1 mile of water pressure vs. pressure of oil coming out of pipe

[Pryderi]

does it ever reach an equilibrium? Where the water pressure of the ocean stops oil from spewing from a pipe?

[TransitJohn]

1. The hydrostatic head pressure of the water column above the wellhead

won't equilibrate with the incredible pressure of the petroleum under 5 miles of rock. You know how small the pore space in the rock is at that depth?

[lunatica]

2. The problem with oil is it floats so when the hemorrhage stops

the oil will still be leaking. The water will go into the cavity and the oil will rise and keep rising if it isn't plugged.

[Pryderi]

I forgot that oil naturally floats on water...so equilibrium really wouldn't matter. Water would

sink into the hole

[Fumesucker]

3. Yeah, but there's one mile of water and five miles of rock pressurizing the oil..

Rock is considerably more dense than water, hence the pressure on the oil is going to be higher until the reservoir is largely empty.

[Pryderi]

4. So the only way for the 2 to reach equilibrium is either for the reservoir to be almost empty, or

the hole in the Gulf would have to be much wider?

[Fumesucker]

7. I think the hole being bigger would only increase the flow rate..

If the hole were the size of a soda straw it wouldn't really be a problem, even with the high pressure the flow rate would be pretty low..

I think I remember the hole is 21" in diameter though, that's going to carry a lot of fluid at the kinds of pressures we're talking about.

Edited to add a word left out.

[NYC_SKP]

5. I don't know what all the fuss is about, there are only 50,686 drill holes in the gulf.

And thousands of miles of pipe hidden under water.

What could go wrong?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8385057



:wtf:

[gristy]

6. It's the overbearing rock that is the reason for the large difference in pressure

between the oil in the wellhead and the water pressure at the bottom of the gulf. The depth of the water makes no difference.

[BeFree]

9. So

Are you saying that the rock is pressing down on the oil causing it to be pressurized? So when the oil leaves, the rock will collapse and the earth at that spot will shrink?

[TransitJohn]

10. No, that's not what he's saying.

Hydrocarbon fluid (gas and liquid) exists within the pore space of rock.

[BeFree]

11. Eh?

So, what creates the pressure on the fluid?

[TransitJohn]

12. This again?

You going to ask me if it's a live load or dead load again? Should I post the wiki link to petroleum geology again? Please quit being obtuse.

[time_has_come]

8. I was reading a BP -apologist argument today that the flow could never exceed 25,000 because that's

typical well flow...but if the mile-long pipeline adds any pressure or if they regulate pressure on a well, that would mean less pressure at the bottom and greater flow.