We Can Put a Man on the Moon. Why Can't we Close the Leak?
In the 1960s, the United States embarked on a mission to put a man on the moon. It was an audacious goal that seemed impossible at the time. Many people doubted that it could be done, but through hard work, dedication, and innovation, the Apollo program successfully landed astronauts on the moon in 1969.
Fast forward to 2021, and we are facing another seemingly impossible challenge in the form of the Gulf of Mexico oil leak. A massive leak from a well located approximately 40 miles off the Louisiana coast began on April 20, 2010, after an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. Since then, millions of barrels of oil have gushed from the well, devastating wildlife, harming ecosystems, and damaging the economy of the Gulf Coast.
Despite the efforts of thousands of workers, engineers, and scientists, the leak has yet to be fully contained. People are naturally asking the question: if we can put a man on the moon, why can't we close this leak?
The answer is complex, and there are several reasons why the leak has proved so difficult to contain. We will explore some of those reasons in this article.
First, it's important to understand the scale of the Deepwater Horizon oil leak. The well is located approximately 5,000 feet below the surface of the ocean, and the flow rate of the oil has been estimated to be as high as 60,000 barrels per day. That's a staggering amount of oil that presents a serious challenge to contain.
To put this into perspective, consider the Apollo program. While landing on the moon was certainly not easy, it was a much more contained challenge. The spacecraft and astronauts were under NASA's direct control, and the agency could take all the necessary precautions to ensure their safety. In contrast, the Gulf of Mexico oil leak has been a much more chaotic situation, with many variables beyond the control of the people involved in the response.
Another factor that has made the leak difficult to contain is the complex nature of the well and the equipment involved. The Deepwater Horizon rig was drilling a well in a reservoir that was under high pressure, and as a result, many specialized techniques and engineering practices were used to ensure the safety of the rig and the personnel working on it. When the explosion occurred, many of these safety measures failed, and the equipment involved in the wellhead and the blowout preventer (BOP) became damaged.
This damage has made it difficult to attach containment devices and plug the well, as the pressure and temperature of the oil and gas escaping from the well presents a huge challenge to the equipment and the people who are working on it.
Furthermore, the Gulf of Mexico oil leak is taking place in a much more hostile environment than the moon landing. The ocean can be an unforgiving place, with strong currents, heavy waves, and unpredictable weather. These conditions make it difficult to deploy equipment and personnel quickly and safely. It's also worth noting that the oil leak is happening in a remote area of the Gulf of Mexico, making it even more challenging to transport necessary equipment and personnel to the site of the leak.
Finally, the Gulf of Mexico oil leak is a complex social and political issue, as much as it is a technological one. The response effort has involved multiple organizations, including BP, the US Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and various state and local governments. There are also many stakeholders who are involved in the response effort, including environmental groups, fishermen, and local residents who have been affected by the spill.
These stakeholders have different priorities, goals, and perspectives on what should be done to contain the leak and mitigate its effects. This has led to conflicts and disagreements about the response effort, which have slowed down progress and made it more difficult to make decisions about how to proceed.
In summary, there are many reasons why the Gulf of Mexico oil leak has proved so difficult to contain. It is a complex technological problem that is taking place in a harsh and unpredictable environment. It involves many organizations and stakeholders with different priorities and perspectives.
While it is a frustrating situation for everyone involved, it's important to keep in mind that the people working on the response effort are doing their best to contain the leak and mitigate its effects. We can't always control nature, and we can't always predict the outcome of complex technological systems. But we can continue to work towards finding solutions and innovating new technologies to help prevent similar disasters from happening in the future.