Friday, June 18, 2010

Deepwater Horizon should not become our Event Horizon


If the situation is as bad a movie as what some people describe then it looks like it could be important to know when the whole 2 billion barrels reservoir will be wide open gushing into the Gulf of Mexico ... or/and if there is a plan F that can be developed as the seabed floor collapses. BP's current approach of drilling a relief well also requires to have a good idea of how the seabed conditions change with time as the relief drill bit gets closer to the primary broken well. In both instances, BP needs to have the means of monitoring and making sense of the very rapid conditions taking place underneath the seafloor. So let me make a statement:

I am sure BP has the right people to do it with either nuclear, seismic, electromagnetic or sonic measurement capabilities; I am sure BP can perform these inverse problems with the best codes/algos there are.

However, if there are any doubts, or if there is a need for innovative and robust ways to monitor the situation at a higher sampling rate or with higher resolution, with the current assets, then I suggest some of the BP folks get in touch with some of the people of the community reading this blog. It is being read by the best minds in the world when it comes to sampling issues using any kind of probes (particles, electromagnetic, acoustic, seismic...). I am sure they can also sign NDAs if the situation requires it.

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