, and it's only the start.

[gateley]

44. It went a long way in helping me understand and easing my mind. nt

[Morning Dew]

42. Thanks for posting this!

[gateley]

45. Thanks to NYC_SKP. He's been watching for the update and posted the

link this morning. He also posted an earlier one (you can find the link the previous thread, link to previous thread is in OP) which gives a great explanation of the process.

I'm so grateful NYC_SKP "found" this guy.

[HughMoran]

35. People - please read the following link including all follow on posts

probably answer a lot of questions before you ask them (may not make sense for those who are not technically adept) http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6558#comment-639943

[Subdivisions]

49. Good stuff on that site, Hugh. And more about oil than anyone

would ever want to know.

[gateley]

36. CNN is devoting more time to the BP Gulf Gusher than MSNBC, FYI. Was there

a press conference this morning? (Why don't you go look, gateley? Okay, I will!)

[Cleita]

43. Some speculation on this thread that CNN sold out to BP for access.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8484715

To be accurate though, CNN has more resources than it's poor cousin MSNBC for more news coverage. However, Rachel is down in the Gulf and she's giving excellent up to date coverage. Unfortunately, she is only on for an hour tonight. They probably should give her five minute updates every hour since she's there to report.

[gateley]

46. From the scathing reports AC was giving, I'd question the selling out. And just

now a reporter was showing glop that BP wouldn't like to have aired. Good point about MSNBC not being the behemoth that CNN is.

Rachel is doing an outstanding job! She was so pissed and disgusted yesterday. She even dissed the press corps awaiting Obama's arrival for hanging out in a bar doing shots.

And excellent suggestion about her giving updates, that would be great.

[jocapo]

47. Hurricane?

What happens to this system during a hurricane?

[gateley]

48. I know they have 'hurricane plans' in that area, but not sure how that will

affect this current operation, but I'm sure they've given it a lot of thought (the more oil that gushes free, the more $$$ they have to pay - that's their incentive). After hearing Michio Kaku yesterday, and seeing on Rachel's show how much is NOT being cleaned up, I'm concerned about this dispersant-laden glop being blown onto land.

[Individualist]

50. and it will undoubtedly work as well as this plan...

(Note the date of May 10.)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/may/11/bp-transocean-halliburton-blame-deepwater-horizon-senate

[jocapo]

55. Hurricane?

I heard someone on the news explaining that when a hurricane moves into the gulf the drilling platforms are put on "auto-pilot" and abandoned. Because there will be a "drilling ship" instead of a platform at the top of this riser couldn't this entire operation be blown apart? I'm assuming a drilling ship can't be put on auto pilot, does anyone know?
Obviously it depends on the intensity of the storm but I'm trying to understand how precarious this fix will be.

[jaxx]

52. Seems like I read they shut it down and get away from the hurricane.

It'll leak more, but they'll go back and hook up when it's safe for the workers to be offshore again.

[Subdivisions]

51. Well, everyone, thank you all for this epic thread series and for

the comaraderie. I've gotta take a break from the world for a couple days. So, I'm going camping and a family reunion for the weekend - waaaayyyy out in the boonies. By the time I get back, either this nightmare will have been somewhat abated (provided the contraption they're dealing with now works as advertised), the leak will have been stopped completely, or you guys will be on thread #30.

I wish you all well, I wish the ROV team best results, and I'll see you all again sometime Sunday evening.

[jaxx]

53. Have a wonderful time.

That is probably the thing most of us should do, get away from it for awhile. But it's hard. You have a ready made reason. We'll keep you posted. :-)

[HughMoran]

54. have fun

I think I need a break too - lol

[Feron]

56. Have a good time! nt

[gateley]

57. We'll miss you - have a WONDERFUL time! Here's hoping for the best!! nt

[gateley]

58. So guys, as you understand it, are we essentially just waiting for the flow rate

to stabilize so we can close the vents?

[Bryn]

59. Bump!

didn't want to see this going down. My life depends on those threads! I've been reading and watching.

:hi:

[gateley]

60. Although nobody answered my question, I THINK we're just waiting for the

oil flow pressure to stabilize before we begin diverting it to the ship. ("we?") Did you see the video NYC_SKP linked to in the OP with the June 3 update from BP? Very informative.

[tekisui]

64. From reading The Oil Drum, they are getting some oil up top.

But, the consensus seems to be that the increase in flow due to cutting the riser is greater than what they are getting. In other words, they have (again) made it worse. They are capturing less than the increase.

[gateley]

66. But I think this is what they anticipated until they are able to close the vents.

This is the "temporary" increase they referred to so it stands to reason the flow is greater than the capture at this point. The anchor on CNN just said we could know by the end of the day if this attempt has been successful. I'll keep hoping until/unless they say it was a failure. One thing I've learned is that it takes so long to accomplish each step, so I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet. Yet.

[gateley]

61. Any idea what this is? It's a guy walking around on, I'm guessing, a ship??

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

[HughMoran]

62. lol - yep - ROV up on ship with cam on

forgot to turn it off :D

[gateley]

63. Maybe ROV turned himself back on for his fans on DU! nt

[gateley]

65. Once they close the vents we'll know how much oil we can capture. Possible

problem - not being to close vents fully due to pressure. This from an expert on CNN just now. The anchor said we could know by the end of the day if we can consider it a success. Patience!

[HughMoran]

67. I'm losing patience

:(

[gateley]

70. Never mind - I just posted the same thing that I did in the post you responded to.

I'm seriously thinking about a nap.

[gateley]

69. THREAD # 21 - In hopeful anticipation those vents will be closed soon!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8486890