Oil Leak? Nuke IT! so says russia...

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EightySix Four

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2004
5,122
52
91
The fallout from a nuclear detonation at a shallow depth is VERY nasty, read up on what a tough time the US Navy had decontaminating ships after Operation Crossroads in the late 1940s. A deeper blast probably wouldn't be as bad.

This isn't in the water, this is in the ground.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
52,186
45,309
136
Pravda

Let me just say I seriously doubt the Soviets used Nukes outside of Testing.

It is quite possible actually, even the US experimented for a number of years trying to find ways to use nuclear explosions for civil projects (excavation, harbor making, etc...). For us the resulting radiation was too much of a concern....maybe not so much for the Soviets.
 

CLite

Golden Member
Dec 6, 2005
1,726
7
76
Nuking it would require drilling further down into the seabed, which requires the same equipment as drilling a relief well essentially. They probably won't need equipment that is as heavy duty as they won't be penetrating the pressure barrier, they would just drill along side and exploding the nuke to squeeze the hole. Of course if they fuck up that drill and somehow penetrate the pressure barrier then oil will be squirting up in another place assuming they don't have the same controls as a relief well drilling.

Anyways, this isn't as simple as setting off a nuke ontop of the hole.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,715
6,266
126
It is quite possible actually, even the US experimented for a number of years trying to find ways to use nuclear explosions for civil projects (excavation, harbor making, etc...). For us the resulting radiation was too much of a concern....maybe not so much for the Soviets.

It's Pravda. I'm calling Shens on the whole thing.
 

Steeplerot

Lifer
Mar 29, 2004
13,051
6
81
It's Pravda. I'm calling Shens on the whole thing.

I can see the hilarity ensue inside the Kermlin: "Comrade, the stupid Capitalist Running Dogs nuked themselves at our advice! hahahahhaahha! The Soviet Union shall rule the world!! *Stalin strokes stache with wide grin*

Oh wait..
 

JSt0rm

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
27,399
3,948
126
I can see the hilarity ensue inside the Kermlin: "Comrade, the stupid Capitalist Running Dogs nuked themselves at our advice! hahahahhaahha! The Soviet Union shall rule the world!! *Stalin strokes stache with wide grin*

Oh wait..

lol.

:hmm:^_^D::\
 

shiner

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
17,112
1
0
This was my idea when it first happened.

Maybe I should be a Ruskie?

No problem. Just let me know what airport you want your ticket to be waiting at and it will be there.

Same deal as the one I offered you to Somalia....you have to promise to never set foot back on U.S. soil.
 

Atreus21

Lifer
Aug 21, 2007
12,001
571
126
What becomes of the radiation in an underwater nuclear blast? Is radiation at all affected by water?

Sorry if I sound stupid, but I failed lots and lots of science classes.
 

shiner

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
17,112
1
0
What becomes of the radiation in an underwater nuclear blast? Is radiation at all affected by water?

Sorry if I sound stupid, but I failed lots and lots of science classes.

Mutated MechaWhales.....

Don't believe me?

It has already happened....

oculus-by-e-kevin-schopfer-whale-yatch.jpg
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
I watched a BP exec being interviewed and his focus was clear. "We are building these boxes to drop over the well heads that will recover the oil so it can be refined and that will have the side effect of preventing it from damaging the ocean "

Damage to the ocean is a 'side effect'
 

Atreus21

Lifer
Aug 21, 2007
12,001
571
126
I watched a BP exec being interviewed and his focus was clear. "We are building these boxes to drop over the well heads that will recover the oil so it can be refined and that will have the side effect of preventing it from damaging the ocean "

Damage to the ocean is a 'side effect'

That's a pretty dumb way to put it, but I guess his point was that it's win win.
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
That's a pretty dumb way to put it, but I guess his point was that it's win win.

The theory I heard from commentators was that BP may have been able to shut down the well head completely with other means but they are afraid if they do they may not be allowed to set up future operations to use that site. So instead they use the box idea which requires BP to stay involved to maintain the situation, and get the oil .
 

JSt0rm

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
27,399
3,948
126
The theory I heard from commentators was that BP may have been able to shut down the well head completely with other means but they are afraid if they do they may not be allowed to set up future operations to use that site. So instead they use the box idea which requires BP to stay involved to maintain the situation, and get the oil .

In our freemarket world that is the only solution.
 

Argo

Lifer
Apr 8, 2000
10,045
0
0
What becomes of the radiation in an underwater nuclear blast? Is radiation at all affected by water?

Sorry if I sound stupid, but I failed lots and lots of science classes.

Radiation doesn't affect water, per se. However, radioactive fallout gets dissolved in water and then spreads around. So what you really have to look at is the amount of radioactive material, and the amount of water it will get dissolved in.

Depending on how far away from the shore it is, the amount of radioactive material may still be high enough by the time it reaches the shore.
 

Atreus21

Lifer
Aug 21, 2007
12,001
571
126
The theory I heard from commentators was that BP may have been able to shut down the well head completely with other means but they are afraid if they do they may not be allowed to set up future operations to use that site. So instead they use the box idea which requires BP to stay involved to maintain the situation, and get the oil .

I don't buy that for the same reason I don't believe PJABBER when he said Obama was purposefully dragging his feet on this just to make Jindal look bad.

The reason I don't believe it: It's just too monstrous, not to mention it's sheer speculation.
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
(US to Russia): "That's your solution to everything"

Seriously though, wouldn't that cause a huge tsunami?

it could depending on the size of the bomb and its depth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwater_explosion

A series of surface waves moved outwards from the center. The first wave was about 94 ft (29 m) high at 1,000 ft (300 m) from the center. Other waves followed, and at further distances some of these were higher than the first wave. For example, at 22,000 ft (6,700 m) from the center, the ninth wave was the highest at 6 ft (1.8 m). Gravity caused the column to fall to the surface and caused a cloud of mist to move outwards rapidly from the base of the column, called the base surge. The ultimate size of the base surge was 3.5 mi (5.6 km) in diameter and 1,800 ft (550 m) high. The base surge rose from the surface and merged with other products of the explosion, to form clouds which produced moderate to heavy rainfall for nearly one hour.[2]
 
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Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,616
10,041
136
Don't see what the problem would be.
They did underwater nuclear testing for years.

Its a shame that the hippies stop most of the solutions to todays problems.
No, it's a shame that you think that.