Watch the BP Cam! Thread #7

[NYC_SKP]

Link to Thread #6: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8462707

Thanks to gateley, jaxx, Subdivisions and others for keeping this series running! :thumbsup:

WKRG Video Stream: http://www.livestream.com/wkrg_oil_spill

ABC Video Stream: http://abcnews.go.com/video/video?id=6046305

Explanatory video: http://bp.concerts.com/gom/kentwellstechupdatelong053110.htm

Picture of the 46,000 pound shear for cutting the 22" O.D. riser.



Picture of the Diamond Wire Saw that will cut the riser closer to the BOP:



Best wishes for success for all involved in this operation!

:patriot:

[Turbineguy]

1. Best wishes is right!

[Junkdrawer]

2. The Jaws (Gums?) of Death being positioned again....

Three times a charm? Let's see if it does more than slobber all over the pipes this time....

[Junkdrawer]

5. Looks like they cut Gramps steak into nice small pieces - so to speak...

Don't know what plan B will be if Gramps can't cut through this time...

[Subdivisions]

3. Ok, I actually got some work done today. Now it's.... wait for it! ...

DU Sub-Sea BP ROV C-L-U-B time!

Continued good tidings for the ROV operators!

[NYC_SKP]

6. Let's do this damned deal!!!

The snipper is descending on the riser!!!

Nom nom non.

:P

[Subdivisions]

10. Mmmmm....

ry-ser tay-stee... Mmmmm.... goooouuud!

[gateley]

8. And this club welcomes EVERYONE!

:bounce:

[lamp_shade]

4. Looks like all the smaller pipes have been cleared out of the way for the big "chomp".

[gateley]

7. Thanks so much, NYC_SKP! I've been MIA (work!). Your opening

thread is MUCH more informative! :headbang:

Heading over to look at the cam and see what I've been missing! :hi:

And yes, best wishes to all the hard working folks trying trying their darndest. :patriot:

[HughMoran]

9. C'mon! Just drop & chop - I want to see the diamond saw

let's get this done people :D

[lamp_shade]

11. Come on... ONE QUICK CHOMP!

[Subdivisions]

12. I would think is shear cut is quite the critical procedure. Looks like they're

about to git 'er done.

[NYC_SKP]

13. I'm concerned that the shear ate too big a breakfast.

Just doesn't look that hungry!

:P

[gateley]

14. So does this behemoth just snap it, or does it actually cut it like a saw?

[trumad]

15. I think it cuts it like scissors...

One whack...

[gateley]

16. I wonder what determines whether they use this or the saw... nt

[NYC_SKP]

17. The circular diamond saw was only for the four peripheral pipes and some hoses earlier.

The big shear was always going to do the big cut on the 22" riser.

Then, finally, the diamond wire saw, which I think is already sitting on the BOP!

:bounce:

[gateley]

26. Thanks!

[tridim]

18. Scissor for the bent pipe and the saw for the riser cut.

I think it's a speed vs. accuracy issue.

[gateley]

27. That makes sense, too. nt

[NYC_SKP]

19. Unless you have at least three browser windows or tabs open with three DIFFERENT feeds...

You can't claim to be really seriously into this!

J/K

:hi:

[lamp_shade]

20. ABC, BP and Markey

[Subdivisions]

23. Does patching it into your 56" TV count? n/t

[tridim]

25. You mean you're not using the raw akamai video feed?

Lightweight. :)

http://mfile.akamai.com/97892/live/reflector:46245.asx?bkup=46260

[Owl]

21. Looks like they're having trouble aligning the jaw at a 90 degree angle to the riser pipe.

It looks that way in certain views.

[jp11]

22. Why won't they initiate cutting routine already...grr.

[HughMoran]

24. OK, it looks like the chomp has begun

finally.

[NYC_SKP]

28. No doubt, it is compressing the riser...

Now unless they let go we should see some serious spewage begin!

[Subdivisions]

36. The jaws do seem to be exerting some pressure. Don't know why

they don't go ahead and cut it.

[HughMoran]

41. First signs of oil

We'll see if they can get it all the way through.

[DoBotherMe]

29. Thanks for keeping

Watch. I've been checking these threads all day! Dana ; )

[NYC_SKP]

30. GNARRR'RRRR... RRRRR.... RR...

Get 'em!

:P

[Cleita]

31. Please keep posting.

My &@/%# ISP has reduced me to dial up speed for 24 hours because I exceeded my download threshold watching the cam. So I'm depending on you guys to keep those of us who are video deprived with updates. :grr: :mad::nuke:

[NYC_SKP]

32. The squeeze is on, we can see the flattening of the riser in the jaws of the shear!

Soon it's going to cut through and crude will come out of there, but it isn't like it isn't coming out in other places already.

[gateley]

35. I'm not seeing the flattening - and my options at work are limited. My

pic (ABC) is kind of murky. :( I'll peer more closely. :7

[gateley]

38. Are they intentially going that s-l-o-w, or is that how long it takes a

46 THOUSAND pound :7 jaw to chomp?

Or does that give it more oomph?

[NYC_SKP]

44. A little of both, I'd say.

I noticed earlier that the shear seemed to be drifting out of alignment with the riser.

I expect that they'll go slow, and I wonder how clean the end will be and if it will be sufficiently pinched flat to not spew as much as it might if it was a messier end.

Hmmmmmm.

:P

[Feron]

39. CNN has the diamond saw cam up..

I can't tell if the flow is heavier there or not.

[jp11]

33. That is horrible, throttling is unamerican, cruel and unusual!

*repeats to self* 'it can't happen to me'

[DCBob]

34. Who's your ISP? That sucks!!

Any alternatives in your area?

[Cleita]

37. Hughes Satellite.

I was on the phone trying to change to DSL but AT& T, the only ones who come out here, said they can't provide me with it even though my neighbor across the road has it. I tried a WiFi company and their service, the only one in my area, only reaches certain places. They don't think their service will reach my house but are going to come out look. The joys of living in the boonies. I guess I'm still stuck with satellite.

[gateley]

42. I'm sure there will still be plenty to gawk at when you get your

connection back. Can you bribe them to reconnect it early - like NOW?

[Cleita]

67. No. Their customer service is I'm suspicious in Asia.

I have a really nice Mac computer and it's like having a Rolls Royce and having it pulled by a horse. LOL!

[Subdivisions]

47. What kind of speed do you get from Hughes? I live in town now but

in the next year I want to move to the country but the biggest hurdle is decent internet service. I have to have half way decent service because I work online.

[Cleita]

61. It's pretty good when it's working.

They do have a business package that's more expensive than mine and I think it has more bandwidth and a higher threshold. However, If I could get cable I would switch in a heartbeat and I know a lot of rural places have cable.

[DCBob]

I used to live in the boonies.. definitely good and bad..

good luck with finding alternative or getting Hughes to back off.

[Cleita]

65. I tried talking to their customer service, but those people have no authority.

I'm writing a letter to let them know that if they don't change this threshold rule to how much bandwidth you use a month instead of a day, I'm looking for another provider. If it were per month, it would be okay because it's seldom I exceed my threshold in a week, so it really sucks.

[Morning Dew]

40. Here comes the crude!

[dave29]

51. OMG, I tuned in just in time to see oil spewing everywhere

:O

[Subdivisions]

43. I see smoke!

Around the jaw!

[NYC_SKP]

49. Clearly the Oil, she's a comin' out. Now quick, get the wire saw going!!!!

You get the saw, I'll finish the snip.

:silly:

[Subdivisions]

56. I hope they're already wire-sawing. From the view they had up

few moments ago, it look as if there was another plume below the ones coming out of the kink that we're all so familiar with by now.

Looky there, the pipe just broked.

[NYC_SKP]

66. I'm pretty sure I saw a view a few hours ago showing the wire saw in place.

That would be great!

[Subdivisions]

86. Oh yeah. It was in place last night. I thought you were still with us with

that saw docked with the BOP. It's been waiting there ever since.

[NYC_SKP]

112. It's all running together, I may have been in bed.

Gotta sleep sometime!

[ProdigalJunkMail]

45. there's the spew...oil! n/t

[lamp_shade]

46. aha Leakage

[trumad]

50. Now cap the SOB!

[tridim]

58. Gotta cut the riser first.

It's going to be another late night tonight.

[NYC_SKP]

60. Now now, they still have to cut it off nearer the BOP with the wire saw...

I think this is already in place, so looking forward to some of that action before long!

[ProdigalJunkMail]

i think i see it now... nt

[HughMoran]

48. Well, we knew this was going to happen

view obscured by oil :(

[dave29]

52. I picked the wrong moment to tune in today

.

[NYC_SKP]

53. Hoping people realize that most of the oil coming out here is oil that is now NOT coming out...

Two other points further downstream on the collapsed riser, and maybe less pressure at the leaks at the kink above the BOP.

[trumad]

55. But it is a start.

[Subdivisions]

57. Deleted. n/t

[gateley]

59. So what's the next step? nt

[NYC_SKP]

63. What's left of the horizontal part of the riser is now suspended, time for the wire saw cut.

Not sure what all details need to be covered before this actually begins, but I think I spotted the cutter already in place on the BOP.

I hope they can begin that cut soon, different camera view will show that.

[tridim]

76. Keep in mind, there's a bent drill pipe inside the riser pipe

This cut is going to be tense.

Go SLOWWWWWWW.

[Subdivisions]

83. VERY, very slow is the key to this cut. If they go too fast, the wire will

begin to drift and the cut will be nearly ruined. They would then have to re-position the saw and try to get another clean cut going - but LOWER than the first. They can't afford any mistakes here.

[NYC_SKP]

99. Yep, I think it's a nine-inch drill pipe. nt

[gateley]

84. Thanks - my viewings are sporadic now, keep getting slammed

with flurrys of work. Some people just don't understand priorities!

Any guess as when the LMPR might be eased into place?

[Subdivisions]

89. It'll most likely be later tonight. The riser cut will take a LOOOONNG time. n/t

[Subdivisions]

64. Actually, I deleted the above comment about this relieving the pressure

at the kink. The reason is that the oil still has to get past the kink, which is getting pressure from the bottom.

What's next? Well, they'll take away (or drop) the section they just cut loose. Then, they'll either begin or finish the cut just below the kink. But before they do that they will move and have the cap hanging very close by. Once the riser is cut away, they'll immediately attempt to place the cap on top of the BOP.

I've got my fingers crossed and all my mental good vibrations aimed directly at the operation.

[gateley]

62. Not nearly as bad as I anticipated, I thought the whole screen

would fade to black. We can still see Jaws!

[Subdivisions]

69. Looks like ROV may be getting into a position to look in the end of the pipe. n/t

[ProdigalJunkMail]

54. SNAP! n/t

[Subdivisions]

68. Nice move by the claw just now. Held onto the riser pipe and lowered it

gently until the cables from above had all of it's weight. This prevented the whole thing from just jerking downward with torque and gravity.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

70. i have timed my viewing pretty well...

this has been an amazing display of technology...even if it HAS been in the worst of circumstances...

sP

[Subdivisions]

73. Right now we're all just tyring to move along the operation with our

best wishes and good vibrations for the ROV operators and with them getting this thing under some sort of control until the relief wells are in place. But, alas, you are right about the circumstances. I have to find a reason to laugh in order to keep from bawling like a baby.

[gateley]

82. I get busy just when something is happening -- but I have no doubt

I'll be glued to my screen all day tomorrow (and tonight!)

It's been amazing even to me - the least tech savvy person I know!

[tridim]

71. There are definitely some good minds working on this problem

It's an impressive engineering feat.

[HughMoran]

72. Welcome to Hell

Holy crap

[NYC_SKP]

Camera now moving toward the BOP. The Diamond Wire Saw is in Place!!!

This is outstanding!!!

[HughMoran]

74. I think the wire saw is in place and may start cutting any time

[ProdigalJunkMail]

77. looks like they can start anytime...

this is looking better...let's keep sending good vibes...

sP

[drm604]

80. Will we even be able to tell when it's cutting? n/t

[ProdigalJunkMail]

88. dunno...i am not versed in these things

and am the equivalent of an armchair quarterback here...when oils comes a-spewin'...then i'll know...

sP

[drm604]

78. Dupe.

Ignore

[Subdivisions]

81. We should be able to see the whole thing. I hope so anyways. n/t

[Junkdrawer]

75. On to the main event wherein the gusher is turned up to full....

errr...I mean a clean cut is made...

[Subdivisions]

79. Yes, it's heartbreaking. Let's just hope this plan works. n/t

[drm604]

85. I wonder how much candlepower they have down there to make the pics so clear. n/t

[HughMoran]

87. Wire cutting should be rather uneventful IMO

but, ya never know :D

[gateley]

90. Remind me -- if one of the LMRPs is successful, does it divert

the remaining oil spilling out? And if so, are they able to retrieve it and get it outta there?

[Subdivisions]

93. If it works, they will be able to retrieve and remove a lot of oil, but not all of it. n/t

[NYC_SKP]

96. Yes, they will collect it at the surface. Some leakage may occur, however.

There's been talk about plumes away from the BOP not associated with the collapsed riser.

And some leakage between the LMRP and the point of contact with the top end of the BOP might occur.

Otherwise, IIRC, all or most of what has presently been leaking will now be collected.

Yay!

[gateley]

102. Well it will certainly be an improvement! Not perfect, but think how

many gallons/barrels WON'T be spilling into the Gulf! Glass half full!

[thewiseguy]

104. That is the best case scenario

Just like how the Top Kill was supposed to stop the flow of oil.

[NYC_SKP]

91. Link to the Manufacturer of the Diamond Wire Saw (for any real geeks out there)

I'm not sure if they're employing a 30", a 50", or a 58" or a larger unit:

http://www.cut-group.com/machine_30.asp

http://www.cut-group.com/Machines.asp

[gateley]

92. OMG - is that the BOP? nt

[Subdivisions]

97. The BOP is directly below that ROV that attached to the pipe and has

the word CUT on the side.

[drm604]

94. The yellow thing with the concentric circles that they seemed to be scrutinizing...

I bet it's a level. It looks like it to me.

[trumad]

95. Now it's becoming clear...

[drm604]

100. How do you mean? n/t

[trumad]

105. Just me thinking out loud...

I wasn't sure where they were cutting.

[HughMoran]

98. Back pressure and forces during pipe snipping blew a big crack open at the bend

big leak there now.

[Subdivisions]

101. I just saw a crack in the riser right at it's base. Did anyone see that? n/t

[Subdivisions]

103. You making up thread #8, NYC_SKP? n/t

[NYC_SKP]

106. Sure, I'm on it!

[drm604]

107. Is the wire saw running?

They must be eyeballing it for some reason. Is it running? I can't tell.

[HughMoran]

108. Don't think it is yet

[drm604]

109. I wonder if we should be able to see the wire. Is it around it yet?

I can't see it but maybe it's just very thin.

[NYC_SKP]

111. The wire will be coming from the "away" side of the riser, closest to the saw.

And then cut out away from the saw.

:hi:

[drm604]

113. Aah, I understand now.

For some reason I assumed that it would be wrapped around it.

[NYC_SKP]

110. Time to move on.... "Watch the BP Cam! Thread #8" is now Posted!!!

Here ya go:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8465950

:patriot: