A Lincolnshire based inventor believes he may have the answer to
stopping the flow of oil gushing from BP's damaged riser pipe in
the Gulf of Mexico.
John Rinfret, managing director of Balcan Engineering Limited
based in Horncastle an environmental solutions company that
received the Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2006 has already put
forward his idea to BP but was appalled to learn that his plan
would, according to the BP website take too long to evaluate.
BP has struggled with several efforts to contain the oil but the
latest cap installed on the blown-out well is capturing about
650,000 gallons of oil a day, but large quantities are still
spilling into the sea.
"In view of the enormity of the disaster and the lack of success
of BP to stop the flow, it is appalling that BP is not treating
this matter with any obvious urgency.
In an attempt to get his plan across to receptive ears with a
quicker response he has contacted the White House, the governors of
Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida and the British Embassy in
Washington and has received replies suggesting that they will look
at his suggestions.
What he sees as a simple cost-effective design proposal would
involve the construction of a 10ft diameter chimney gradually
reducing to 2 ft diameter on the final of 5 barges placed over the
gushing pipe and weighted down on the sea bed by the 5 readily
available Mississippi barges each filled with 1,000 tonnes of
reinforced concrete and stacked vertically on top of each other.
When completed these would be towed, positioned and assembled over
the gushing pipe. Only at the top of the chimney when the
diameter is reduced to 2ft would any control valve or pipe be
connected that would cause a build up of pressure.
Whilst under construction oil would be allowed to continue to
gush from the pipe so no pressure would build up to cause any sort
of problem.
His concept is so simple that it can be integrated immediately
within days, he believes.
Rinfret explains he does not know the actual dimensions of the
gusher and has suggested the 10ft diameter pipe to ensure it fits
over it.
"I am very concerned that my own concept which is very cheap and
quick to produce so far is apparently being ignored when I believe
it could prove to be very successful if adopted in stopping the oil
from the gusher," said John Rinfret.