Problem Definition

This page offers information about the details of the oil spill situation in the Gulf of Mexico necessary to complete a solution design. To add information that is not yet posted, click on the "edit" link to the right of the section in which that information belongs.

Fluid leaving the well
The oil leaving the well is 200 degrees F according to a quote of Eric Smith, associate director of the Tulane Energy Institute.

Oil properties
Crude oil properties can vary from well to well and formation to formation. The crude in this oil spill has been referred to as Light Louisiana Sweet (LLS). The following data is from the BP web site though the density (which is a function of API) was determined from formula because of lack of unit specification on site.

Information about the Blowout Preventer (BOP)
The Blowout Preventer is a 48 ft tall 450 ton device at the top of the wellbore on the sea floor designd to completely stop flow from the well.

Other Information
The water pressure at 5000 feet is approximately 2300 psi.

=References=

=Helpful External Links=
 * | Wall Street Journal graphic of "top hat", containment dome, relief wells, and tube insertion solutions being attempted by BP.


 * BP website-Live video of leak from ROV