He didn’t just offer 1, he’s up to Option 4.  If this week’s efforts to “cap” the well fail – this may be “Next Week’s Plan”.

BP America had already received three of Mr. Frank Cicanese’s inventions, when Frank heard of BP’s decision not to replace the failed blowout preventer on the Deepwater Horizon well.  Mr. Cicanese is a Port Charlotte resident and a retired industrial design consultant. 

Mr. Michael Cortez, Technical Manager for BP’s Alternative Response Technology Team, says that the company is concerned that the well may have sustained damage “below the mudline” and if the well is capped, the internal pressure within the well could force oil out the side somewhere below the sea floor.  It was that revelation that prompted Mr. Cicanese to design and create Option #4.

His latest design calls for a 200 ft. long needle-like stainless steel pipe with seals to be inserted into the blown well. He thinks that would strengthen the uppermost portion of the well and seal any leaks, at least within the first 200 ft.  His new design also includes a heavy-weight blow out preventer to bring the total weight to 157,000 pounds.  That is more than enough to sink the device into the well, even against the up to 20,000 pounds per inch of pressure that exists.  Mr. Cicanese said, “I got a call from Mr. Cortez.  He said he had the first three designs.  I told him, since there might be a possibility of damage to the casing below the mud-line, I’ve come up with Option 4”.

Mr. Cicanese is one of thousands that have submitted suggestions.  However, few of the submitters have his credentials.  In his career of over 50 years, Mr Cicanese, has designed solutions to industrial problems for some of the largest corporations in the world, including GM, Ford, Phillips Electornics, and RCA.  He also holds the only U.S. Patent for a device to cap oil wells in the Middle East.  

I think that Mr. Frank Cicanese, who is voluntarily standing up and being counted, at a time of need, deserves a serious “Atta-Boy”.  In fact, if his invention is successfully used by BP to cap the Deepwater Horizon Well, Mr. Cicanese will undoubtedly go down in the history books and one of America’s true Heroes.

Source:  G. Martin, @ the Sun-Herald,  7-10-2010