If you have ever tried to connect a hose to a faucet that has running water you have seen the problem that BP is experiencing in the Gulf right now. There is a simple means to mate two pipes or a hose and faucet while fluid is flowing from one..
The issue is the high pressure in the pipe spilling either oil or water. Matching the connecting pipe of the same size causes a rapid lateral flow (splash to the face) and sudden increase in pressure.
How can two pipes or hose and faucet be brought together and the fluid, whether oil or water, flowing between them. I'll explain and illustrate with a series of three pictures.
A collar is placed around the the pipe spilling the fluid. Performing this task offers little pressure differential or resistance. Next you bring a pipe, called the nozzle pipe, of the same size or larger containing concentric smaller pipes welded inside each adjacent pipe (and larger pipes as necessary for structural integrity). The nozzle pipe is connected to the remote repository intended to receive the fluid with three or four threaded screws around the periphery (see Phase 1 below). These screws are hinged and meant to drop into latches on the spilling pipe The nozzle pipe is slowly inserted into the spilling pipe using the threaded screws until the two pipes are securely mated (Phase 2). At this point the collar is secured by clamps on both the spilling pipe and the nozzle pipe (Phase 3).
At this point the fluid will be flowing from the spilling pipe to the nozzle pipe without leakage. See the above figure.
Now if someone can explain this concept to BP and they listen we can stop the horrible mess that is continuing to develop in the Gulf.
So why isn't BP trying to capture the oil leaking from their oil head?
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