Did anyone read any of the comments below the first article, like the ones stating that the article is a hoax by an author thats infamous for these type of articles?

 

I didn't until you mentioned it. I hope that is the case.

What's the downside to the nuke option? I'm guessing it will take a while for the fish population to build up again ie lost jobs for the locals. What else?

 

I've spent several hours today researching this and have few new definitive answers. The Soviets used this technique to shut down runaway natural gas wells. It worked on four of the five and the last one required a second bomb to do the job.

 

I am having trouble finding actual environmental information and side affects related to these detonations. Most of what I have been able to find is relating to our spill and consists of opinion, all the way from that a small nuclear explosion at that depth would be go unnoticed to tsunami type events that would hit the gulf coast. I lean more toward the former, based on my knowledge of geology and underwater volcanoes. Other suggested problems range from radioactive tar balls washing up on the beach to the international problem that it will present in our dealings with countries, such as Iran, than will argue that they have the right to pursue the same nuclear technology for that purpose. Also suggested is that it might do more harm to the leak than good, due to the geology of the ocean floor in that area and the type of leak that it is.

 

All in all, I'm leaning away from the use of a nuclear bomb, except as a total last resort. It seems to me that more convectional explosives, such as thermite, might prove just as effective, all the while removing some of the concerns.

 

One thing is certain, IMO. We need to take a page from Canada's playbook and pass legislation that requires a relief well be dug along with every new well.

Just nuke it already!

I'd be in utter shock if the Obama Administration agrees to a nuclear detonation to stop the leak. They love the environment too much.

Morning Joe showed a clip of President Clinton advocating seaaling the leak with explosives as a last resort. He did say that conventional explosives could be used. They then asked Boone Pickens what he thought. He said it was a terrible idea - nuclear or conventional. He said there is a serious risk of shattering the strata that contain the oil and creating a leak that couldn't be stopped until it ran out of oil. I would stay away from trying to seal the leak with an explosive. The risk of a fracture strikes me as too high. The relief wells they are drilling still look like the best permanent fix to me. In the meantime, just keep trying to contain and remediate.

Morning Joe showed a clip of President Clinton advocating seaaling the leak with explosives as a last resort. He did say that conventional explosives could be used. They then asked Boone Pickens what he thought. He said it was a terrible idea - nuclear or conventional. He said there is a serious risk of shattering the strata that contain the oil and creating a leak that couldn't be stopped until it ran out of oil. I would stay away from trying to seal the leak with an explosive. The risk of a fracture strikes me as too high. The relief wells they are drilling still look like the best permanent fix to me. In the meantime, just keep trying to contain and remediate.

I agree. I know they have tested deep water detonations before but I don't think they have done them on the ocean floor. There is no way to know what the results would be.

That was inconvienent.

I must admit, I am unclear as to how a nuclear detonation will seal a leak.

 

Maybe there's a reason the Russians suggested it. They're still fighting the cold war and they want us to destroy the Gulf and it's oil supply, while also depleting our nuclear stockpile, and revealing some of our technology. It all makes sense now.

I cautiously agree with you. From the readings I've done, this seems to be perhaps the most reasonable option.

 

Your agreement with that option shocks me. I must do more research on this!

Nuke could provide a blast to bury the oil rig and send molten rock down to seal the leak, or other small charges could stop it with shock waves.