BP oil spill: 'Mystery plumber' may be brains behind containment cap

[Lone_Star_Dem]

"Joe the Plumber" became a household name in 2008, but will anyone ever know the identity of the plumber who may have brought BP to the brink of stopping the oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico.

Six weeks ago, Robert Bea, an engineering professor at the University of California, Berkeley, received a late-night call from an apologetic "mystery plumber." The caller said he had a sketch for how to solve the problem at the bottom of the Gulf. It was a design for a containment cap that would fit snugly over the top of the failed blowout preventer at the heart of the Gulf oil spill.

Professor Bea, a former Shell executive and well-regarded researcher, thought the idea looked good and sent the sketches directly to the US Coast Guard and to a clearinghouse set up to glean ideas from outside sources for how to cap the stubborn Macondo well.

When Bea saw the design of the containment cap lowered onto the well last week, he marveled at its similarity to the sketches from the late-night caller, whose humble refusal to give his name at the time nearly brought Bea to tears.

"The idea was using the top flange on the blowout preventer as an attachment point and then employing an internal seal against that flange surface," says Bea. "You can kind of see how a plumber thinks this way. That's how they have to plumb homes for sewage."

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2010/0715/BP-oil-spill-Mystery-plumber-may-be-brains-behind-containment-cap

From reading the article it appears if this gentleman's ideas were used, he's not going to get the respect due for his input.

So, I'd like to take this moment to say, here's to you Mystery Plumber! If your ideas in any way helped to contain this leak you're a hero to every living creature whose lives have been impacted by this disaster. :toast:

[ret5hd]

1. I'd bet this plumber is licensed.

[tk2kewl]

50. maybe even union.

[happygoluckytoyou]

69. and who... disguised as mild mannered Joe D'Plumber..fights for truth justice and the gulf of mexico

[pasto76]

88. If not union, obviously well trained and intelligent. Which is always welcome.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Kudos to the mystery Plumber....Thank you. Thank you.

and thumbs down to BP and all the other oil companies and regulators who did not have something like this already waiting and ready to use just in case the "inconceivable" actually happened. Especially since there was virtually no attention paid to safety measures. Since they did nothing to prevent the oil spill, they could have at least done some cleanup planning.

More of the barn door being closed after the horses are so far gone that we cannot even see them any more.

[Wednesdays]

56. The humble mechanic did more good than all the oil barons combined

Kinda tells ya something, eh?

[hamsterjill]

83. Sure does!

Tells me that all of the rich assholes need to realize how much they still need the humble middle class! More than that, the rich need to realize that they need to RESPECT the humble middle class.

Good job, mystery plumber. Thank you for helping the situation when no one could would!

[TroglodyteScholar]

3. K&R

I absolutely love this story!

[BlueIris]

4. NICE. Come forward, Mystery Plummer!!

You should get some awards from like, everyone.

[Robb]

5. Plumbers save the world, again.

:toast:

[Abq_Sarah]

6. They need to find some way to track the gentleman down

So he gets the proper credit and thanks.

[rosesaylavee]

23. Phone records would be a good first step...

I don't think it would be too hard to find the guy.

[Ex Lurker]

40. maybe he doesn't want to be found

people have their reasons.

[yella_dawg]

30. Perhaps.

Perhaps he doesn't want to be found. Sounds like it from the article. Respect. It isn't hard.

[tanyev]

7. Now there's a real plumber who's trying to help his country.

:patriot:

[Schema Thing]

8. lovely storytelling, but they probably got 10,000 versions of this same idea.

but by gawd we americans want to believe that the solution came from someone w/o a college degree, damnknit!

[Abq_Sarah]

10. So?

Good ideas don't need to have a seal of approval from any school.

[dencol]

43. That's not how it works.

Once you earn a degree, you don't need any further stamps of approval from that school for your work. There is an alarming trend in this country of people despising education, learning, training, and working toward a better life. I'm not accusing you of that, but I totally the understand the sentiment of the poster your are replying to.

[Abq_Sarah]

78. There is also an alarming

Trend in this country of people who believe a degree means they have nothing left to learn. I get a surprising number of them through the front door of my business looking for a job.

[LiberalFighter]

85. Or believe that they are smarter than others in the company.

We would get these kids fresh out of college but mostly lacking in factory smarts.

[dencol]

97. Granted.

But even the most uneducated and ignorant people are also liable to feel that they are smarter than others in the company. It's not limited to recent grads. =)

[dencol]

98. Dupe

[truedelphi]

91. I forget the guy's name but

This one dean of mechanical engineering has gone on the record as saying how awful it is that we have lost the world of thirty years ago in terms of developing mechanical thinking.

A young person who used to live at a small family farm, and who didn't want to spend half the day driving in to town with Dad to find a part, would spend half the day inventing some appliance to allow them to continue to use a piece of broken machinery.

Now we have expressways that allow the farmer to go into town and get the equipment in only 45 minutes, rather than three hours.

And the internet will often help you locate a part and have it delivered to your door within 48 hours.

So because of these factors, many of the "tinkerers" are not being developed - the world is making it so easy for us that "tinkering" is falling by the wayside.

[dencol]

99. That doesn't justify discouraging further education.

For that matter, I know plenty of people with no college education who think they have nothing left to learn. And there are plenty of people out there without an education in my field who think they know more about my field than I do, when it's clear that they do not. There is clearly value to both experience and education.

On edit: People also have to accept that sometimes there are people fresh out of college who DO know more than people who have more direct experience. It's foolish and bad business to think otherwise. I have little doubt that I probably saved a company millions of dollars because my education prepared me for the job, unlike many colleagues who didn't learn the regulations and proper safety protocols after decades on the job.

[hedgehog]

39. +1

[slackmaster]

9. Technical jobs are often thankless

I know mine is.

[htuttle]

11. "I came into this game for the action, the excitement. "

"Go anywhere, travel light, get in, get out, wherever there's trouble, a man alone."

[rosesaylavee]

24. ...

I loved him in that role! Great great film!

[jberryhill]

12. As a child, he fixed a dyke in Holland with his finger - SAME GUY! /nt

[tridim]

13. I bet it was Leonard Susskind

He's easily the smartest plumber in the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Susskind

[opihimoimoi]

14. Humanity thanks the M Plumber...all the creatures too...large and small..

awesome

[Celebration]

15. love to rec!! n/t

[Politics_Guy25]

16. This could have been God's work

Anonymous phone call from someone who no one can identify? An angel perhaps? Perhaps, God him/her self?

It's possible....

[Celebration]

35. God works in mysterious ways

His (her) wonders to perform........

So the bible tells me so.

Still, we have to wait for the (BP) oil company version of the "stress" tests. Our collective consciousness needs to kick into high gear!!

[snooper2]

52. It's also possible that a little gnome went into the BP design room

really really late one night and drew up some plans and left them on the middle of the table...

When everyone walked in the next day they their eyes popped out with the marvel they found. A solution to a problem they couldn't figure out. The gnome is now back working at a car wash in Seattle...


This is probably more likely to have happened than your version...but still doubtful


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Kalyke]

53. I knew no one would let that slide.

My GOD (literally), why are atheists such assholes?

[Electric Monk]

54. What you can't see is all those who actually did let it slide, without commenting.

Something to think about.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

67. +1

[Kalyke]

74. -1

Since it wasn't all.

[Electric Monk]

96. Someone really needs to brush up on their definitions of "all" "none" and "some".

Not everyone does, but some one here sure does.

[snooper2]

58. are you doubting me!

[fishwax]

61. nice

"why are atheists such assholes?"

:eyes:

[Kalyke]

73. Giving back what was given.

It's frankly none of my business if someone is an atheist. I couldn't care less one way or the other.

But, in the same vein as fundamentalist Christians, Jewish and Muslim followers, atheists should be deterred from using "damning" - or in this case, demeaning - words in subliminal attempts to force others to believe as they do.

Being a progressive means tolerance - and making fun of people who believe differently than you, particularly those who are in no way forcing YOU to believe what they believe, is a sign of a lack of tolerance.

[fishwax]

75. no, not really

One poster proposed a theory, another poster dismissed it sarcastically. Saying "why are atheists such assholes" isn't giving back what was given. (As a side note: a snarky response to that theory isn't exactly proof that someone is an atheist anyway, but perhaps you know the poster's views from other conversations.)

And it's also ridiculous to say you knew "no one would let that slide," when the truth is that all but one poster let it slide -- but that didn't stop you from reacting to that single response by suggesting that atheists are assholes.

Then you wax progressive about tolerance :rofl:

[demwing]

100. Let's be honest, as a model of behavior "Tolerance" sucks

"I tolerate you" - pretty shitty sounding, when you think of it.

Let's shoot for acceptance. Doesn't that have more meaning?

"I accept you" implies openess and peaceful co-existence without any measure of belief or agreement. Can't people on both sides of the religion issue work withing that model?

[demwing]

71. That was worth 4 ROFLs?

Really? 4 of them?

[snooper2]

79. Well, I was also still laughing from some stuff I read in the dungeon

so who knows, maybe some of that bleed over :rofl:

[LiberalFighter]

86. Sure as hell can't be any car wash person here in NE Indiana.

[awoke_in_2003]

84. wow, your god is a little slow

on the uptake- it has only been spewing for months. oh, but he works in mysterious ways, must be part of the master plan:sarcasm:

[WolverineDG]

17. Kudos Mystery Plumber!

:patriot:

dg

[Curmudgeoness]

18. Mystery Plumber should get a Medal of Honor for this. I just cried

when I saw the video footage of the well-----OMG, no giant gusher. I hope this works past today. Tears of joy here for now.

[cutlassmama]

19. As long as it wasn't Joe THANK YOU!

[Oregone]

20. The Invisible Hand of Capitalism gave His only begotten son, who became a mystery plumber

[ThomWV]

21. What a load of happy horseshit

Nonsense ...

[malaise]

22. Bravo Mystery Plumber

I hope he steps forward. :applause:

[Uncle Joe]

25. A salute to the Mystery Plumber

:patriot: and cheers!:toast:

Thanks for the thread, Lone_Star_Dem.:thumbsup:

[rosesaylavee]

27. Hi Uncle Joe!

Still sporting that great avatar I see. Haven't been around much. Just thought I'd say 'hey'. :hi:

[Uncle Joe]

29. It's so good to see you, rosesaylavee.

I'm happy to see you, peace and remember it's almost Friday.:hi:

[Scurrilous]

26. K & R

:thumbsup:

[spotbird]

28. how did he transmit the plan to bea without

identifying himself.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

46. Right. He sent sketches.

Had to be faxed or emailed as a PDF maybe? There has to be a source number. I guess Bea is just honoring the guys request to remain anonymous.

[dorkulon]

31. My next band will be called "Mystery Plumber."

:headbang:

[ThoughtCriminal]

32. A Plumbing We Will Go!

[rosesaylavee]

33. Small world story here... less than 6 degrees of separation

I posted this on my FB page... a friend wrote that she is visiting her sister. Her sister was getting a new sofa. Guy from furniture store was there to deliver something extra and was all excited about his brother who was an engineer at U of C who had the answer to capping the well. I am counting 5 degrees of separation between me the Mystery Plumber. Wooo-hooo! :woohoo:

[brooklynite]

34. Josephine the Plumber hasn't been seen in public lately...

[sonias]

36. Mystery Plumber is a hero

And so is Professor Bea for filtering it up the chain of command. I'm sure his approval of the novel idea had a part in getting it reviewed.

:toast: to our Mystery Plumber!

[applegrove]

37. A real hero plumber unlike Joe.

[billyrayjimbob]

38. Getting the credit

Greetings Du
could these guys be the ones who should get credit? I saw this
a few weeks ago.

http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=ab8f740e-9cc5-431f-a007-345768ea31d8

Sorry, I tried to embed the video, didn't work 

[Soylent Brice]

45. welcome to DU

:hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

76. Welcome to DU! (link works now)

Whoever is responsible, we owe him a huge debt.

[OneGrassRoot]

41. K&R :) n/t

[Hissyspit]

42. I'll bet he was responsible for the duct tape solution for the iPhone, too.

[onestepforward]

44. Great thanks to you, Mystery Plumber!

[HughMoran]

47. Good idea

I think thousands of engineers like myself had similar ideas, but it's a nice story. From what I heard on Olbermann - this wasn't a 'new' idea per se, but the question was why they didn't have a device like this available sooner - knowing it was the only way to do this correctly.

[svpadgham]

48. Christian Science Monitor?

Really? How many times has a story from CSM been posted on here and been ridiculed or debunked as complete crap?

[Wednesdays]

57. I consider the CSM to be as credible as any other MSM source

Could you show me where it was ridiculed by long-standing members here? :shrug:

[pinto]

60. CSM's very reputable. Still maintains bureaus in 11 countries, doesn't rely on wire services,

has a long history of objective reporting - and has never endorsed a political candidate. They're worth a look.

:hi:

[svpadgham]

94. It's ironic that you said that about not relying on wire services.

Next to the photo there's the deal that says "AP."

[NNN0LHI]

62. CSM colluded with Norm Coleman to try and ruin liberal British MP George Galloway

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/may/21/iraq.georgegalloway

George Galloway

Anti-war campaigner and MP for Glasgow Kelvin

guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 21 May 2003 20.01 BST

We first spoke on the 14 January, which is an auspicious date. One of the newspapers I'm suing, the Christian Science Monitor, has me in Baghdad personally picking up $3m from Saddam Hussein's son, and carrying it over three national frontiers, but in fact I think you'll find I was sitting in my office in Westminster with you. So you have a small part in this legal action I'm involved in.

I hope Mr Blair is proud of himself. He really has done everything that he can to ensure the reelection of the most rightwing fundamentalist American president the country has ever seen

Anyone who saw Bush arrive as a copilot on an aircraft carrier in military clothes; anyone who's seen him roaring like a bull in aircraft hangars to pumped up young men, roaring with approval at the belligerence of their leader - I hope Mr Blair's proud of himself in that picture, because he has certainly helped to strengthen the far right in American politics.

I don't believe at all that the war is over. I don't believe it's the end or remotely near the end. I said that when Baghdad falls, as fall it must given it's being assailed by two such superpowers, that will not be the beginning of the end but just the end of the beginning. We are already, much more rapidly than most people predicted, into a cycle of occupation violence and resistance violence. Young children in Iraq are throwing rocks at occupation forces and receiving volleys of automatic fire in return. snip

I have no doubts now that I am the victim of a systematic campaign of forgery. Anyone who looks at the CSM (Christian Science Monitor) documents, even my worst enemy, would realise that not only are they false, but literally could not be true.

The CSM documents had me on the payroll of Saddam more than one year before I ever set foot in Iraq or met any Iraqi official; they had me collecting $3m in cash on a day I was sitting here with you in my office. Anyone who looks at the rhetoric will laugh at them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Christian_Science_Monitor

Galloway apology

In April 2003 after being provided documents by a former Iraqi General, several news organizations including the Monitor reported that George Galloway was accused by a U.S. Senate Committee led by Norm Coleman of personally profiting from corruption within the United Nations Oil-for-Food program. The Monitor investigated the matter, concluding that the documents were "almost certainly forgeries," and in response to a lawsuit by Galloway, apologized in court.

[sofa king]

49. The respect he's due is the respect he wants.

Anonymity can be a great thing in this age of instant and fleeting fame.

[Shining Jack]

51. K&R

Cool story.

[valerief]

55. Bravo Mystery REAL Plumber! nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

59. We need to find this plumber and reward him.

[Paper Roses]

63. If this is true and the apparatus works, this man deserves

a ton of money from BP and the right to patent his device, if that is possible after the fact.

Want to guess what will happen to reward him? Nada!

[DirtyDawg]

64. You know...

...it's clear to me that I need to 'offer' BP some ideas on how to improve their lousy damned PR on this. Obviously PR's not gonna overcome the mess, and merely putting Louisiana natives that happen to work for BP on the air, while what they claim they're doing isn't working very well, may not either, but a couple of things are clear to me. One, give this guy the credit...thank the hell out of him for it...and contribute money to Olbermann/msnbc's 'free' health clinic in New Orleans coming up. Pay for the damn thing BP, don't you get anything?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

65. Queue the Budweiser commercial.

Real Men of Genius

[svpadgham]

95. Here's to YOU Mr. Deep Water Horizon Oil Rig Capper Guy.

Mr.DeepwaterHorizonOilRig CapperGuuuyyy!!!

[caseymoz]

66. Mario saves the day again! I could see Nintendo's next game already. nt.

[apples and oranges]

68. We can safely eliminate one plumber from the list:

[bdamomma]

70. thanks to the mystery plumber!!!

maybe that is why they should listen to us a little bit more.

[louis-t]

72. So why is the tee and vee telling us

they've had this technology and/or device for quite awhile and just decided not to use it?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

77. To save face.

It wouldn't do for BP to admit they don't know their expertise is limited to raping the planet.

[louis-t]

81. Jeez, they lie.

[Lorien]

87. Their "expertise" is outdone by a plumber with a very common sense solution

yet another reason why the BP buffoons should have NEVER have been in control to begin with!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

89. ...a plumber who cares more about getting the leak stopped than

the public's perception of him.

How much you want to bet that BP's going to come out with a new "wonderful us" commercial, taking credit for the solution themselves?

[Lorien]

92. Exactly!

[CountAllVotes]

80. this mystery plumber

is eligible for the $10 million reward for finding a "fix" if this is indeed a "fix".

:kick:

[slampoet]

82. He's a little more than a plumber, he's a whole Waste Engineer type if it's the guy I've heard about

Hope it is true.


I was sitting on info and am still holding back because my sources are wildly inaccurate usually but for this story they're right on so far.

[denverbill]

90. If true, and he can be found, the man deserves a huge reward.

Anyone who doesn't think he deserves $1 million or so as a small measure of thanks is nuts.

[robertpaulsen]

93. Great story. I'm sure Treehouse Films is already developing a screenplay.

One guess who they'll cast as the Mystery Plumber.