Questions about the Containment Dome and related stuff

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Does it sit on top of the top of the pipe that is extending from the floor and catch ~85% of the oil on its way to the water's surface?

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YES

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is there a hole in the top of the containment dome

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Yes
The pipe is now leaking (above / laying on the sea floor) in two places. The 1rst dome will go over the biggest leak and a new pipe will be connected to the top of the dome that will run to the sea surface/tanker that will on load it.

Yes it can be refined once oil is separated from the water.

Basically, the pipe "rising" up from the BOP on teh floor of the Gulf is called the riser. THe riser is what is leaking in spots because it is twisted and bent in many spots from the rig sinking while it was still attached.
There were three leaks in the riser that is basically now laying on the Gulf floor. One was sealed at the very end. One is leaking a little, about 15% of the spilled oil. The box they are lowering is to go on the third leak which represents about 85% of the oil spilling. They will attach a large pipe on top of the box if they can get it in place. They will pump it up to the surface and into waiting tankers.

I'm believe if there isn't too much contaminants in the oil, it can be separated from the water later and used to refine. Maybe someone else knows for sure.

Another question: What kind of flow can this thing handle?

One of the things that was being talked about as a fix was to stack another BOP on top of the one in place. But, if that failed, the oil leaking from the well might increase. Some of you more knowledgeable could probably answer this. I'm guessing that they would have to shear the riser to try a new BOP. Could they move the dome over the stacked BOPs (is it big enough), and would the cofferdam system be able to handle the increased flow?

The riser is a heavy walled pipe, that comes in various lengths (usually around 30 ft in length), that is connected with heavy duty flanges. The riser is simply a way to allow access from the rig floor to the bop on the ocean floor. However, as strong a pipe as the riser is, nothing is strong when stretched out nearly a mile. When it broke loose from the rig, it became a limp noodle.

I hope this helps a little, i'm no expert and haven't been in the gulf or the oil field in many years.

The new pipe that will go from the Containment Dome to the Ship that uploads the oil, is that pipe going to be exactly like the original riser pipe? In other words, is the new riser pipe going to be constructed out of the same materials and design as the one that is broken on the sea floor? Or is it made out of a more flexible type of pipe?


Just wondering cause this thing is going to be out there for awhile while they drill the relief well. And I wasn't sure if the ship had to leave due to bad weather how long it would take to attach and then reattach the pipe.