I have the formula to end oil crisis

Jamie MacDonald • Published 19 May 2010 10:44 0 Comments

A TULLIBODY man believes he has the solution to BP's problem of stopping the spillage of oil in the Gulf of Mexico.

It has almost been a month since an explosion in one of the company's wells killed 11, sank the Deepwater Horizon rig and caused a massive slick.

Since then, attempts to stem the 5000 barrels of oil leaking daily into the ocean off the US coast have proved unsuccessful. Barack Obama, the US President, has warned the leak could be a "potentially unprecedented" environmental disaster.

But 78-year-old George Jenking is certain he has come up with a simple idea that would allow the company to stem the flow and easily restart it once the line had been fixed.

He told the Advertiser he first came up with the idea in 1991 as a way to stop the massive oil fires in Kuwait when the invading Iraqi Army set the oil fields ablaze after being forced out by coalition forces.

Mr Jenking said, "I came up with the idea at the time and tested it at a garage in Alloa and it worked. It would work for any kind of pipeline, whether it is oil, water, anything, this will work."

So convinced was he that during the First Gulf War Mr Jenking wrote to Stirling University with his theory and formula. Their Professor of Mathematics and its Applications at the time responded saying he agreed with his idea.

"It doesn't involve a lot of equipment and it could be used time and time again," he said. "If I told you, you would know it would work right away."

But the former builder won't be sharing his theory just yet, he is waiting on BP to make him an offer for his knowledge.

He said, "They throw millions of pounds at the problem every day. They could throw some my way."

A spokesperson for BP said the oil giant had received suggestions from all over the globe but would be happy to hear Mr Jenking's plan.

The spokesperson added, "We are grateful for all suggestions. We have had over 15,000 people send us in ideas and we have a team in Houston looking at all of them.

"It is quite possible there would be a reward if it was appropriate."

Suggestions of ways to stop the oil flow can be submitted to BP via the website www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com or by calling the American response number +1 425 745 8017.

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