Some possible solutions to the gushing oil plume.

All of the previous attempts have used outlets that have been smaller than the source 21" pipe from which the oil plume is flowing.

That raises the pressure, therefore velocity and force. I suggest that they think in terms of connecting the 21" outlet pipe to an outlet pipe that is larger than the 21" pipe to reduce the pressure. For example, a 25" pipe slipped over the 21" directing the flow upward to a surface tanker.
Not much oil would escape at the joint because of the force of the outward pressure although it might aspirate more water than is desirable. (In that case, tighten the fitting.)

Another possibility: Use a rather large, say 50' across ,inverted funnel, (could be similar to
an oil storage tank with a peak). Then pump it out as was tired in the first containment which clogged up with ice. The larger pipe would be too large to clog with ice.

Possibility 3: Lower two or three high capacity pumps with the inlets very near the plume to put a large amount of vacuum force near the leak. That may be able to suck the oil to the surface,

Possibility 4: Shore up the 21" pipe with a very heavy duty sleeve to protect against breaking off from the forces. Then insert a smoothly tapered steel rod covered with a type of cement that would act as a sealant. The insertion force would be a pile drive type hammering, carefully applied a micro inch at a time, while also applying heat to the first twenty or thirty feet of the 21" pipe ( a heated collar) to make the 21" pipe expand making it easier for the rod insertion. Then remove the heat from the collar to allow the 21" pipe to contract onto the tapered rod.

The bottom line is that the Gulf of Mexico cannot get totally wiped out by a 21" pipe flow. There are engineers somewhere in the world that can solve this problem and soon.

That's the only thing I can come up with to explain why they want to use smaller pipes instead of one that would be bigger and lessen pressure.

All about the profit

Fuck the environment.

never occurred to me that anyone, at this desperate point, is still worrying about the proceeds from the one stinking well. I just don't believe it. They will lose far more money by allowing it to continue to flow out than from preserving the output from this well.

They are trying to retain the heat of the oil as well as trying to stop a pressure drop, both because it also keeps the temperature up, but also because it would make the pumping require less energy. Those things seem to me to be the obvious reasons.

something like voltron maybe.

protector. That would be a great idea. Just obtain one of the best BOP in the world and install in on the broken pipe and have it crimp the pipe as it was designed to do.

Thanks for your idea. I had forgotten about that possibility.

Just like in an aquarium updraft filter.

If Methane Hydrates are a problem, inject warmed seawater into the bottom of the pipe to melt the methane in addition to the air.

Scuba

Just like in an aquarium updraft filter. They wouldn't have to inject the air all the way at the bottom in order to get the pumping action started. Once it is started the natural buoyancy of the oil will cause the flow. Of course you would have to pump it into containers suspended below the surface, there may not be enough force to lift oil into above water containment.

If Methane Hydrates are a problem, inject warmed seawater into the bottom of the pipe to melt the methane.

Very similar to techniques the use currently as shown here: http://www.ssssllc.com/?page_id=48


Scuba

(Water from the four thousand ft. level would already be warm enough with the use of any external heat source.)