Equipment used in BP operation

[Rubycon]

There is a video showing some kind of saw cutting a pipe.

Does anyone know about or where to read up on the equipment they are using? Namely the type of cutting tools, horsepower, driving (electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, etc.)?

This stuff is quite fascinating.

 

[deadlyapp]

Without going and viewing the video, I'm sure it's some sort of derivative of the modern day "jaws of life". Most hydraulic cutting tools don't need much more than a 100-150hp pump to drive the hydraulic fluid and the cutters are rather run of the mill.

This is based on my light experience with large scale milling machines that require very high torque while maintaining very accurate tolerances.

 

[dmcowen674]

There is a video showing some kind of saw cutting a pipe.

Does anyone know about or where to read up on the equipment they are using? Namely the type of cutting tools, horsepower, driving (electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, etc.)?

This stuff is quite fascinating.

Fascinating watching the Gulf become the Black Sea

 

[Rubycon]

Fascinating watching the Gulf become the Black Sea

Please don't drag this down with politics. I was referring to the tools used. That's like one being a fan of excavating equipment used in construction and you come along with the "they're turning our farmland into developments".

I don't care for either outcomes but like to discuss the tools of the trade, that is all.

 

[thescreensavers]

 

[Rubycon]

The one I was watching had a spinning blade like a cut off saw.

 

[dmcowen674]

Please don't drag this down with politics. I was referring to the tools used. That's like one being a fan of excavating equipment used in construction and you come along with the "they're turning our farmland into developments".

I don't care for either outcomes but like to discuss the tools of the trade, that is all.

The only thing really new and improved is the ROV's but still doesn't help.

Best thing they could have done and didn't was use the ROV's to detonate a bomb big enough to reseal the bottom of the sea.

 

[BoomerD]

The only thing really new and improved is the ROV's but still doesn't help.

Best thing they could have done and didn't was use the ROV's to detonate a bomb big enough to reseal the bottom of the sea.

Problem with the bomb theory is that it MIGHT make it much worse...just as the current fix MIGHT do. It's been speculated that once they get the pipe cut, the leak will become3 MUCH larger until the valves are fitted...if they can be fitted once the piece is cut. This lead could become a gusher for the next couple of months until the relief well is completed...if that works as advertised.

This is the rotary saw you were talking about:

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/20114329#video=20118027

Here's another one:

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/20114329#video=20117989

 

[DaTT]

Fascinating watching the Gulf become the Black Sea

Really?

 

[zinfamous]

I only thought of this now...but why isn't Rubycon fixing this problem...with lasers? She's probably no less qualified than the BP engineers. :hmm:



also, what ever happened to the redneck hay solution?

 

[coxmaster]

also, what ever happened to the redneck hay solution?

The hay isnt going to plug the hole..

 

[frostedflakes]

The only thing really new and improved is the ROV's but still doesn't help.

Best thing they could have done and didn't was use the ROV's to detonate a bomb big enough to reseal the bottom of the sea.

This isn't Mythbusters, and blowing things up isn't the solution to every problem.

 

[Taejin]

Rubycon,

You can be sure they aren't using anything new!

http://www.wimp.com/oilspills/

^ evidence!

 

[zinfamous]

BP needs Jack Bauer...and possibly Chloe O'Brien.

 

[TecHNooB]

Rubycon,

You can be sure they aren't using anything new!

http://www.wimp.com/oilspills/

^ evidence!

I wonder how similar the solutions for fixing the problem actually are. Engineering profs won't be happy about this.

 

[Taejin]

well it looks like BP hasn't figured out any new solutions in the intervening 3 decades I think if the relief wells don't work BP is going to just hide in a hole and hope the oil goes away..lol

 

[BoomerD]

Rubycon,

You can be sure they aren't using anything new!

http://www.wimp.com/oilspills/

^ evidence!

I vaguely remember the gulf oil spill in that video...vaguely.

I thought it was ironic that the company involved later became transoceanic..

BTW, here are two of the most important and relied upon pieces of equipment:

 

[dmcowen674]

This isn't Mythbusters, and blowing things up isn't the solution to every problem.

and letting it spew millions of barrels for months at a time is a better solution?

 

[frostedflakes]

well it looks like BP hasn't figured out any new solutions in the intervening 3 decades I think if the relief wells don't work BP is going to just hide in a hole and hope the oil goes away..lol

AFAIK the relief well is basically guaranteed to work. The only problem is it takes so long, which is why they've been attempting other fixes to catch some of the oil and reduce the amount that's flowing out into the Gulf. But everything tried so far are more temporary, band-aid solutions than anything else. The relief well is the real, long-term fix.

edit: Dave, I'm just saying that they have guys who probably earn more in one year than most of the guys here do in five trying to fix this problem. I'm sure they've considered blowing the well and have decided that it's not feasible.

 

[Ruptga]

I'm just saying that they have guys who probably earn more in one year than most of the guys here do in five trying to fix this problem. I'm sure they've considered blowing the well and have decided that it's not feasible.

Psh, your faith in the experts will be your downfall. All hail the common man!

 

[0roo0roo]

would be more win if they had painted nom nom nom on its side

 

[destrekor]

and letting it spew millions of barrels for months at a time is a better solution?

Whichever has a more calculated risk of releasing less oil over time is the better option.
Doesn't matter if it takes 3 months at 200million gallons worth, or 1.5 months at 300mil gallons worth.

Whichever has the calculated odds of releasing the least amount of oil. That's the goal.

Not saying they haven't mangled this shit up completely.
But detonating anything down there sounds like an absolutely terrible idea.

 

[speg]

How are they going to cap the pipe when oil is gushing out? Are those little robots going to be strong enough to do it? I can just see cap getting blown out of the robot's hands and flying away.

 

[BoomerD]

How are they going to cap the pipe when oil is gushing out? Are those little robots going to be strong enough to do it? I can just see cap getting blown out of the robot's hands and flying away.

That's one of the multitude of problems with working at 5000 feet, where humans can't go. I presume they'll use the robots to cut the end of the pipe relatively square, then use the robots to try to place a large valve over the pipe, clamp it in place, then close the valve.

I worked a bit in the oil fields when I was younger and that's a pretty simplified explanation of how they'd to a "quick fix" on a blow out at the wellhead.

For some reason, I keep expecting them to use a large hydraulic clamp to "squeeze" the pipe shut. Might not totally stop the leak, but SHOULD slow it down to a trickle.

 

[Rubycon]

Rubycon,

You can be sure they aren't using anything new!

http://www.wimp.com/oilspills/

^ evidence!

That site is blocked for me.

This is the rotary saw you were talking about:

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/20114329#video=20118027

Here's another one:

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/20114329#video=20117989

Yes information on THAT saw is what I'm looking for. Specifically how it's powered and what the specs are.

I only thought of this now...but why isn't Rubycon fixing this problem...with lasers? She's probably no less qualified than the BP engineers. :hmm:



also, what ever happened to the redneck hay solution?

Haha well perhaps if the solution was to manage slicks on the surface using ultrasonic waves.