Bowler's Plumbing

Oil Spill In Gulf Of Mexico: 1,800 Square Miles And Spreading

On Monday afternoon, an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana spread more than 1800 square miles. This specific oil spill is coming from a leak in the well that had been drilled by the Transocean Deepwater Horizon, a giant offshore drilling rig that exploded and sank last week. The well is nearly a mile deep and is expected to be leaking 43,000 gallons a day. The U.S. Coast Guard has been using robot subs to try to stop the leak.

The spill in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to remain about 30 miles offshore based of analysis of the ocean currents and weather patterns. The states along the Gulf coast were warned in a statement on Monday by the Coast Guard to be on alert. The oil rig that sank was drilling a well about 50 miles off of the Louisiana coast butting that shore at the highest risk.

Responses to the spill

Louisiana has begun spending money now in oil spill response, installing containment booms around environmentally sensitive areas, to prepare for the oil spill which, according to the Coast Guard, could hit shore anytime Tuesday. Alabama has also mobilized oil spill response to prevent damage if the oil spill hits according to the Associated Press. The Coast Guard says that they have spent extra cash on 15 specially designed skimming vessels which has collected 48,000 gallons of oil water mix by Sunday. Aircraft have been dumping dispersant chemicals to break down the oil.

Oil spill disaster comes true with fears

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a big fear when the Deepwater Horizon exploded and sank. The New York Times reports that the well is leaking its liquid cash today from the “riser”. The riser is a 5,000-foot-long pipe extending from the wellhead on the ocean bottom that was connected to the drilling platform. The riser is kinked like a garden hose now. The leaks seem to be at sea floor and officials seem to believe the kinks are preventing an even worse gusher of oil from escaping. Before the platform sank, a geyser of oil and gas shot from the riser to create a giant plume of flame and black smoke.

Cleanup of the oil spill

The contain the oil spill, the Coast Guard wants to seal the wall by having robotic subs activate a 450 ton valve at the wellhead 5,000 feet deep. It is possible this valve won’t work as it is designed to prevent sudden pressure releases that led to the explosion that sunk the platform. BP has dispatched two rigs to the area that could drill relief wells as a contingency. Officials estimated that this strategy, drilling down to the cavity of oil and gas and pumping it full of mud and concrete, could take two months.

At this rate, The New York times said, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, at a rate of 42,000 gallons of oil a day, would have to continue for 262 days to match the 11-million-gallon spill in Alaska’s Prince William Sound from the Exxon Valdez in 1989, the worst oil spill in United States history.

ITAP: Check and foot valves

Sewer Jetter Cleaner Kit – Foot Valve, 100′ x 1/4″ Hose, Reel & Nozzles $388.02

Stainless Steel InLine Check Valve w S.S. Filter Foot Valve SS316 2″pkg of 4 $360.43

(2) CRANE 3″ 465 1/2 125 GATE VALVE’S (SEE FOOT NOTE) $335.00

Stainless Steel In-Line Check Valve w/ S.S. Filter (foot valve) SS316 – 3″ $220.56

Stainless Steel InLine Check Valve w S.S. Filter Foot Valve SS316 1-14″pkg of 4 $205.33

DANFOSS #60SE FLOMATIC 2-1/2″ FPT FOOT VALVE BRONZE 4106E USA $198.00

Sewer Cleaning Jetter Foot Valve 5000 PSI 12 GPM $189.85

Stainless Steel InLine Check Valve w S.S. Filter Foot Valve SS316 2″pkg of 2 $183.97

Stainless Steel InLine Check Valve w S.S. Filter Foot Valve SS316 1″pkg of 4 $147.23

2 inch npsh foot valve $125.00

EBARA Foot Valve NFT-65 Drain/Intake $124.99

Brass In-Line Spring Valve w/ Filter (foot valve) – 2″ pack of 4 $121.79

Stainless Steel InLine Check Valve w S.S. Filter Foot Valve SS316 34″pkg of 4 $113.78

Brass In-Line Spring Valve w/ Filter (foot valve) – 4″ $107.38

Stainless Steel InLine Check Valve w S.S. Filter Foot Valve SS316 1-14″pkg of 2 $104.81

Stainless Steel In-Line Check Valve w/ S.S. Filter (foot valve) SS316 – 2″ $93.86

BRADLEY S65-001A FOOT VALVE REPAIR KIT – NEW $83.91

Sewer Cleaning Jetter Foot Valve 3000 PSI 8 GPM $80.11

Stainless Steel InLine Check Valve w S.S. Filter Foot Valve SS316 1″pkg of 2 $75.15

Brass In-Line Spring Valve w/ Filter (foot valve) – 3/4″ pack of 10 $72.58

BRADLEY S65-001A FOOT VALVE REPAIR KIT $70.00

NEW FILTERCHEM FOV-50 PVC FOOT OPERATED VALVE 1/2″ $64.99

Brass In-Line Spring Valve w/ Filter (foot valve) – 2″ pack of 2 $62.17

Brass In-Line Spring Valve w/ Filter (foot valve) – 3″ $61.66

HAYWARD FV10200SA 2″ PVC FOOT VALVE SCREEN NEW $60.00

Stainless Steel InLine Check Valve w S.S. Filter Foot Valve SS316 34″pkg of 2 $58.08

Stainless Steel In-Line Check Valve w/ S.S. Filter (foot valve) SS316 – 1-1/4″ $57.47

Brass In-Line Spring Valve w/ Filter (foot valve) – 1″ pack of 6 $57.39

CAMPBELL BRASS FOOT VALVE 2″ FIP x 2″ FIP FV-8T $54.99

CAMPBELL 2″ BRASS FOOT VALVE, FV-8T $50.00

Brady SFV-100 1″ Foot Valve Lot of 9 NIB $49.99

Zurn Z-6310 Aquaflush Exposed Foot Pedal Valve $49.95

Brass In-Line Spring Valve w/ Filter (foot valve) – 3/4″ pack of 6 $48.62

Stainless Steel In-Line Check Valve w/ S.S. Filter (foot valve) SS316 – 1″ $42.63

Brass In-Line Spring Valve w/ Filter (foot valve) – 1″ pack of 4 $40.65

3/8″ SCHRADER BELLOWS 2-WAY FOOT VALVE 010190049 $40.50

Simmons 1 1/2″ Lead Free Foot Valve Part # 456SB $39.99

Brass In-Line Spring Valve w/ Filter (foot valve) – 1/2″ pack of 8 $39.35

Brass In-Line Spring Valve w/ Filter (foot valve) – 2″ $36.12

0036 Teel Foot Valve Water, Gasoline, Petroleum Oil 1″ & 1 1/4″Dual Purpose New $34.99

Milwaukee Valve Co. “Milvaco” Bronze Single Poppet 3/4″ Foot Valve $34.95

HOSE BARB FITTING COMBINATION NIPPLE 6″ NPT STEEL WATER PUMP FOOT VALVE 695WH $34.13

Stainless Steel In-Line Check Valve w/ S.S. Filter (foot valve) SS316 – 3/4″ $34.08

Brass In-Line Spring Valve w/ Filter (foot valve) – 1/2″ pack of 6 $31.30

CAMPBELL BRASS FOOT VALVE 1-1/2″ FIP x 1-1/2″ FIP FV-6T $27.99

Water Source 2″, Brass Foot Valve, Rate At 200 PSI $27.85

Brass In-Line Spring Valve w/ Filter (foot valve) – 3/4″ pack of 3 $27.26

B & K Industries Brass Foot Valve Size 2 Inch Part No. 101-328 NEW IN BOX! $26.95

FLOMATIC 60SE SUBMERSIBLE FOOT CHECK VALVE 4101E 1″ $24.99

NEW HARVARD PART #5000 1-1/4″ FOOT VALVE $24.99

Water Source 1-1/4″, Brass, Foot Valve Rated At 200 PSI $24.30

CAMPBELL BRASS FOOT VALVE 200 PSI 1-1/4″ FV-5T $23.89

Brass In-Line Spring Valve w/ Filter (foot valve) – 1″ pack of 2 $23.19

Campbell Foot Valve FV-5 1 1\4″ & Water Chuck $22.99

BRONZE SUCTION STRAINER FOOT VALVE 1-1/2 NPT $22.50

STRATAFLO 1 1/4″ FOOT VALVE NIB $22.00

Campbell 1-1/2″ Combination Plastic Foot/Check Valve $20.56

Foot Valve Brass 1-1/2 NPT w/ screen $20.00

Teel 1-1/2″ Foot Valve – NEW $20.00

Chemtrol 1/2″ PVC Foot Valve Screen Assembly New, $20.00

Simmons 1 1/2″ Foot Valve for well pump NEW #4012 $19.99

6 BRASS 1″ JET PUMP FOOT VALVE 140014 SDC $19.91

Brass In-Line Spring Valve w/ Filter (foot valve) – 1-1/4″ $19.65

Water Source 1-1/2″, Brass, Foot Valve, Rated 400 PSI $18.69

BRASS CHECK VALVES, 1″ LF5000S-1 FOOT VALVE $18.50

Brass In-Line Spring Valve w/ Filter (foot valve) – 1/2″ pack of 3 $18.42

Campbell 1-1/4″ Combination Plastic Foot/Check Valve $17.29

NEW 1 1/4″ Tapered Foot Valve, Brass $17.21

Campbell FV-4T Brass Foot Valve 1″ FNPT $17.00

1 1/2 ” Brady SFV-150 Foot Valve. NOS In Box NR $15.99

CAMPBELL BRASS FOOT VALVE 200 PSI 1″ 22380-0045 $15.49

Brady Foot Valve SFV-100 1″ #4001 $15.20

Bronze Foot Valve, 1 1/4″ NIB $15.00

Campbell FV-3T Brass Foot Valve 3/4″ FNPT $15.00

NEW 1 1/4″ BRASS FOOT VALVE STAINLESS STEEL SUCTION SPRING AND SCREEN 200 PSI $14.99