Shortly after publishing five unsolicited suggestions for dealing with BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill, we received another suggestion. Keith Schulz contacted us, gave us permission to post his name, and made the following suggestion:
“I work in the industry as a technical specialist and have an idea I would like to present. I am suggesting using a device we use called a clock spring to seal off the leak. This device is a spiral wrapped piece of metal which could be wrapped around the leak site and either slow or stop the oil from escaping. We have used this device for repairs on our pipelines and have had success. Please E-mail or call me if I can help assist.”
Keep sending ideas of ways to deal with the Gulf oil spill, and we’ll keep posting them. (here is a link to a picture of the Clock Spring Keith sent us):
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
build a balloon or air bladder or water bladder that can be inserted in the hole and inflated til it seals it off
Cyrogenics and Vacuum Technology.
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The idea is to drill another well close to the current one where the spill is occurring. Then introduce a Co-axial pipe made of steel and tungsten so that it can withstand the pressure. Pump Liquid Nitrogen and have it circulating in the outer pipe , which is closed, so that oil doesn’t enter the outer pipe. and the inner tube at low air pressure, so that it doesn’t buckle. Liquid Nitrogen is inert and hence doesn’t react. Also, it is cold enough, i.e., 77K (K for Kelvin) or (-196Celcius) or (-321Farenheit). Then slowly suck out the air from the inner pipe so that the oil is re-directed into the pipe. Because of the pipe being at a very low temperature and also low pressure, the flow of oil is slowed down. It can be collected or the newly drilled hole can be capped for a later use.
I just sent this idea to http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com, where they have a suggestion form to complete.
Install a plug made up of the materials in a tampon the expansion could temperarily slow the flow to allow for a perminant seal to be installed.
They have been plugging pipes for decades
Create a significant enough explosion at the point of the well that would collapse the area in on itself.
How to diminish oil escape in the Mexican Gulf destroyed rig?
You may place around the casing pipes, but not in the very vicinity of them, a rng of cumulative charges directed of its explosion down to the ocean bottom. Because of a good compressibility o escaping oil containing gases the explosion should cause, in the ocean bottom a shock pressure wave, and, due to it, reduce the diameter of the casing pipe near its upper end. This will reduce the cuantity of eccaping oil.
The distance between the pipe and the circle of cumulative charges should be determined first in a field experiments in one of the BP or military laboratory in the shallow water or in a pool.
Sncerely yours,
Julian Mejewski
There was an error in my signature of my comment May 31, 2010 at 1:51 am. The right signature should be: Julian Majewski.
use a 300 ton hydraulic press fitted with a proper die [top and bottom one on ram one on table .All hydraulic lines to ram guarded . controls to press on surface.lower press in a horizontal position around existing pipe.
next- pipe that was used to try to plug well to be fitted with a pipe flange.wrap pipe with a lynatex type rubber not to exceed the flange.
( this type of rubber is used in the minening industry to line ball mills).
lower pipe inside the leaking well pipe to location of the presses die.
activate press untill it squeeses well pipe around flange,sealing well
Enerpac,drake, national are justa few companies that have presess.
First, Golf balls, then trying to recap it with something that will just barely fit in, given the fact that this is pressurized oil coming out of the damage pipe is impossible. If BP cannot recap it from the outer part of the pipe, why not use a cone shape design with rubberized material around it to plug it. If the U.S can built a 60 ton tank, so why can’t we built a 60 tons + cone shape object to plug it and there is no way the pressurized oil will push it out of the way because it’s just like an external aerodynamics when it goes in. No perfect realignment needed. BP can even have the option of placing a hollow opening in the middle of the cone shape plug to attach a new pipe and control valve to close or open it to release oil pressure or oil. Just a suggestion but I do believe that it will work or at least contain the major oil flow.