Watch the BP ROV Under Sea Cams...Thread # 33

[jaxx]

Thread #32: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8727343&mesg_id=8727343

Thread #1 of the Watch the BP Cams: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8457616




Belated thanks to Subdivisions for our club logo...many threads ago.

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BP PORTAL to News, Updates, Vids, etc.:

>>> Kent Wells Sealing Cap Installation (JUly 9): http://bp.concerts.com/gom/sealingcapinstallationoverviewwithkentwells070910.htm

>>> Kent Wells Relief well overview and ranging animation (June 27): http://bp.concerts.com/gom/reliefwellgraphics062710.htm

>>> Kent Wells explanation of Top Hat and Oil Extraction (June 3 posting): http://bp.concerts.com/gom/lmrp6_060310.htm

>>> May 31 video by Kent Wells: http://bp.concerts.com/gom/kentwellstechupdatelong053110.htm

>>> June 10 Kent Wells tech update: http://bp.concerts.com/gom/kentwellstechnicalupdate061010a.htm


OTHER INFO LINKS:

The latest TheOilDrum thread (top of the page): http://www.theoildrum.com/

Interesting article here regarding BP documents explaining initial failure, pic heavy article: http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/2010/06/08/breaking-news-leaked-white-house-document-exposes-bp-gulf-oil-spill

Great forum with lots of pics and video if you need to catch up: (although the DUUSBPROVC is giving them a run for the money!)
http://www.doomers.us/forum2/index.php/topic,68178.4545

Subsea Response Links (great to view when there's downtime): https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AYETicASkH8SZGZmN3ptcXpfN2M2cmR3c2M5&hl=en

And for a little levity: Super Mario: BP Oil Spill Edition
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW4e8LtVC6I
The *BP Coffee Spill* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AAa0gd7ClM&feature=youtube_gdata

Good info links: http://www.drillscience.com/bp/
and: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dff7zmqz_7c6rdwsc9 (from TOD)
and: http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/
Mapping the Response to BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico (brought to us by NYC-SKP)


LIVE CAM LINKS:

Multi-view ROV page: http://data.plan9.de/akamai-bp-streams.html
and: http://www.mlittle.com/bp /
and: http://spillcam.tk /
and: http://jtnog.org/
and: http://www.josephpalmer.com/ROV.html
and: http://bp.isevil.org
and: http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/bp-live-oil-spill-cam.html

All cams (BP site): http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=9033572&contentId=7062605

Fox Feed: http://interactive.foxnews.com/livestream/live.html?cha

CNN Feed: http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=str


This graphic represents what the new cap will bring:

Long Term Containment–Mid July




And, finally, proof that
DU is on this project:



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ :fistbump:

[flamingdem]

1. Only #33?

Thanks for starting this up again. At least there might be some good news in the offing about the cap.

[flamingdem]

2. I just discovered #32! ;} Lots of good news updates nt

[NYC_SKP]

4. Did you read thread #12 through #16?

They were awesome!

:hi:

[flamingdem]

5. Hey we were rockin' back then! nt

[NYC_SKP]

3. BAM! Huzzah!!! Whoosh!

:toast:

OK, from what I see the Flange transition spool, HC connector, and the three ram stack are on and they're taking pressure readings.

All that's left is to connect a new riser to draw off gas and oil and get ready to activate the rams/valves.

Right?

:hi:

[jaxx]

7. Yep, slow and sure.

If it holds below and can withstand the pressure the oil should stop. If not they will still be able to contain most of it in the ships above like in the image on the start post.

[jaxx]

6. A little info on what comes next....

From the BP press release via TOD:

<snip> Following installation of the capping stack and in line with the procedure approved by the National Incident Commander and Unified Area Command, the well integrity test will begin July 13 on the MC252 well.

For the duration of the test, which will be a minimum of 6 hours and could extend up to 48 hours, the three ram capping stack will be closed and all sub-sea containment systems (namely, the Q4000 and Helix Producer) will be temporarily suspended, effectively shutting in the well. It is expected, although cannot be assured, that no oil will be released to the ocean for the duration of the test. This will not however be an indication that flow from the wellbore has been permanently stopped.

<snip> The Helix Producer containment system started operations on July 12. The Q4000 containment system continues to capture oil and gas from the MC252 well and flare the hydrocarbons safely at the surface.

Relief well operations continue throughout this period and remain the sole means to permanently seal and isolate the well.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6721#comments_top

[gateley]

8. I just saw a quick time vid of the placement on our local news - wow! I imagine

those of you who were able to watch it live were hyperventilating! How exciting!

Thanks for the heads up on what's next, jaxx. I don't work the next few days so I'm happy to take over making the new threads unless you've become such a whiz you can do it in the blink of an eye!

[jaxx]

10. Sure if you want to on the new threads.

I've got the write up saved and just change it here and there as I go...LOL and still left a JUly goof on this one. I've added the new cam sites and taken off the ones that no longer work, or make you watch their news. Also tried to keep up on the Kent Wells stuff as it comes along. I just update the page as it comes along so it's always ready to go, just updated the BP cam link when I posted it here. This has been a lot easier than finding the whole links each time...so give it a try. So it does just take me a couple minutes to get a new thread up...change the last one's link and off we go. :hi:

[jaxx]

9. New BP all cams site:

http://www.bp.com/sectionbodycopy.do?categoryId=9034366&contentId=7063636

Has live streaming to all of them, most of the new ones too.

[NYC_SKP]

11. Skandi 2 shows the plume, single link here:

:P

http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_uk_english/incident_response/STAGING/local_assets/html/Skandi_ROV2.html

For the internet speed challenged.

:hi:

[malaise]

12. K & R

brilliant research

[dccrossman]

13. K & R

:kick:

Thanks for keeping these threads going.

[DoBotherMe]

14. KR & Bookmark!

Still following your fantastic coverage. Dana ; )

[dccrossman]

15. Looks like the new stack is in place now.

I really wonder how that 80 ton thing doesn't just fall over from its own weight.

[one_voice]

16. Kick

[Spazito]

17. I don't always comment on these threads but...

I certainly read them, they are always full of excellent info and I just want to give a big THANK YOU to everyone involved in keeping them going, it is much appreciated!

All of you, OPers and posters, :yourock:

[gateley]

18. BP delays testing on latest effort to stop Gulf oil flow

NEW ORLEANS—BP is delaying critical tests on a new well cap designed to finally stop the flow of oil in the Gulf of Mexico after government officials said more analysis was needed on the plan.

BP engineers were scheduled to start slowly shutting off valves on the 75-ton metal stack of pipes and valves, aiming to stop the flow of oil for the first time in three months. A series of preliminary steps were completed, including mapping the seafloor.

National Incident Commander Thad Allen said in a statement Tuesday night the process “may benefit from additional analysis” that would be performed overnight and Wednesday. He did not say when the tests would start.

The decision was reached after Allen met with federal officials, scientists and geologists.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/835532--bp-delays-testing-on-latest-effort-to-stop-gulf-oil-flow

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Better safe than sorry! I'm interested if we'll be able to see the 'additional analysis' on any of the cams.

[LisaL]

19. I am going to take a wild guess that the fact they had to

postpone the testing is not exactly a good sign.

[jimlup]

20. Yeah, the postponement sounds like just delayed bad news...

I think they've seen something that worries them a lot in the preliminary pressure checks. Now they are afraid to actually conduct the test we means they are worried about the integrity of some part of the well.

I hope to hell that I'm wrong!

[LisaL]

21. My feelings exactly.

I am guessing the initial tests didn't show good results. From what I understand, if the pressure does not rise in the cap, that means there is a leak somewhere else. Since they postponed closing the cap, I wonder if they suspect it is leaking somewhere else and the well's integrity is no good?

[NYC_SKP]

22. Disturbed by some of the poor reporting. And: Excellent Graphic here:

After doing a Google News search...

One reputable source says the relief well operations have been suspended, pretty sure that's wrong, that relief well #2 has been suspended so as not to interfere with #1.

Also reported: X barrels of oil were flared off yesterday. Sorry, barrels of oil are not flared off; cubic feet of natural gas are flared off, oil is collected (or not).

Dreadful reporting out there.

WSJ: "BP continues to ramp up the collection efforts of the Helix Producer. The ship collected just under 9,200 barrels of oil on Tuesday, Wells said. The Q4000 flared off about 7,800 barrels of day, he said." WRONG!

And: "BP has also stopped drilling on a relief well, setting back its completion by "a couple of days," Mr. Wells said." ARRGH, Susan Draker, get a clue!!!

I have more faith in this Marine Log article:

July 14, 2010
BP delays start of well integrity tests

BP has delayed the start of a planned integrity test on the leaking Deepwater Horizon well.

```snip```

The hold-off came after National Incident Commander Thad Allen met with Energy Secretary Steven Chu and his team of scientific and industry experts and announced that additional analysis of the well testing procedure should be performed before starting the well integrity test. That analysis was being conducted last night and is continuing into today. It includes an analysis of a seismic mapping run made around the well site yesterday morning.

During this period, BP will continue to ramp up containment operations on the Helix Producer as well as continue to optimize the Q4000 operations. The Helix Producer has the capacity to capture approximately 20,000 Ð 25,000 barrels of oil per day. Historically, the Q4000 has flared an average of approximately 8,000 barrels of oil per day.

BP cautions that the sealing cap system, the Q4000 system, the flexible riser system, and the planned additional containment systems never before have been deployed at these depths or under these conditions, and their efficiency and ability to contain or flare the oil and gas cannot be assured.

Operations continue on the first relief well. Operations on the second relief well have been temporarily suspended at 15,963 feet to ensure that there is no interference with the first relief well. The relief wells remain the sole means to permanently seal and isolate the well.

http://www.marinelog.com/DOCS/NEWSMMIX/2010jul00141.html

Great Graphic:


:patriot:

[jaxx]

23. Very good analysis.

I'm with gateley on the better safe than sorry...go slow and be careful and don't let it blow again. I read at TOD that the new BOP can have the rams closed slowly so as not to jar the well head, which makes sense since they aren't sure of its integrity. At 5000 feet below the surface this is all one grand experiment.

[gateley]

26. Thanks, NYC_SKP! nt

[jaxx]

24. From TOD today, about the tests to be ran:

<snip> And he pointed out that a part of the shut-down process will be visible.

What we will do in sequence is we will stop production on the Q4000 and the Helix Producer I and remove the way for the hydrocarbons to exit through the kill and the choke lines on the original blow out preventer. That will move to three exit points, the choke and the kill lines of the capping stack and then the top opening of the capping stack. Then we will in sequence first, there are three rams that are a part of the capping stack. The middle ram will be closed. That will seal the upper opening from any hydrocarbon release. That will leave us the kill and the choke lines.

The kill line will then be closed as well. Now remember this is either open or shut. That will leave the choke line of the capping stack as a last way for hydrocarbons to exit from the capping stack. And that is set up with a specially designed engineered and built, you’ll be able to see it on the video. It’s a horizontal, yellow piece of equipment that has a pipe that curves up where the hydrocarbons would exit and at the other end there’s a place to insert a tool with a remotely operated vehicle and then slowly close the valve, which we will do that while we are taking pressure readings.

This is the control panel he was talking about, taken at 5 pm Eastern.




I urge everyone to go read this post at the beginning of todays thread about the testing. It's very good and explains it as to why the slow process is necessary.
At the top of the page:
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6726#comments_top

[gateley]

25. BREAKING - CNN is showing that the tests are underway!

Heard this morning it was the Administration that put the hold on it, they had some questions they wanted answered before (if) they let BP proceed. Looks promising!

[gateley]

27. Middle valve is now shut. CNN TV is doing some pretty good coverage of it.

Every 6 hours they'll be assessing the pressure, and will then close another valve.


Apparently it was the Administration who wanted some more info before the testing began that delayed the testing -- nothing occurred that concerned BP.

[jaxx]

28. Thanks for the update.

I just woke up and wondered what had been happening. I knew I'd find some info here! :hi:

[gateley]

29. CNN had some good coverage when it was breaking -- the wall of cameras with

all the views, people explaining what was going on, etc (like we'd like to have when we look at the feeds). I'm eagerly awaiting the first six-hour check! Unfortunately, I'm coming down with something and feeling worse by the moment so I hope I'll be able to hang on!

[jaxx]

30. Post the new info when you can,

I have to go to work in a half hour so I'll miss it all again. Hope you feel better...take care.

[gateley]

31. Will do. I'm actually in bed now with my laptop on my stomach, and I only have

to wait another hour and a half or so... Hope they're quick with the reporting! Have a good night. :hi:

[NYC_SKP]

32. Hey, gately!

Hope you're doing OK.

Let me know if you want me to post #34, it's west coast out here and a bit earlier than for many.

I need a BP ROV fix, glad there's some forward motion!

:toast:

[gateley]

33. The first update should be around 9-ish, don't you think? Anything going on

on the cams now?

[NYC_SKP]

34. I found this freeze frame, no flow from top of cap: Try Skandi Neptune.

Click on this for the pic, can't embed.

?MOD=AJPERES

The story: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/14-crucial-test-starts-on-cap-at-bps-leaking-oil-well-zj-02

Confirmed by at least on camera view, but damn, these multi-view pages really lock up my computer.

Skandi Neptune ROV link here: http://mfile.akamai.com/97892/live/reflector:45683.asx

:hi:

[gateley]

35. You know, reading these words:

"... said undersea robots working a mile below the surface had started shutting a sequence of three valves..." just brought home again the enormity of the task these people are performing. Unbelievable!

I don't remember if the top of the cap was the first one they closed, or if they've moved on already -- do you?

I can't get a lot of the feeds because I need to install plug-ins, and I'm afraid I have to restart my computer. Somehow I now need a password where I never did before (don't ask me how I did it) and I haven't hied on down to the genius bar to see if they can help me. I've tried just entering through (as I've always done), "admin", and the password I use for everything including my mac mail account, but nope. I wonder what the hell I did. Anyway, until I get it fixed, I'm without the razzle dazzle multi-cam feeds.

The link you provided is fine though and it's lookin' good to me! :hi:

[NYC_SKP]

37. Genius bar means a Mac. I use Mac, have better luck with some browsers than others.

Depending upon the feed.

Best luck is with Firefox or Safari (you really should have both), and Firefox is pretty good about giving you updates.

Also, most user friendly multi cam site for me is this one: http://data.plan9.de/akamai-bp-streams.html

Give it a shot. It loads fast with the most current stills instead of loading streams all at once.

What we seem to have is no flow from the main hole (yay), but some flow from diversion pipes, this I suppose prevents pressure build-up.

So technically, it's still escaping, but under far more controlled circumstances than ever before!

They clearly have been closing some of those rams!

[gateley]

39. On both Safari and Firefox it says "additional plug ins are needed" in order

to view the cams. I'm concerned that if I download them I'll have to restart to install, and not sure if it'll let me get back on w/o this mystery password. Arrrrgh!

My problem is Mac is so simple I try to do everything myself (and am usually successful) but every once in a while I really fuck it up. Last time I erased my hard drive. That really is hard to do on a Mac! They couldn't retrieve it at the Genius Bar so I had to get some program to go hunt for it. I was successful and vowed not to fool around w/stuff again. But....and I don't recall what I was doing this time (it was pretty innocuous, though) and then I find out that all of a sudden I need a password to do certain things that I didn't need a password for previously. Huh??? Part of the reason I haven't gone down to the Genius Bar yet is because I feel like an idiot. "What were you doing?" "I have no idea."

But the link you provided in this post works great! Thanks!

Right now I'm trying to find a good graphic to put in #34 as to what's happening now. I'll look a little more but if I'm unsuccessful, I'll go ahead and get 34 started. :hi:

[NYC_SKP]

40. I notice that the CNN page always suggests that I need to download something.

And I decline, and it plays anyway.

Do you have problems with the akamai links, like this one: http://mfile.akamai.com/97892/live/reflector:45683.asx

:shrug:

[gateley]

42. Same with me on CNN, but only because I'm afraid to restart my computer!

At least on CNN you can view without the download, other sites don't have that option.

The akamal links are fine. I can't get the BP official one, bpisevil, and some others.

[NYC_SKP]

43. CNN and FOX both show akamai feeds, I figured out which is which:

CNN uses this: http://mfile.akamai.com/97892/live/reflector:37235.asx (roving around)

FOX uses this: http://mfile.akamai.com/97892/live/reflector:37235.asx (looks like leakorama)

No ads with the akamai links!

[gateley]

47. Oh! Interesting! (I wonder how many times a day I say "interesting!") nt

[gateley]

36. There's movement on both the CNN and MSNBC cams (different vantage points)

Where's the Voiceover?!?!?!?!

[NYC_SKP]

38. Leaking choke line discovered, being serviced now.

I suppose that's the side flow we see, nothing coming out the main hole.

Just saw this:

BP Fixing New Cap Leak as It Prepares to Start Gulf Well Test

July 15 (Bloomberg) -- BP Plc said it will begin a pressure test of its gushing Gulf of Mexico well after fixing a leak that erupted while it was shutting off oil flow with a new containment cap.

The leak was detected in a “choke line” leading from the stack of valves that makes up the cap installed July 12 on the Macondo well, BP said in a statement yesterday. BP said the leak had been “isolated” and was being repaired.

Some of the flow of oil has been temporarily stopped after the company shut the top valve on the cap. London-based BP said it will gradually close all the valves to raise the pressure inside the well in six-hour intervals. The test will determine whether the containment cap can remain sealed without causing the well to burst open elsewhere.

“This is an important test,” BP Senior Vice President Kent Wells told reporters on a conference call yesterday. “We’re proceeding with overabundance of caution.”

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-07-15/bp-fixing-new-cap-leak-as-it-prepares-to-start-gulf-well-test.html

[gateley]

41. Interesting. So, if I'm understanding this correctly, when they were stopping

the top flow the choke line sprung a leak, so they can't take actual readings until that's fixed? Makes sense. Maybe that's why they were scurrying around on the CNN and MSNBC cams -- trying to fix that leak.

My admiration and awe for these guys continues to grow. :headbang:

[NYC_SKP]

44. It sounds that way and, indeed, readings with a leak aren't going to be that reliable...

...and the unexpected leak, apparently from a part of the new cap, is not good and they must address it, then move ahead.

Still, I'm encouraged that they have so much more of a handle on this than back in the days when they were lowering gargantuan toe nail clippers.

:P

[gateley]

46. Yeah, in comparison it seems at first almost as though they were flailing,

slapping band aids on, "let's try this!". It just FEELS much more under control now. And now, when they encounter a problem (like the leak) they seem prepared to deal with it right away.

Love these guys!

[gateley]

45. Thread #34 is here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8751372