More BP oil spill suggestions from our readers

BP Oil Spill Suggestions Continue to Arrive

We’ve had several more suggestions to fix the oil leak or limit the damage from the BP oil spill. If you want to join in the conversation, the quickest way is to post a comment. You may also send your suggestion to us using the Contact Form on this page.

Laura writes:

Hi – I had a thought while doing the dishes… I had an oil mass in the water of my sink and added the dish soap. Immediatly after, the oil moved away from the soap. I know they are using the boui system to keep the oil from getting to the coastline…. would it be possible to add soap to that containment barrier and it would then deter it from coming in?

Additionally, if there was a way to do this, maybe the boui and soap could be dragged around oil spill area(s) to get the oil more contained and use a water suction process to get the oil up? I’m sure there are alot of ideas coming in… maybe this could work?

Pietro writes:

May I suggest you a possible solution to stop the oil spill as an alternative to the useless method of sucking the oil plume, my suggestion is: to inject inside the broken pipe, by mean of a proper umbilical pipe leaded by the ROV (Remote Operating Vehicle) a special mix of expansive hygroscopic resins, chemically compatible either with sea water and oil, with very short hardening time, such to create a plug sufficient to resist to the pressure (oil/gas) in a manner to interrupt the flow. I’ve much more details to provide you and then, if you are interested to this method, pls contact me…

Anyway, crossing fingers, I wish you all the best to succed to find out a prompt solution.

With my best regards, Pietro Lodovigi

Michael writes:

I have an idea for fixing leak in the gulf. Have a molded rubber funnel with ribbed inside, to fit around the outside of pipe.

If the rubber piece can be pushed on pipe maybe two to three feet,with the ribs well over the break, with the pressure from the sea, I think it would work. The rubber would need to be pretty thick to prevent it from colapsing. The other end would be clamped to pipe going to the surface.

Would like to hear back if this has been thought of.

Worked in a refinery in Texas for many years .

Gary writes:

I see you inserted a pipe into the leaking oil pipe. Why don’t you fix a ring on the suction pipe attached to a Kevlar bladder that the suction pipe runs through? The other end of the bladder is fixed to a sliding ring on the pipe. Against this bladder is a compressed spring, over the suction pipe, held in place with a pin that can be pulled from the inside. A cable runs down the inside of the pipe to the pin out a valve that the robot submersible could pull. When the pin is pulled the spring pushed the bladder swelling it like a donut to seal off the leaking oil pipe. I have sent ideas using this principle to seal off the whole pipe.

Bill writes:

Just just thought it would repeat my thoughts on this page about the oil spill.

Treat it in a similar way as an oil blowout on land:

First lower the large cylinder called a “top hat “without the top on it.

Then lower the top part that has a pipe and valve attached to it to cover the open “top hat” the oil flow with its velocity and temperature should stop the “ice” from forming. Then close the valve fully or partially enough to attach additional pipe segments to the surface.

Some added ideas are to incorporate in inverted U space in the first piece lowered that should be directed over the existing healthy pipe part on the ocean floor so as not to crush it.

Also the top piece could have a side lip to it to make it easier to put on the bottom unit.

The top piece could/should be bolted down using pre-drilled holes, and metal threaded inserts if this unit is made out of concrete. Additionally the bottom piece(our large circular “top hat “as is well known by now) could have flanges on the bottom so it could be additionally secured to the ocean floor by large metal stakes with course threads such as used in home flooring nails.

BILL G GLICKMAN

glickzev@aol.com

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