Re: Oil Spill...can someone explain this to me?

[Kim&Chris]

I'm confused. How is it that we can watch the oil gush via live webcam, but it can't be plugged? Not trying to be sarcastic, but I really don't understand this. They found the Titanic, but they can't plug this.

 

[akcire]

I'm confused. How is it that we can watch the oil gush via live webcam, but it can't be plugged? Not trying to be sarcastic, but I really don't understand this. They found the Titanic, but they can't plug this.

I could explain it, but I would need charts and graphs and an easel. (I am being sarcastic).

From an engineering stand point the biggest problem is the pressure and speed at which the oil is rushing upward. The upward pressure can sheer/bend metal--think a sort of oily fluid knife. Add to that hazard, the fact that the leak is under essentially a mile of water. Finally the biggest problem, the oil has value.

There is a pretty easy effective way to stop the oil flow, but it would mean making the oil unable to be collected in future. The Russians used low level nuclear weapons four or five times when they had out of control natural gas mines. The value of the oil, prevents the destruction of the well.

**I am not a big nuclear advocate, however I am also not a fan of dead and oil coated wildlife.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I'm still trying to figure out why it is being called a spill when it is more like a giant gusher or a very large eruption.

 

[loveadobie]

There is a pretty easy effective way to stop the oil flow, but it would mean making the oil unable to be collected in future. The Russians used low level nuclear weapons four or five times when they had out of control natural gas mines. The value of the oil, prevents the destruction of the well.

**I am not a big nuclear advocate, however I am also not a fan of dead and oil coated wildlife.

I am not sure BP is really trying to kill the well, or leave it for future use.

A concern of the nuclear bomb idea would be, during hurricane season would radioactive material in the water be distributed over all the Gulf of Mexico states.

Radioactive Tar Balls.

 

[bicker]

I'm confused. How is it that we can watch the oil gush via live webcam, but it can't be plugged?

Filming something is passive; capping a gusher is active: It is a lot easier to take photos of a building engulfed in fire than it is to put the fire out; a lot easier to watch the Boston Marathon on television than the run the race.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I could explain it, but I would need charts and graphs and an easel. (I am being sarcastic).

From an engineering stand point the biggest problem is the pressure and speed at which the oil is rushing upward. The upward pressure can sheer/bend metal--think a sort of oily fluid knife. Add to that hazard, the fact that the leak is under essentially a mile of water. Finally the biggest problem, the oil has value.

There is a pretty easy effective way to stop the oil flow, but it would mean making the oil unable to be collected in future. The Russians used low level nuclear weapons four or five times when they had out of control natural gas mines. The value of the oil, prevents the destruction of the well.

**I am not a big nuclear advocate, however I am also not a fan of dead and oil coated wildlife.

The Russians did incredible damage to their natural environment, look at the region around Chernobyl, and the tragedy of Lake Baikal. I'm not a fan of dead and oil coated wildlife either, but I wouldn't assume that because they did it it was in any way a good idea.