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Thursday Afternoon Music: Elvis Costello, 'Monkey to Man'

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reine.de.tout5/06/2010 2:44:29 pm PDT

re: #11 Rightwingconspirator

Well they are talking about ice hydrates forming at those depths in the pipe and clogging the line up from that big “lid” they are installing. Then if that line clogs you risk another blowout or a cessation of pumping. If I read correctly anyway.

Is this what you’re talking about?

First, crews need to properly position the four-story structure with the help of a remote-controlled robotic submarine. A steel pipe will then be attached to a tanker at the surface and connected to the top of the dome to move the oil.

That process presents several challenges because of the frigid water temperature — about 42 degrees Fahrenheit — and exceptionally high pressure at those depths. Those conditions could cause the pipe to clog with what are known in the drilling industry as “ice plugs.” To combat that problem, crews plan to continuously pump warm water and methanol down the pipe to dissolve the clogging.

They are also worried about the volatile cocktail of oil, gas and water when it arrives on the ship above. Engineers believe the liquids can be safely separated without an explosion.

“But of course we haven’t done this before, it’s very complex and we can’t guarantee it,” BP spokesman David Nicholas said Thursday.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said at a briefing in Biloxi, Miss., that officials were planning for the worst even though they hoped the device would work.