Water jet technology companies Jet Edge and Chukar Waterjet recently played a role in helping BP stop the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. The companies provided ultra-high pressure waterjet equipment and application expertise to blast away hydrate ice crystals that had formed inside a containment cap at the spill site, clogging the containment system.
Jet Edge custom engineered a 36,000 psi waterjet intensifier pump that was dropped 5,000 feet into the Gulf to power a robot-operated waterjetting lance that blasted away the hydrates. To ensure the hydrate remediation project’s success, Jet Edge utilized advanced filtration and ultra-high pressure seal technology capable of withstanding the harsh undersea environment. The system was designed to blast with sea water or liquid gas. As a result, Jet Edge developed the first-known waterjet system capable of operating in water depths in excess of 5,000 feet, opening a new frontier for waterjet technology. Chukar Waterjet provided onsite applications engineering services throughout the project, working with a subsea technology company, an offshore logistics and supply company, an offshore transportation company, BP, and an independent safety group to ensure successful completion of the project.