Komsomoloskaya Pravda, the best-selling Russian daily, reports that in Soviet times such leaks were plugged with controlled nuclear blasts underground. The idea is simple, KP writes: “the underground explosion moves the rock, presses on it, and, in essence, squeezes the well’s channel.”
The controlled underground nuclear strikes were used five times to control petrocalamities and failed only once.
The word is that BP is asking for suggestions for ways to stop the gusher, so I presume they're desperate. Pravda is apparently quite serious, but count me out as one who recommends the nuclear method.
Thanks to Ann for the link.
Where's your sense of adventure? Think of the exciting new life-forms that might develop in the Gulf.
ReplyDeleteCount me out on the nuclear option as well.
ReplyDeleteMimi, it must be excruciating to stand by helplessly while nobody whose job it ought to be to deal with this disaster can figure out what to do. It's horrible and hurtful to the animals and the ocean and the land and the people. No wonder you feel called to stand watch and report to the world.
Lapin, my sense of adventure has pretty much faded away. We've had enough adventures.
ReplyDeletePenelope "excruciating" is an apt description.
Somehow I can't see President Obama ordering a Nuclear first-strike on Louisianna...
ReplyDeleteYesterday I heard on a local talk show about a "proven" way of getting rid of errant crude oil--with bagasse impregnated with oil-eating microbes (or cooties, as the radio guy called them. For non-locals, bagasse is the fiber left from sugarcane after you have squeezed the juice out of it. We got plenty of that sitting around, just waiting to be used. I don't know where you get the cooties, though.
ReplyDeleteA nuclear option??? No, no, no.
ReplyDeleteWade. I don't see Obama ordering a nuclear strike, TBTG!
ReplyDeleteOrmonde, if BP wants bagasse, we have bagasse, pile upon pile of bagasse. I should think that a large oil corporation would have access to oil-eating microbes, or cooties, if you like.
BP is asking for suggestions for ways to stop the gusher
ReplyDeleteWell this inspires confidence. Not that anyone had much confidence in them anyway, I suppose.
Overkill, anyone?
ReplyDelete