Couple of technical questions

Hi guys, I'm new here. I stumbled upon this forum and it looks like there are a few knowledgeable guys/engineers on here, so please allow me to ask a couple of questions as to what is going on at the bottom of the Gulf.

First, they cut that riser off to put a collection cap on is, the cut didn't come out as smooth as they had hoped, hence the cap isn't getting a good seal. Right?

Looks like that cut was made about a foot above the riser flange that is bolted to the top of the BOP. You can see the bolts.

Why didnt/don't they just unscrew that flange and take it off? Wouldn't that give them a perfect mating surface to attach a seal to? Or, for that matter, install a complete new riser?



Second, the original attempt of a containment dome failed.

At the time they were trying to implement it, the bent over riser was still attached to the BOP. For that reason, the original 100 ton dome had a slit in one of its sides to fit over the riser lying on the sea floor. I'm not going to look for links now, but I clearly remember seeing that on pictures.

Naturally, that didn't allow for a perfect seal against the water, which is at 2,200 psi at that depth.

Water got sucked/pushed into the dome, hydrates formed, pipes got clogged, FAIL.

Now the riser is cut off.

Wouldn't this be a perfect time to go back to the old BIG dome? They could close up the slit, sink that thing 15 feet into the mud (which is what they supposedly did the first time), and without that slit for the riser, shouldn't they get a perfect seal? Suck all the water out of the dome = no more hydrate formation, 100% containment.

What am I missing here?


Thanks for your insight, gentlemen.

Trout