The guys who plugged the hole in the world

Oil Platform BurningIf you were like me you were shocked and outraged at the sight of the Macondo Deepwater Horizon oil well exploding into flames in the Gulf of Mexico just two years ago. But two additional thoughts crept into my head as the days went by:

One: How are they going to plug that thing, a mile deep spewing scalding hot crude oil at the rate of tens of thousands of gallons an hour?

Two: What poor schmuck is going to get this assignment?

The story is well told here, if you like a good engineering thriller, or just like to marvel at the engineering prowess we have here in this country.

They ought to make a movie about this one. Beats Keanu Reeves in on an out of control bus any day.