Wondering why they cannot simply weld a pipe with a shutoff valve on top of the current pipe then turn it off ? Pressure too great that it will split the pipes - IF successful ?? Haven't heard any engineering details .... I know it's a mile down there, but is it a possibility with a robot on a sub ?

If this were China or Russia they would just nuke it and close it off, and BP could drill a new well.

I think a big sharkbite would do it, maybe Lowe's could order them one.

If we can do it for a small pipe we can do it for a larger one...come on...

I wonder why they don't put one of those concrete tophats over it and then pump the tophat full of mud or concrete?

Brad:

Here's a part of a paper written in the 70s:

UNDERWATER WELDING

Amit Mukund Joshi (Mechanical Engineer)

Junior Research Fellow

Mechanical Engineering Department

Indian Institute of Technology

I.I.T – Bombay

Developments in Under Water Welding

Wet welding has been used as an underwater welding technique for a long time and is still being used. With recent acceleration in the construction of offshore structures underwater welding has assumed increased importance. This has led to the development of alternative welding methods like friction welding, explosive welding, and stud welding. Sufficient literature is not available of these processes.

¾ Scope for further developments

Wet MMA is still being used for underwater repairs, but the quality of wet welds is poor and are prone to hydrogen cracking. Dry Hyperbaric welds are better in quality than wet welds. Present trend is towards automation. THOR – 1 (TIG Hyperbaric Orbital Robot) is developed where diver performs pipefitting, installs the trac and orbital head on the pipe and the rest process is automated.

Developments of diverless Hyperbaric welding system is an even greater challenge calling for annexe developments like pipe preparation and aligning, automatic electrode and wire reel changing functions, using a robot arm installed. This is in testing stage in deep waters. Explosive and friction welding are also to be tested in deep waters.

REFERENCES

1) D. J Keats, Manual on Wet Welding.

2) Annon, Recent advances in dry underwater pipeline welding, Welding Engineer, 1974.

3) Lythall, Gibson, Dry Hyperbaric underwater welding, Welding Institute.

4) W.Lucas, International conference on computer technology in welding.

5) Stepath M. D, Underwater welding and cutting yields slowly to research, Welding Engineer, April 1973.

6) Silva, Hazlett, Underwater