BOUNCE

[VINOBBBY]

That's how this tool works. It's like a clamp on the outside of the flange, and the inner portion has a heavy thick rubber membrane that takes 500psi to inflate. It pinches itself against the ID of the carbon-steel shell and the OD of the flange. It has a robotic valve on top, and sensors so inside pressure can be monitored. It also has quick-release couplings in case it needs released and reset.

As I said before, if they use something like this they need to monitor the pressure very closely since they suspect that they have additional down hole problems. The last thing they need right now is an additional blowout under the sea floor.