Comments on Some Recent Oil Spill News Items, Including the Dome

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

Found this article at "The Oil Drum", www.theoildrum.com.

Explains the Dome system.

This is for info only. I'm leaving my own opinions out. Well just one .... It collects 85% of the leaked oil ... What about the rest? That's a lot of 15% floating around.

Comments on Some Recent Oil Spill News Items, Including the Dome
Posted by Heading Out on May 4, 2010 - 11:25am
Topic: Environment/Sustainability
Tags: bp, oil spill
Today, I have just a few comments on recent oil spill news items.

The steel and concrete containment dome that is the first of the three systems that BP hope will be able to cap the leaking riser has been built and will be shipped out today. There are three points at which the riser is leaking oil. The main leak is some 600 ft from the well head apparently. Part of the concern as to how well it will work, even if it does get put in place by the end of the week, lies with the relatively soft seabed at the point where the cap will be placed.

Nate Hagens has a good description of what is intended, showing the plan for capping each leak:

More at this link, including pictures of the Dome and its workings

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6430#more

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Pic:

[earthside]

2. Erosion?

What's to prevent the pressure from the gusher eroding the sediments around the bottom of the 'dome' and toppling it over ... assuming it even gets put in the right place?

Of course, somehow they've got to get the 'dome' exactly over the gusher and lower it without the spewing pressure of the oil sending it twirling so that it misses the target.

The 'dome' idea seems like a good one in theory, but frankly, I'm not too optimistic that this is going to work.

[global1]

3. Not Really A Dome Is It....

I picture a Buckminster Fuller type dome - rounded - half circle - wider on the bottom. This is just a rectangular box. Seems to me it would be harder to place on a fissure 5000ft below the surface of the water. Also - it looks kind of top heavy. I would like to see this work - but I'm not too hopeful.

[paparush]

4. That was my first thought. Once this "dome" fills with oil, isn't the pressure just going to lift

it off? Is the flow going up through the dome's vent pipe enough to equalize the pressure from the oil coming up out of the seabed and can they anchor this thing well enough to hold it in place?