[loopy]

... how we could put a man on the moon 40 years ago but cannot close a leaky pipe now.  isnt this basic plumbing?  put a cap on with the valve open, weld it, close the valve.  have we regressed that much in 40 years that it is now beyond the limits of our technology to fix a leaky pipe? 

[uthristy]

have we regressed that much in 40 years that it is now beyond the limits of our technology to fix a leaky pipe? 

Yes, plain & simple

[hopfenundmalz]

There was the time from when JFK said we were going to do it, and when it was accomplished.   There were some big budgets for NASA back in those days.  There was a plan to do it.  Mercury, Gemini, Apollo. 

[maxieboy]

Greed has outweighed regard for the planet and respect for human life.. BP is a despicable company who gives ONLY lip service to safety. Rotten to the core...

[majorvices]

The gulf is my family vacation spot every fall. One of the most beautiful coasts in the US. Tragic loss. I feel terrible that I have lost a favorite vacation spot. I can't imagine how terrible the people who are losing a way of life feel.

[dean]

Loopy, they don't even need to weld it.  In the videos you can see the valve flange bolts... robot spins them off, robot(s) set a new BOP valve over the top (fully open) and put new bolts between the two flanges.  I hated nippling up, working Under the BOP; tightening the nuts/bolts... only thing holding that HUGE valve up was the kelly rigging and some big azz cables.        Especially hated it in winter. 

[dimik]

I think you're oversimplifying it a bit. It is more than just fixing a leaky pipe. Due to the fact that it is under water. The water causes tremendous pressure at that depth, and the oil squirting from under the sea floor is under even more pressure. So, IMO, a better analogy would be trying to fix a hole in a submerged submarine from the inside.
That, however, does not negate that fact that BP seriously screwed everyone with that pipe.

[beerocd]

1)    ... how we could put a man on the moon 40 years ago but cannot close a leaky pipe now.  isnt this basic plumbing?  
2)   put a cap on with the valve open, weld it, close the valve.  

1) Never happened Hollywood stunt. 

2) Send Capozzoli he can weld anything! 

[nicneufeld]

Great way to grasp just how bally deep this thing is:

http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/infographic-tallest-mountain-to-deepest-ocean-trench-0249/

[beerocd]

That's a way cool graphic! I still say send Cap! 

[capozzoli]

I could maybe do it,I went to The Divers of The Eastern Seaboard school for underwater welding a little while. Never completed though. Started figuring a paycheck isnt worth risking my life for, no matter how much it is.

I do have a saying though:  If I cant weld it nobody can. That may not be the case here, Im sure there are others more qualified for this weld job. Maybe it is to deep for divers.

Why dont they just send down a big hose from a giant vacuum pump? Could have a giant inverted funnel to catch everything. Pump it up and load it onto tankers.

Im sure the people at BP say that these kinds of leaks occur in nature sometime without mans help so this is no worse.  

1:02-1:15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls3kwOi29lg

[a10t2]

Why dont they just send down a big hose from a giant vacuum pump? Could have a giant inverted funnel to catch everything. Pump it up and load it onto tankers.

Isn't that what they're doing now?

[rabid_dingo]

Great way to grasp just how bally deep this thing is:

http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/infographic-tallest-mountain-to-deepest-ocean-trench-0249/

I am amazed at the depth of the Grand Canyon on this display. An amazing perspective.

[BrewingRover]

Great way to grasp just how bally deep this thing is:

http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/infographic-tallest-mountain-to-deepest-ocean-trench-0249/

Very cool graphic, thanks nic.

[dean]

Great way to grasp just how bally deep this thing is:

http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/infographic-tallest-mountain-to-deepest-ocean-trench-0249/

Don't forget the Colorado River runs through the Grand Canyon... imagine if sea water were to make its way in.  Where does the Colorado River empty?  It must be above sea level.... how then is the GC below sea level?  Now I'm confused!