Why won't this work?

[Ex Lurker]

1. Dump several tons of concrete rubble on top of the leak. Maybe dozens of tons, maybe a hundred or more. This won't stop the oil, but it will break the high pressure jet into a lot of little leaks, none of which will be under much pressure.

2. Cover it with a layer of fast drying cement. Again, this may not get all the leaks, but it will get some.

3. Repeat step 2 as many times as necessary until there are no more leaks.

4. Monitor the site and patch any seepage as needed.

This is clearly not a permanent solution, but maybe it will last long enough to finish the relief well. What's wrong with this idea? Anybody?

[jp11]

1. I believe this is basically their next step, but using some mud + concrete shoved in the blow out

preventer valve since it is on top of the well head limiting the flow escaping if it was not there. Now why this wasn't tried first I don't know, perhaps too 'last ditch' maybe they had better hopes for the other methods or maybe it had to do with trying to capture the oil over stopping it again I don't know I haven't read everything that has been put out there to know why one method was tried before another or over this or that.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-05-22/bp-may-attempt-to-plug-oil-leak-with-mud-next-week-update1-.html

[nenagh]

2. If you think of shaking a bottle of a soft drink until it is fizzy..

it is safer to put a straw in first to reduce the pressure in the bottle, before totally plugging up the bottle..

especially if you think that the 'bottle' is weak in places.

They are concerned that applying too much pressure too fast etc. at the top will blow out the well completely is my understanding...