1969912 0 #26 June 2, 2010 There is a wire saw attached to the flange that the bent over riser is welded to. The wire saw is the bright yellow box looking thing. The flashing yellow and black things below the yellow box are the pulleys that the wire rides on. The pulleys are painted 1/4 yellow, 1/4 black so you can see em spinning. The wire runs between the pulleys about 12" above the flange and is coated with an abrasive so it will saw through the riser pipe(and the ~7" drill pipe inside). The wire is getting pretty close to the riser now. "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1969912 0 #27 June 2, 2010 So what they're showing right now is a view looking almost parallel to the wire as it runs across the pulleys. The riser it's going to cut is the vertical thing that looks like it has cracked paint on it. "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #28 June 2, 2010 QuoteSo what they're showing right now is a view looking almost parallel to the wire as it runs across the pulleys. The riser it's going to cut is the vertical thing that looks like it has cracked paint on it. Yes... that's pretty clear how it works, but earlier when nothing was really happening the camera moved up and looked down at the wire (just before the camera moved around to the other side and then back). That view appeared to show that part of the saw appeared to be impeded by what I thought was a bolt head on the flange. When the saw started cutting it looked like it was cutting this piece. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1969912 0 #29 June 2, 2010 I'm wondering what'll happen when the wire cuts through the riser wall. There will be a poo storm of oil, but will the oil blast the wire out of the kerf? Not sure how thick the wire is. The tick marks on the bar where you can sometimes see numbers are supposed to be 1" apart, so the wire might be 1/4" or more in diam. edit: looks like it's cutting. "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #30 June 2, 2010 Yep, looks like oil coming out of the slot. Now I think the bolt heads may have been too low/short to have been in the way of the cutter. I'm sure they would have taken all that into consideration.... and probably even made a mock-up before deployment. This is just incredible being done remotely a mile down! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 14 #31 June 2, 2010 I heard they've invented a car that runs on water.As long as the water comes from the Gulf of Mexico. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1969912 0 #32 June 2, 2010 Yeah, the camera angles and sheer size make it hard to see. The flange is probably 4 feet in diam with huge bolts. I think you're right about oil coming out. Seems to cut pretty fast. This is fascinating and addictive to watch. A good thread to follow while watching the video is posted below. There's a guy called Horizon37 that seems to really know what's going on. Petroleum Engineer1 also. http://www.flickr.com/photos/uscgd8/4551846015/page21/ "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #33 June 2, 2010 Quote I heard they've invented a car that runs on water. Yeah! It's called a boat. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1969912 0 #34 June 2, 2010 Oil poostorm started Good description of the how/why of the shearing and wire cut here: http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6541 "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #35 June 2, 2010 QuoteOil poostorm started Good description of the how/why of the shearing and wire cut here: http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6541 Looks like a strong current is keeping the cloud blown away for good viewing. I've been reading that other link you gave. pretty interesting. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1969912 0 #36 June 2, 2010 Here are some pics of the shear job. The tube being sheared is 21": Oil escaping as shears cut riser: http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/nerd_1492/success1.jpg Completing cut: http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/nerd_1492/scucess2.jpg Snipped. Yellow thing is the shear assy. One side of riser still in jaws: http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/nerd_1492/cutoff2.jpg "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZigZagMarquis 8 #37 June 2, 2010 Quote Right now it looks like the circular blade is stuck and they are trying to get it unfucked. I'm surprised the page isn't plastered with google ads to help pay for the mess that has been created. Geeze Louise!!! People will bitch about ANYTHING these days! I mean, thousands living along the Gulf Coast have "Free Oil" just washing up on their public beaches and folks are all bent about it! *Runs* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #38 June 2, 2010 QuoteHere are some pics of the shear job. The tube being sheared is 21": Oil escaping as shears cut riser: http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/nerd_1492/success1.jpg Completing cut: http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/nerd_1492/scucess2.jpg Snipped. Yellow thing is the shear assy. One side of riser still in jaws: http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/nerd_1492/cutoff2.jpg Well, looks like the saw bound up. Now they got the saw free but I think the "blade" is stuck in the slot. I wonder if there was something preventing them frome first cutting the excess riser above the crimp eliminating all that collapsed pipe from the equation. Then make the square cut above the flange. Might have reduced the possibility of the blade being "clamped" by the slot closing up on it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1969912 0 #39 June 2, 2010 What a mess. Hope they can fix the wire saw and get it back in place. "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyrider 0 #40 June 2, 2010 Quote Quote Here are some pics of the shear job. The tube being sheared is 21": Oil escaping as shears cut riser: http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/nerd_1492/success1.jpg Completing cut: http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/nerd_1492/scucess2.jpg Snipped. Yellow thing is the shear assy. One side of riser still in jaws: http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/nerd_1492/cutoff2.jpg Well, looks like the saw bound up. Now they got the saw free but I think the "blade" is stuck in the slot. I wonder if there was something preventing them frome first cutting the excess riser above the crimp eliminating all that collapsed pipe from the equation. Then make the square cut above the flange. Might have reduced the possibility of the blade being "clamped" by the slot closing up on it. I wondered that too...why leave 30 feet or more of side presure to lay on it,(about 1000 pound probably) "Unless" they start the cut directly behind that presure, (another BUT) that could cause the metal to start ripping before it is cut off, and distroy the integrity of the mouth... I am sure greater minds than mine are on this project....BUT, sometimes I wonder! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #41 June 2, 2010 Quote Quote Quote Here are some pics of the shear job. The tube being sheared is 21": Oil escaping as shears cut riser: http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/nerd_1492/success1.jpg Completing cut: http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/nerd_1492/scucess2.jpg Snipped. Yellow thing is the shear assy. One side of riser still in jaws: http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/nerd_1492/cutoff2.jpg Well, looks like the saw bound up. Now they got the saw free but I think the "blade" is stuck in the slot. I wonder if there was something preventing them frome first cutting the excess riser above the crimp eliminating all that collapsed pipe from the equation. Then make the square cut above the flange. Might have reduced the possibility of the blade being "clamped" by the slot closing up on it. I wondered that too...why leave 30 feet or more of side presure to lay on it,(about 1000 pound probably) "Unless" they start the cut directly behind that presure, (another BUT) that could cause the metal to start ripping before it is cut off, and distroy the integrity of the mouth... I am sure greater minds than mine are on this project....BUT, sometimes I wonder! Check out that "flickr" link that Jim provided above. That Horizon37 fellow sounds like he knows what he's talking about and he's ripping them a new one. But who knows Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maxmadmax 8 #42 June 2, 2010 Quote Anyone else expect this thread to be about a vasectomy? Yes. Don't go away mad....just go away! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyrider 0 #43 June 3, 2010 Quote Quote Anyone else expect this thread to be about a vasectomy? Yes. Only the pricks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1969912 0 #44 June 3, 2010 I like this one: "Yes, why didn't they deploy two or even three bandsaws? Anyone who has ever worked with machinery could have predicted they'd need to have more than one already staged--ESPECIALLY a band or wire saw. Murphy's Law demands that one will break, especially if it's somewhere you can't easily fix it. " I really doubt that they couldn't have set up two or three saw assemblies head of time. I think they sheared the riser so far from the top of the subsea stack because of the loads the shear could put on it and the portion of the riser closest to the uppermost flange. That shear is huge and was bobbing up and down as well as sideways. "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1969912 0 #45 June 3, 2010 http://mfile.akamai.com/97892/live/reflector:46566.asx?bkup=54013 "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sundevil777 93 #46 June 4, 2010 The video now looks really different than it did before, can't tell what is going on. Looks like a 90 deg fitting is where it is coming out now, but that it is also coming up from down lower.People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1969912 0 #47 June 4, 2010 QuoteThe video now looks really different than it did before, can't tell what is going on. Looks like a 90 deg fitting is where it is coming out now, but that it is also coming up from down lower. They sheared the riser off just below the point where it was bent over. Then, in the last couple hours they lowered a tophat thing over the riser stub. The tophat has valves on its "roof" that the ROVs will close after (IF) flow to the surface is established. The valves allow oil to just vent to the water above the tophat. I think what you're seeing is a ROV manipulator hand holding onto one of the valves. The oil from the bottom is stuff that's dumping out from the open bottom of the tophat. Animation from BP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGFi-W6IdVs "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1969912 0 #48 June 4, 2010 The tophat might be icing up with methane clathrates because in the link below you can see a sub spraying something around the tophat. I assume it's methanol to dissolve the methane hydrates. The tophat has a bunch of methanol injectors inside, but clathrates might be forming outside of the tophat where water can mix with the oil. http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_uk_english/incident_response/STAGING/local_assets/html/OceanInterventionROV2.html "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The_Don 0 #49 June 4, 2010 The links keep crashing my stuff. CNN .. Anderson is looking for answers ?I am NOT being loud. I'm being enthusiastic! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #50 June 5, 2010 Saw this picture on-line and agreed with the poster . . . "Oh, the irony!" Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
