Pryderi
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Fri May-21-10 07:59 PM
Original message |
1 mile of water pressure vs. pressure of oil coming out of pipe |
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does it ever reach an equilibrium? Where the water pressure of the ocean stops oil from spewing from a pipe?
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TransitJohn
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Fri May-21-10 08:04 PM
Response to Original message |
1. The hydrostatic head pressure of the water column above the wellhead |
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won't equilibrate with the incredible pressure of the petroleum under 5 miles of rock. You know how small the pore space in the rock is at that depth?
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lunatica
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Fri May-21-10 08:05 PM
Response to Original message |
2. The problem with oil is it floats so when the hemorrhage stops |
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the oil will still be leaking. The water will go into the cavity and the oil will rise and keep rising if it isn't plugged.
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Pryderi
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Fri May-21-10 08:20 PM
Original message |
I forgot that oil naturally floats on water...so equilibrium really wouldn't matter. Water would |
Fumesucker
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Fri May-21-10 08:11 PM
Response to Original message |
3. Yeah, but there's one mile of water and five miles of rock pressurizing the oil.. |
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Rock is considerably more dense than water, hence the pressure on the oil is going to be higher until the reservoir is largely empty.
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Pryderi
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Fri May-21-10 08:19 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
4. So the only way for the 2 to reach equilibrium is either for the reservoir to be almost empty, or |
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the hole in the Gulf would have to be much wider?
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Fumesucker
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Fri May-21-10 08:29 PM
Response to Reply #4 |
7. I think the hole being bigger would only increase the flow rate.. |
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Edited on Fri May-21-10 08:30 PM by Fumesucker
If the hole were the size of a soda straw it wouldn't really be a problem, even with the high pressure the flow rate would be pretty low..
I think I remember the hole is 21" in diameter though, that's going to carry a lot of fluid at the kinds of pressures we're talking about.
Edited to add a word left out.
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NYC_SKP
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Fri May-21-10 08:20 PM
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5. I don't know what all the fuss is about, there are only 50,686 drill holes in the gulf. |
gristy
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Fri May-21-10 08:26 PM
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6. It's the overbearing rock that is the reason for the large difference in pressure |
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between the oil in the wellhead and the water pressure at the bottom of the gulf. The depth of the water makes no difference.
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BeFree
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Fri May-21-10 08:46 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
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Are you saying that the rock is pressing down on the oil causing it to be pressurized? So when the oil leaves, the rock will collapse and the earth at that spot will shrink?
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TransitJohn
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Sat May-22-10 07:49 AM
Response to Reply #9 |
10. No, that's not what he's saying. |
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Hydrocarbon fluid (gas and liquid) exists within the pore space of rock.
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BeFree
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Sat May-22-10 08:23 AM
Response to Reply #10 |
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So, what creates the pressure on the fluid?
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TransitJohn
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Sat May-22-10 11:51 AM
Response to Reply #11 |
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You going to ask me if it's a live load or dead load again? Should I post the wiki link to petroleum geology again? Please quit being obtuse.
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time_has_come
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Fri May-21-10 08:39 PM
Response to Original message |
8. I was reading a BP -apologist argument today that the flow could never exceed 25,000 because that's |
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typical well flow...but if the mile-long pipeline adds any pressure or if they regulate pressure on a well, that would mean less pressure at the bottom and greater flow.
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DU
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Mon May 06th 2024, 03:37 AM
Response to Original message |