9 May 2010. The gas hydrate I structure is one of the likely possible gas hydrates clogging the "Macondome", the containment dome being lowered by BP to control the Macondo oil well under the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico. This sets back the containment date. Gas hydrates are crystals of water and gas. The gas in this case is probably hydrocarbon gas. The transparent black balls above represent the gas molecules trapped in the cages of the water-ice and gas structure. These gas hydrates form a vast reserve of future fuel, but are ironically the enemy in this case. They form when four things are right - that is you need water, gas, cold temperature and high pressure. Gas hydrates burn when ignited. Were gas hydrates involved in the initial explosion? Did they form in the blowout preventer (BOP)? The BOP is a Hydril 18¾ inch 15,000 psi, six-ram system with a Cameron 15,000 psi wellhead connector, apparently, and currently in a state of disastrous disrepair! Crystals of these flammable ice form on surfaces, and thats the problem with the containment effort. The dome is getting coated with gas hydrate crystals . Surface active agents (detergents) can prevent the clogging. So can glycols and other chemicals. What will BP do?
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