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Gulf Oil Spill 2010
- Thread starter bronconick
- Start date
Patman
Rodent of Unusual Size
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
if they've got it capped then why mess with it?
I suppose its only silly to expect the folly to end any time soon.
if they've got it capped then why mess with it?
I suppose its only silly to expect the folly to end any time soon.
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
The logic is that a flowing well is under less stress than a potentially damaged one that's capped and under a lot of pressure.
The cap still isn't a permanent solution. That is and always has been the relief wells.
That said, I gather that some seepage around wells is quite common even under ideal circumstances, so who knows.
The logic is that a flowing well is under less stress than a potentially damaged one that's capped and under a lot of pressure.
The cap still isn't a permanent solution. That is and always has been the relief wells.
That said, I gather that some seepage around wells is quite common even under ideal circumstances, so who knows.
Patman
Rodent of Unusual Size
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
I suppose I'd just like for more to be said... to me the sounds of things sounded like the "big solution" came through... not that this was a piecemeal part in advance of further things.
I suppose I'd just like for more to be said... to me the sounds of things sounded like the "big solution" came through... not that this was a piecemeal part in advance of further things.
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
I don't think they (BP and the Gov't) have ever said such a thing. The cap was designed to better funnel oil to the recovery ships on the surface and has valves to shut things off in case of a hurricane or something, but it was never going to be a permanent solution. The permanent solution is and always has been the relief wells. Ergo, if the powers that be think keeping the valve closed is more risky than simply opening them and capturing that oil, so be it - that doesn't change the eventual solution to the problem.
I don't think they (BP and the Gov't) have ever said such a thing. The cap was designed to better funnel oil to the recovery ships on the surface and has valves to shut things off in case of a hurricane or something, but it was never going to be a permanent solution. The permanent solution is and always has been the relief wells. Ergo, if the powers that be think keeping the valve closed is more risky than simply opening them and capturing that oil, so be it - that doesn't change the eventual solution to the problem.
Kepler
Cornell Big Red
Kepler
Cornell Big Red
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
It may just be me, but I don't really think the correct answer to engineering problems depends on popular vote. Of course, I don't think the correct answer to medical or evolutionary biology problems depends on popular vote, either.
It may just be me, but I don't really think the correct answer to engineering problems depends on popular vote. Of course, I don't think the correct answer to medical or evolutionary biology problems depends on popular vote, either.
dxmnkd316
Lucia Apologist
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
Right, and I didn't mean to imply that. I meant a consensus between the scientists and engineers involved.
Edit:
Actually, that brings up a question (and probably a stupid one):
If the government forces BP to remove the cap, who is responsible for that oil? I'm guessing BP, but I could see a case where BP says that the cap is holding and no oil is getting out (that we are aware of) and by forcing them to remove the cap, the government is essentially "forcing" them to spill more oil. One could draw an analogy to a cop forcing you to speed and then pull you over for it. Bad analogy, I know, but I couldn't think of a better one.
It may just be me, but I don't really think the correct answer to engineering problems depends on popular vote. Of course, I don't think the correct answer to medical or evolutionary biology problems depends on popular vote, either.
Right, and I didn't mean to imply that. I meant a consensus between the scientists and engineers involved.
Edit:
Actually, that brings up a question (and probably a stupid one):
If the government forces BP to remove the cap, who is responsible for that oil? I'm guessing BP, but I could see a case where BP says that the cap is holding and no oil is getting out (that we are aware of) and by forcing them to remove the cap, the government is essentially "forcing" them to spill more oil. One could draw an analogy to a cop forcing you to speed and then pull you over for it. Bad analogy, I know, but I couldn't think of a better one.
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walrus
Wind up workin' in a gas station
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
I saw a clip on the news where oil/gas is coming out 1.8 miles from the well. Didn't hear if they were blaming it on the well or not
I saw a clip on the news where oil/gas is coming out 1.8 miles from the well. Didn't hear if they were blaming it on the well or not
huskyfan
New member
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
the government is saying its not related. but there is a lot of buzz on the internet that the wellbore is leaking so badly and the cap is putting more pressure on it and its blowing out the sides into the seabed. a fair amount of doomday types think the whole thing could erupt in a toxic cloud that could kill thousands.
the government is saying its not related. but there is a lot of buzz on the internet that the wellbore is leaking so badly and the cap is putting more pressure on it and its blowing out the sides into the seabed. a fair amount of doomday types think the whole thing could erupt in a toxic cloud that could kill thousands.
walrus
Wind up workin' in a gas station
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
They show live shots of the area, I don't see much going on when I see the live video?
There was talk of some methane exploding and causing a tsunami. That would suck
They show live shots of the area, I don't see much going on when I see the live video?
There was talk of some methane exploding and causing a tsunami. That would suck
bigblue_dl
Armed
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
That sounds like complete BS. Seriously, how much methane would it take to create that much energy? I mean, we used to detonate atomic weapons under the Pacific Ocean and it didn't cause tsunamis, how the hell would methane come close to producing that much power?
Handyman
Hug someone you care about...
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
There are articles on it like a page or two back...and while it most likely wont happen it is quite possible considering the amount of methane that is under the Gulf.
That sounds like complete BS. Seriously, how much methane would it take to create that much energy? I mean, we used to detonate atomic weapons under the Pacific Ocean and it didn't cause tsunamis, how the hell would methane come close to producing that much power?
There are articles on it like a page or two back...and while it most likely wont happen it is quite possible considering the amount of methane that is under the Gulf.
ExileOnDaytonStreet
Drunkard
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
Did anyone trademark the joke about the Earth farting and killing millions of people? Because if not, then I'm calling dibs.
Did anyone trademark the joke about the Earth farting and killing millions of people? Because if not, then I'm calling dibs.
Patman
Rodent of Unusual Size
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
but some of those stories are worst case suppositions... now, the nerd in me would be geeked out if it did happen and simultaneously horrified that it did (see Katrina) but to me that sounds like one of those "well, if they all happened together" type of deals.
but some of those stories are worst case suppositions... now, the nerd in me would be geeked out if it did happen and simultaneously horrified that it did (see Katrina) but to me that sounds like one of those "well, if they all happened together" type of deals.
Kepler
Cornell Big Red
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
Like this.
It's not an energy release that's the problem, it's the sudden displacement of all oxygen. Essentially, it's a giant halon system, and people go out along with the fire.
However, both together, combined with a giant shark, would make a fairly tame SyFy Channel movie.
Like this.
It's not an energy release that's the problem, it's the sudden displacement of all oxygen. Essentially, it's a giant halon system, and people go out along with the fire.
However, both together, combined with a giant shark, would make a fairly tame SyFy Channel movie.
Handyman
Hug someone you care about...
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
Well of course, but blue seemed to be of the belief that it is a ridiculous notion which it is not. I mean it has happened before, just in this case it would take something catastrophic for it to happen.
It is just like the caldera under Yellowstone, sooner or later it is going to blow and it will screw up most of North America...it just wont do it now
Well of course, but blue seemed to be of the belief that it is a ridiculous notion which it is not. I mean it has happened before, just in this case it would take something catastrophic for it to happen.
It is just like the caldera under Yellowstone, sooner or later it is going to blow and it will screw up most of North America...it just wont do it now
bigblue_dl
Armed
Re: Gulf Oil Spill 2010
The way I look at it is, yeah if we're talking about a monstrous pocket of methane, that exists under a huge chunk of the Gulf of Mexico, exploding, yes, I could see that having the effect that was talked about earlier. I was thinking along the lines of a pocket of methane under this particular well building up pressure and exploding, that would not be violent enough to cause a giant tsunami. We're just looking at the suggested disaster with a different scale.Well of course, but blue seemed to be of the belief that it is a ridiculous notion which it is not. I mean it has happened before, just in this case it would take something catastrophic for it to happen.
It is just like the caldera under Yellowstone, sooner or later it is going to blow and it will screw up most of North America...it just wont do it now