BP has followed up on their previous infographic about the intricacies of drilling a relief well near the existing spill with a new graphic showing how the “Riser Insertion Tube” is expected to work.
This system was designed to minimize the formation of gas hydrates at 5,000 feet below the surface. Gas hydrates – similar to ice crystals – thwarted an earlier attempt to divert the flow of oil through a larger subsea containment dome.
The riser insertion tube will also have methanol injection to prevent the formation of gas hydrates in the ultra-deepwaters. The MMS and the Unified Area Command have approved use of methanol injections in this system.
In addition, the new riser will be heated with sea water to promote the flow of oil from the ocean floor to the drillship above. This is a commonly used practice in ultra-deepwater production because the temperatures at these water depths tend to stymie the flow of oil.
Click the image above for fullsize.
via Riser Insertion Tube Tool | Gulf of Mexico response | BP.
I just submitted an idea to the Horizon web site and I notice that it already is being considered. The idea is to use two coaxial pipes, thes epipes will be filled with sea water so as to minmise collapse due to pressure depth. The end of the pipe is sealed off with an appropriate bladder. made from high strentgth flexible neoprene. Warm water will keep the bladder at a temp that will retain its elsaticity and help to convert solid Hydrates to a gas. The pipe could be fairly small in dia say 3 inches, this is to minimise friction as the pipe enters the leaking source pipe. Once the pipe is inserted the bladder is blown up as quickly as possible? This of course would have to go up to an enormous pressure, the bladder would blow up and seal the source pipe, concrete could then be poured in from the top and allow to set for a number of days. Thus sealing the source pipe,
“…the temperatures at these water depths tend to stymie the flow of oil.”
vs. the title
“Gulf Oil Spill”
The temperatures at those depths… must not stymie it quite enough to keep it from pouring out hundreds of thousands of gallons per day.