Question: How to handle an oil spill?

[2003TIDE]

Better idea: Line up dozens of oil tankers. Pump the leaking oil directly into the tankers, and have them deliver it to the refineries. Keep them going 24/7 until the flow is stopped. :biggrin2:

That's actually what they are trying to do with that dome thing they are building. Sit the dome over the leak and pump oil out of the top of it into tankers. It's just gonna be a couple of weeks before they can try it. Plus, it's never been tried that deep.

 

[TexasBama]

They could always pour thousands of gallons of Dawn into the Gulf. Sure, that would break up a lot of the oil but then how would you drain the water? :eek2: :conf3:

Better idea: Line up dozens of oil tankers. Pump the leaking oil directly into the tankers, and have them deliver it to the refineries. Keep them going 24/7 until the flow is stopped. :biggrin2:

Dawn is the best there is for cleaning up after working on the car
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[bamacon]

I thought we were running out of oil?

 

[Bamaro]

There is a cost to wasting energy. Those along the gulf coast will be bearing the brunt for the next bunch of years.

 

[jthomas666]

The Air Force is planning to drop some chemical agent on the surface in hopes of helping the situation. Not sure if the compound is an emulsifier, a surfactant, or a compound with active bacteria that supposedly would break down the oil. The latter material is proven to break down oil, but I can't imagine much success when dealing with such a large unconfined area. Maybe some chemists on here can explain.

It's an emulsifier. There was a good piece on the subject on NPR around lunchtime; it hasn't been posted on their website yet. They are now injecting the dispersant directly into the oil flowing from the well head, trying to break up the oil before it even gets it to the surface.