AndyH
Well-known member
LTLFTcomposite said:With PVC plumbing they always tell you to cut the pipe square. Anyone will tell you though you can be a little off and it doesn't matter because the seal is formed along the surface of the pipe wall and the fitting, not the end of the pipe. (Of course you can't be waaay off and cut the pipe on a 45 degree angle or you would not have enough contact surface all the way around the pipe).
I get the impression this cap is not like a pipe cap that makes a tight fit *around* the pipe. ie no O-rings or anything.
Take a memo... future deep water oil production should be done with PVC pipe... it's much easier to work with.
I think your view of the sealing surface is correct.
The BP graphics show a gasket or seal in the cap that appears to interface with the end of the pipe. This seem to be confirmed by the reports that BP needed a smooth cut when they severed the damaged riser.
Now that they're stuck with the really nasty pipe end, it would seem that there's not a chance in the world that the current cap will seal. The only way I can see to get a decent seal is to move to a circumferential seal (they want to seal out water, not stop the oil leak). Maybe something like a 21 inch compression fitting? Or a large rubber seal?