Building Oil Capture Tent

[B16A2]

I just read they're going to build a steel box to put on top of the damaged well head in the Gulf. They said it will take 3 months to build it. Seems like a crew working 24-7 could build this thing in a week even if it's two stories tall. Doesn't make sense. Is there something tricky I'm missing?

Electroslag weld the plates and be done with it!

 

[Zambo]

I'm not sure but I think it's the relief well which will take 2-3 months. The subsea collection system - which you mention - seems to be under manufacture but I haven't seen anywhere a timescale for its implementation.

http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9033571&contentId=7061708

 

[Zambo]

FACT SHEET: SUBSEA OIL RECOVERY SYSTEM


The Subsea Oil Recovery System is a large structure that can be placed over the largest leak source in the Transocean Deepwater Horizon Rig. The system is designed to collect hydrocarbons from the well and pump them to a tanker at the surface, where they will be stored and safely shipped ashore. Weather permitting, deployment of the system is planned within the next six to eight days.
How it works

• The system is made up of a 125-ton, 14’ x 24’ x 40’ structure that will be set on top of the largest leak source. This leak is located at the end of the riser, about 600 feet from the wellhead.

• Equipment at the top of the system is connected to a 5,000 foot riser that will convey the hydrocarbons to the surface ship, the Deepwater Enterprise.

• Once in place, oil will flow up into the containment system’s dome to the surface ship.

• Once on the surface ship, the hydrocarbons will be processed and oil will be separated from water and gas. The oil will then be temporarily stored before being offloaded and shipped to a designated oil terminal onshore.

• The Deepwater Enterprise is capable of processing 15,000 barrels of oil per day and storing 139,000 barrels.

• A support barge will also be deployed with a capacity to store 137,000 barrels of oil.

• This system could collect as much as 85% of oil rising from the seafloor.
How it was developed
• This is the first time this system will be used at this water depth.

• To develop the system, BP quickly located existing structures that had previously been used as coffer dams in shallow water recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina.

• After Katrina, these structures were lowered over damaged wellheads to allow divers to repair wellheads.

• BP engineers have worked closely with the firm Wild Well Controls, Inc. to convert these structures for use in deep waters.

What’s next
• This system is being fabricated in Louisiana and will be transported to the Deepwater Enterprise.

• Once on site, the system will be lowered to the seabed.

• ROVs will monitor the installation and will complete connections to the riser (tubing).

• Because of the weight of the structure and the muddy conditions at the sea bottom, “mud flaps” have been added to the sides of the structure. These flaps enable the structure to settle into the sea bottom and complete the enclosure.

 

[Zambo]

Welders in Louisiana are working against the clock to build a giant iron funnel for BP in a bid to halt the huge spill from a Gulf of Mexico well.

The 98-tonne, dome-topped box being built by steel workers is to be ready on Wednesday and may be shipped to the site by the end of the week.

BP has acknowledged it is "absolutely responsible" for cleaning up the spill after an explosion on a drilling rig.

But it says it was not to blame for the accident which sank Deepwater Horizon.

BP boss Tony Hayward said the equipment that failed on 22 April belonged to Transocean, the owner of the rig.

 

[cvg]

check out the attached photos of the rig and description of the accident. Written for the layman, but still interesting.