Reply #12: Nukes aren't necessary...

[backscatter712]

Yes, this well needs to be stopped ASAP, but nuking it won't solve the problem.

To properly seal the well, they'll need to drill another hole, close to a mile deep, close to the well, and set the nuke off deep down. Otherwise, you're just making a big boom, contaminating the Gulf with nuclear fallout, and it might not even seal the well.

It takes time to drill that deep, and if that's what's needed, might as well drill a lot closer to the gusher, pump ANFO down there, and collapse the well with conventional explosives. Or follow BP's plan of drilling a relief well, so it can be capped that way.

Nukes won't really give us much that can't be done other ways, without making the Gulf radioactive...