Watch the BP Cam! Thread #11

[NYC_SKP]

Link to Thread #10: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8468094

Good day intrepid club members! :patriot:

Currently the Diamond Wire Saw is Jammed, Methane Hydrate Crystals are forming.

Progress seems to be suspended. :scared:

Thanks to gately, jaxx, Subdivisions, Junkdrawer, flamingdem, Statistical and many others for keeping this series running!

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

ABC Video Stream: http://abcnews.go.com/video/video?id=6105570

Akamai Link: http://mfile.akamai.com/97892/live/reflector:46245.asx

Fox Feed: http://interactive.foxnews.com/livestream/live.html?chanId=2

CNN Feed: http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream2&hpt=T1

Explanatory video: http://bp.concerts.com/gom/kentwellstechupdatelong053110.htm (MUST SEE!)

Current Oil Drum thread (as of 4am Pacific) http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6547 They have some great photos and explanations of what we were watching.

Sig pic below courtesy of Subdivisions: :P

[Subdivisions]

1. Hey!

Checking in. :hi:

[Junkdrawer]

2. I think the Diamond Wire Saw is on the way to the surface....

***Organ music while the relief pitcher warms up***

[NYC_SKP]

7. WKRG shows it dangling like a sad dead defeated bot.

so sad.

[Subdivisions]

Poor thing. He coulda been somebody.

He coulda been a contender!

[gateley]

28. ...

:rofl:

[NYC_SKP]

3. Fox Feed ROV is on it's way to the surface.

WKRG feed is hovering around the saw.

Akamai feed is standing off the BOP.

ABC feed is covering the end of Obama's address at Carnegie Mellon.

[Subdivisions]

4. So, I've been working and have apparently missed something. Did

they get the saw blade un-stuck?

[NYC_SKP]

5. Quick, ABC feed shows ICE BLOB.

I did not see the saw removed from the riser/BOP, I think it's still there.

http://abcnews.go.com/video/video?id=6105570

[Subdivisions]

9. Ok, where is that thing? Is is on the ROV or on the BOP? n/t

[NYC_SKP]

14. That camera is attached to the saw at the control panel, and it's on it's way up.

Fox feed shows the depth counter.

That's the camera to watch.

[NYC_SKP]

6. Yes! WKRG feed shows it hanging from cable... nt

[Subdivisions]

8. DANG! This DU Under Sea BP ROV C-L-U-B thread series should be

put in a NEW Research Forum section (on the GoM oil gusher) for future reference!

:bounce:

[gateley]

11. The BP GoM oil gusher. Let's give credit where credit is due! :-)

[Subdivisions]

12. Yes, my bad. =) n/t

[gateley]

10. Thanks NYC_SKP! Had to walk my brother's poor old dog. She's happy now. nt

[Subdivisions]

13. And relieved. =) n/t

[gateley]

15. The networks obviously know that this is generating a lot of interest due to

the hits on their sites. Wouldn't it be cool to have, like in baseball, a couple of play-by-play people discussing and explaining what we're watching? The network that does that would get the lion's share of views, I would think, and that translates into advertising dollars. If I'm right, hope someone actually does it.

[NYC_SKP]

16. Diamond Wire Saw now less than 2000 feet from surface (ABC & FOX feeds)

Keep your eye on it as it surfaces!

[SurfingScientist]

17. CNN alternate feed shows the circular saw...

... working on the riser flange - same circular saw tool on the ROV arm that cut the auxiliary pipes.

Wonder what they are up to? Checking if they can cut the riser with the ROVs?

[NYC_SKP]

18. Hard to saw what's up with the saw.... Link:

http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream2&hpt=T1

[SurfingScientist]

19. here goes...

http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream2&hpt=T2

[gateley]

20. ABC is showing somebody's Mac desktop - anyone able to see what's on it?

[NYC_SKP]

22. Screensaver is...

House committee on energy independence and global warming.

The software update icon came up, then they got all busy with it.

The Dock popped up a couple times, the iCal icon said "17"... What's up with that? Where on Earth is it the 17th?

[gateley]

23. I know - I grabbed a shot in case it was an accident and we were watching

what they were doing on board the rig, but maybe it's just some ABC employees?

[NYC_SKP]

21. Fox and WKRG feeds paused, they're screwing around on a Mac, which is fine....

I noticed their iCal icon showed "17" It's not the 17th. Is this a hoax?

:tinfoilhat:

[gateley]

26. My iCal shows 2 as I'm guessing every Mac owner's does -- Hmmmm.

:tinfoilhat: (We should keep a handy supply of these in the Clubhouse closet)

[NYC_SKP]

29. So.....All this was filmed on May 17th. They. Are. So. Busted!

Seriously, how do you have a mac that's all wired up like that and it DOESN'T auto update date and time.

:shrug:

[gateley]

30. So true! I just don't get it. I'm going to call my best friend who is all things Mac,

see if he has any possible explanation. If not, I'm making an appointment at the Geniuis Bar! Damn! My screenshot doesn't show the dock! :banghead:

[gateley]

40. Snow Leopard allows you to record your desktop in Quick Time - Jim sounds

as though that's what somebody did on the 17th!

Was it on more than ABC? If so, yikes! One network I'd think it was a local problem, feed-wide -- :tinfoilhat:

Jim also cautioned that if we saw the same fish swimming by every 7 seconds trying to get away from the deep sea diver in the castle we should definitely be suspicious! :7

[NYC_SKP]

42. Somewhere that video has been saved. It was only on that one feed.

Did you see the icon pop up in the dock with "17", or was it just me?

[gateley]

46. I saw the dock magnify when the curser was going over it, but didn't notice the

iCal icon. I should move to my brother's iMac w/full size screen - I think I'm missing a lot on my Powerbook. :(

I know that feature can be used as kind of a tutorial -- I record the steps on my desktop, send it to you and you've essentially got the presentation. Maybe that's what somebody did? But how on earth did it appear in a major live feed? I'm less concerned since it was only on one network. Hat goes back into the closet. For the time being, anyway.

[NYC_SKP]

24. Are they thinking of finishing this off with the circular saw? (CNN feed)

:shrug:

[HughMoran]

27. doubt it

they might consider nibbling at it a bit, but it can't cut through all that.

[lumberjack_jeff]

34. *IF* the drill pipe is unsecured inside the well casing

And IF the oil is leaking into the well at the bottom, all they have to do is cut through the outer pipe. The kind of differential pressures quote here will take care of the rest. Much like a cannon takes care of a cannonball.

It would make for interesting TV.

[HughMoran]

35. Funny, there are claims that the drill pipe is wedged into the BOP shears

...that possibly they tried to shear it at a joint in the drill pipe and that's why the BOP failed. In this case, they could open the shears and it was claimed that the pipe would actually fall down into the well. Closing the shears after this could then possible seal up the well. Note that this is a highly unlikely scenario - just thought I'd throw it out there (read it on that Oil Drum sight.

[NYC_SKP]

37. I think if the shear rams were working at all, they'd have done what you describe.

I'm also not sure the shear rams engaged at all because, AFAIK, when deployed they also block the pathway of the petroleum.

:shrug:

[Statistical]

39. Or the EXACT same thing happed that happened in 1979.

Sheer rams happen to line up with a joint (screwed connection of 2 pipe sections). The joint can't be cut by the sheer rams.

The sad/pathetically funny part. Joints make up about 9% of drill string and everyone knows that no sheet ram on the planet can cut them.

So even if everything works exactly as designed you have a 1 in 11 chance of BOP not sealing well just because of pure luck that joint lines up with the shear rams.

:(

[HughMoran]

45. That is dumb huh?

I scratched my head when the fellow on the Oil Drum suggested that this may be the case in the Gulf accident. Doh!

[HughMoran]

44. It's actually quite complicated - the Oil Drum thread describing why the Top Kill failed went into

all the possible scenarios as to where the oil is flowing. I'm not saying I'm an expert, but I am saying that I don't know for sure - there's many opinions out there...

[lumberjack_jeff]

41. Interesting. If so, it would be a very risky move to open the shears. n/t

[NYC_SKP]

36. I once had to saw through a 4-foot diameter Concrete Manhole Dome with a Worm Drive Skilsaw.

It took several abrasive blades and most of the day.

While not the ideal tool for the job, it did do the trick.

I have no idea what the condition of the lower end of the drill pipe is, if it could be easily extracted or not.

If they could get it up four or five feet, however, they might be able to get in with the robot circular saw, but visibility would be zero, I imagine.

And they'd have to fight the flow of the escaping crude.

:shrug:

[NYC_SKP]

25. I expect the saw to surface shortly, in just minutes. FOX feed. nt

[tandot]

31. Just seeing all the oil gush out makes me sick

I can't watch that. How horrific :(

[gateley]

32. We all feel that way. Heartbreaking.

[DoBotherMe]

33. Bookmarking

I had to follow 4 links just to get here from the thread I posted in last night. Ya'll been busy! Dana ; )

[HughMoran]

38. Some of us are semi-obsessed with this

:D

[gateley]

43. Semi? And no need to name names. :-) nt

[Feron]

47. Some links while there's a lull...

BP Oil Disaster - Subsea Response Links

Includes video of a whale checking out a BOP.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1073257/Files%20Shared%20from%20GNOME%20Do/bp-1213153300.html

Also if you need to catch up, this forum is screencap and video heavy:

http://www.doomers.us/forum2/index.php/topic,68178.4545.html

And The Oil Drum has an IRC chat room:

Server: Freenode
Channel: #theoildrum

[HughMoran]

48. Funny how the ROV operator said "forget work, check out the whale!"

Human are curious creatures :)

[gateley]

50. I was just commenting on that - I bet they were so excited! nt

[gateley]

49. Wow - OUTSTANDING links, Feron! Thank you so much! I love how the camera

operators followed the whales :), and I was glad to see them swimming in oil-free water!

:hi:

[NYC_SKP]

54. Thanks for those, we should add them to Thread #12.

"gateley!"

[NYC_SKP]

51. I thought equipment was headed up to the surface, but so far there's no sign of that.

Maybe they just brought the saw up into warmer water- a whole lot of material fell away from it minutes ago, presumably crystallized methane hydrate.

Frustrating that when the ABC cam went out, it returned without the depth reading which, at last look, were just over 1000 feet.

:shrug:

[gateley]

52. Ooh - action on the WKRG feed, for some reason movement always encourages me.

ABC is fritzy again.

[NYC_SKP]

53. Trying to clip something to something. I think I see a monkey fist. Check this out...

dangling off a short line to the right of the vertical straps, yellowish in color, maybe for grabbing.



http://ropewright.com/resources/Monkey+fist+door+stop+4+strand.jpg

[NYC_SKP]

55. I'm gonna be gone soon, Thread #12 is up to you. Maybe add these...

Links from Feron.

:hi:

[gateley]

56. Will do! Hurry back! nt

[HughMoran]

57. I'm calling Thread #77

boarded :D

[NYC_SKP]

58. Remember. Safety First!

[AngryAmish]

59. Why don't they just bomb the fucking thing?

It worked for the moon.

[HughMoran]

60. lol

uh-huh

[gateley]

61. Any idea what's going on? Anybody?

[Junkdrawer]

64. The diamond string blade is broken....

I saw the drive wheels turn, but the idlers didn't...

[gateley]

66. Sigh. To me, though, that doesn't sound as critical as the stuck blade. We'll see. Thanks! nt

[gateley]

62. WHEN did they free the saw? I can't believe I missed that!

[lamp_shade]

63. The Saw appears to be heading up again. It's at 197' and climbing.

[jaxx]

65. When I came on a few mins ago I thought it was coming down.

Glad they got the saw loose and I wonder what the plan will be so it doesn't freeze the next time?

[lamp_shade]

69. It looked like the ROV escorted the Saw to the top, left it there, and headed back down.

Wait... ROV is at 483'. Could be waiting for the Saw to get fixed.

[jaxx]

67. A little Watch BP cam history for the club.

Here it is Wed., June 2, 2010....5:19pm We have been watching this since

Mon May-31-10 05:45 PM
Original message

Look at all we have learned since then. We can identify risers and flanges and shears and diamond saw cutters and oh those ROV's. The people on here have given great info, the images, the drawings and lots of different links to the happenings a mile below the surface.

It's facinating, it's maddening, and it's historical in it's imagery. It's also gushing oil at an alarming rate and I know we're all hoping for it to work this time and cut that flow to a much lesser amount until the relief wells can tap in and close this monster forever.

I want to say thanks in a big way to all of you. For your input, your time, your searching for info.....and maybe most of all for your wonderful humor. Without the smiles we'd be off alone cussing!!

jaxx

[gateley]

68. You started it, jaxx, so thank YOU!

It also has gone a long way to soothe our souls actually witnessing a lot of what is going on. Actually seeing what they're faced with, the devoted efforts - they never give up! - and viewing the progress has certainly been an eye opener to me! :hi:

[jaxx]

75. It's been a real community effort.

And you were there from the go too, along with everyone else who has made this the place to go look for info....and to commiserate together.

[lamp_shade]

71. ... and all done with practically no politicizing.

[jaxx]

76. Ain't that amazing!!

[Feron]

70. Looks like Jaws might return and the saw is out...NYT excerpt:

The technician said that rather than trying again with the saw, the plan now was to use a large shear to cut the riser. The shear, which is about 20 feet long and nearly 10 feet high, was used to make an earlier cut in the riser about 50 feet from the wellhead.

Because the shear will not make as clean a cut as the wire saw, modifications would have to be made to the containment cap that is to be lowered over the cut pipe. But the technician said that even with the switch to the shear and the modifications, he expected the containment cap could be in place by Thursday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/us/03spill.html?hp

[gateley]

72. Great find - thanks!! nt

[Junkdrawer]

74. Said that this morning....

I'm guessing that 'ole Gramps the Clamp (Hydraulic Shear) may be tried next. In that case, the cut will be anything but clean and the alternate hood will need to be used.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8468094&mesg_id=8468694

[gateley]

73. THREAD # 12 Link! Warning -- my first post didn't take so had to cut and

paste and it destroyed several of the links. I THINK I fixed 'em, let me know if they're still whacky. :hi:

See you there!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8472498&mesg_id=8472498