Reply #89: You can complain about dithering and dallying... [View All]

[jeff47]

...when you come up with a better plan.

When the gusher first started, it was widely reported that relief wells were the only proven way to stop the gusher, and that they'd take about 3 months to drill. First relief well started on May 2nd, (11 days after the fire) which is about as fast as one could expect a drilling rig to move to the site and set up shop. They've been drilling 24/7 since then. (The 2nd relief well stopped for a bit while they consider using its blow-out preventer on the gusher)

It was also widely reported that a few new and/or unproven ideas would be tried, in the hopes that they might reduce the gusher before the relief wells were done. So far, 1 proved marginally successful, and the rest have failed.

BP, from the start, said there was one effective plan, and it would take 3 months.
The outside experts, from the start, said there was one effective plan, and it would take 3 months.
The government, from the start, said there was one effective plan, and it would take 3 months.
The environmentalists, from the start, said there was one effective plan, and it would take 3 months.
The people on DU, from the start, have claimed that this gusher will run on for decades and cause extinction of all life on the planet. :sarcasm:

So what, exactly, should they do now? What tip can you give them to cap the well faster? 'Cause I'll happily find BP's phone number so you can tell them how to fix this disaster more quickly.