What ways have been tried to stop oil spilling into the gulf of Mexico?

Answer 1

Several actions are being taken. Two relief wells are planned- and I believe the first may be spudded shortly. This action takes months, but should cap the blowout. In the meantime, they can take remedial action to mitigate the consequences of the spill- booms, dispersants and controlled burns. I don't know if remote operated vessels will make any more attempts at actuating the blow out preventers.

Answer 2

The conventional means of permanently killing a well, is to drill relief wells. BP is currently drilling two wells. An unconventional means of killing a well is a top kill. It is a proven technique, but unproven at 5,000 ft of water. The insertion tube reduces the oil that is spilled. Other measures such as use of skimmers, booms and dispersants mitigate the impact of the spill.

This is a current event, and the information given above, is to accurate to May 24. If the top kill is unsuccessfult, the relief well drilling will continue and BP has stated they have a number of other options under consideration.

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Answer 3

They are drilling 2 relief wells, and by early August, the well should be permanently capped. The oil originates from a deposit 13,000 ft below the sea floor. Killing an offshore well from the top is very difficult. This is why BP tried to let people know that the top kill might not work. Killing a well from the bottom, 13,000 ft down, is the proven way.

Now, it is not possible to drill a hole any faster than about 4,000 ft per month. Nobody can do this. If you try, you will just be required to change out bits more often, and actually over time, slow down the progress.

Until August, we will have spilling. The numbers keep changing on how much is coming out, the high end I think is 60,000 B/D with a capture of 15,000 B/D. If they are able to go to 90% capture, I think the high end would be 6,000 B/D net out.

Answer 4

they are creating chemicals that breaks up the oil in the water but for the true fix they need to just plug it up.