So the Ocean is on fire...

[Brother D]

https://twitter.com/EoinHiggins_/status/1411075158...

Pretty impressive...

[aparna]

Nothing a bit of garden hose can't fix.

[Mandat]

aparna said:

Nothing a bit of garden hose can't fix.

I'm actually intrigued as to what those water sprays from the boats hope to achieve that the ocean water itself hasn't been able to do?

[bongtom]

Mandat said:

aparna said:

Nothing a bit of garden hose can't fix.

I'm actually intrigued as to what those water sprays from the boats hope to achieve that the ocean water itself hasn't been able to do?

I’d imagine it’s liquid nitrogen.

[fttm]

Nitrogen would be the call , hope the crew are below deck whilst spraying though .

[craig_m67]

I imagine the water is being used to contain the flame front. The gas is bubbling up from below (obvs.), the current could take the gas anywhere, they don’t want the fire to spread

[stuthemong]

The only solution I can come with to fix this is, "we need the Thunderbirds".

!!!

[andy43]

Surely all underground gas pipes should have ‘No Smoking’ signs fitted?
Pesky fish.

[Evolved]

That’s impressive and shocking all at once.

[citizensm1th]

Once the money in the meter runs out.it will be fine

[CambsBill]

Assuming they put the fire out, how quickly can they then plug the leak (not sure if the fire needs to be out to do this) whilst a large cloud of highly-flammable gas builds up on the surface?

[CoolHands]

Ok pipeline ruptured, understood. But how did it catch alight?

Also, I think the boats are doing a good job of demonstrating the phrase pissing in the wind

Edited by CoolHands on Saturday 3rd July 09:13

[davidexige]

You would have thought they could just shut a valve in the pipeline and that would be the end of it.

[Plymo]

Extinguishing the fire completely would end up with a worse situation, the gas will still come to the surface, but instead of burning will just build up, until something ignites it and causes an explosion.
It looks like they are trying to contain it but not put it out.
Presumably someone, somewhere is trying to work out how to stop the flow!

[Otispunkmeyer]

CoolHands said:

Ok pipeline ruptured, understood. But how did it catch alight?

Also, I think the boats are doing a good job of demonstrating the phrase pissing in the wind

Edited by CoolHands on Saturday 3rd July 09:13

You've not seen that episode of Futurama where Zoidbergs house catches fire then!

[105.4]

davidexige said:

You would have thought they could just shut a valve in the pipeline and that would be the end of it.

That’s exactly what I was thinking.

I’m usually quite relaxed about H&S matters, but even I would have factored in such safety measures if I was in charge of building / installing that pipeline. Perhaps an automatic valve every nautical mile?

So I guess the question is, why does it appear such measures haven’t been out in place in this instance?

I don’t know how much it would cost to install such valves, but surely it’s got to be a lot cheaper than losing a massive amount of oil / gas, plus the clean-up costs, the fines and the legal costs associated with such a spillage?

Hopefully someone far more knowledgeable can answer my layman questions?

[oakdale]

Wouldn't surprise me if they actually set the gas on fire for safety until they find a way of turning it off, the leak is very close to the rig and I would think a real risk of explosion if it wasn't already burning.

[aparna]

craig_m67 said:

I imagine the water is being used to contain the flame front. The gas is bubbling up from below (obvs.), the current could take the gas anywhere, they don’t want the fire to spread

Interesting thanks. I had assumed there was some logic behind it. Still looks funny to untrained eyes, to be sprinkling some water on a fire UNDER THE SEA.

[Murph7355]

CambsBill said:

Assuming they put the fire out, how quickly can they then plug the leak (not sure if the fire needs to be out to do this) whilst a large cloud of highly-flammable gas builds up on the surface?

The guys who fixed my leaking water main could have that sorted in a couple of hours wearing only shorts and a t-shirt and with a couple of mole grips and an angle grinder.

[Jasandjules]

Wow. That is depressing as hell to see but also fascinating.