Post your ideas for stopping the Gulf oil leak.

If they think can stick a tube in the leaky pipe and fill a tanker...

Why can't they insert a "balloon" into the pipe and inflate it? If the pipe is too leaky, cut the pipe off before any leaks, then insert the "balloon". If nothing else, it will buy time for a more permanent fix.

Anyone else have a better idea, let's hear 'em?

Using nuclear explosives runs the risk of blowing the top off the oil dome and really making a mess. To say nothing about the leak being only 30 miles off shore. Tidal wave anyone?

I don't think we have the knowledge or technology to stop it.

I'm not an engineer, but that is generally what I've gotten out of what I've read.

Australia) in much shallower water, it took five tries.

:dem:

under the surface of the water. I don't think there'd be a tidal wave. The Navy had (has?) nuclear depth charges, I don't think they plan(ned) on sinking their own ships.....

Waterboarding: XXtreme style.

Want to see them suddenly take an interest in safety? Make their safety a part of it all :)

about a metal mechanical seal. If anyone ever worked in a steel mill it would be similar to a mandrel that goes in a steel coil. It is a round spool made up of four segments, you place it in the pipe and expand it with a hydraulic cylinder or a cone shaped wedge device. It would expand against the pipe wall and seal off the leak. Another example of the principle would be a drill chuck.

One is a variation of the other.

It makes a lot more sense than a f---g nuke.

Drill a 100 ft hole adjacent to the oil hole and insert a high explosive charge in it. Then set off the charge collapsing the oil hole and the pipe in it. Cheap and relatively easy.

but he has lost weight. So he is useless in that respect too.

:shrug:

hey why not?

and Cheney for good measure

Nobody wrote back.

I don't think a nuke would necessarily result in a tidal wave but it would contaminate a huge area and wouldn't necessarily make the leak situation any better.

A big geyser of water or a satellite view of that area of the gulf turning white momentarily from the explosion would sell more ads on TV.

I bet he could come up with something--get the guys from the Titanic crew and their toys on the case. They aren't lame like those Transocean/BP nimrods.

He like stopped an asteroid right

Cut off the top of the drill stem, yes it will create a larger flow to begin with. Second, clamp funnel device to the top of the tree(think of in flight refueling). Third, have several chokes(think of shotgun choke). Start with a choke that is roughly 1" thick. Set it like a "side track kick out". The cleats will lock to the side of the drill pipe. Keep setting smaller and smaller diameter chokes until you can put a valve on the end of the pipe and close it without causing a water hammer effect and blowing out the pipe.

MHO. Might work, might not.

... :popcorn:

He will act as a huge sponge.

You Have To Check This MSNBC Video Out About The 'sucking up of the oil' in this video here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/37159321#37159380

the specifics are that there are several American Companies that have notified the BP and the Coast Guard and Others that they have the technology to suck up to 3,500 gallons of oil up per minute in some devices, and even filter the water from the oil. The gentlemen said that this process was used in the Alaskan Oil Spoil I believe and it was actually worse than this Gulf Coast disaster, personally I don't remember the Alaskan spill I probably wasn't born yer,I know there is a shit load of oil out there but sucking up 3500 gallons of oil per minute could essentially get a majority of the oil out according to the report. Also, sponge like blankets that will absorb 50 times its weight in oil, I believe the logic of these technologies make sense. The article is from the NBC Nightly News site somewhere. I watched it at 6:30 on TV and its the most logical solution ive ever heard of,its definitely interesting to say the least.

Long, tapered, threaded stainless steel screw, with tapered pilot (think drift pin) that allow it to use the existing well as a guide.

The oil companies already have the ability to turn a drill at this depth, they should be able adapt the equipment to turn a screw.