‘Mystery Plumber’ May Be the One to Thank for Oil Spill Cap, Kansas Man Steps Forward

Out of all the engineers, scientists, Ph.Ds and even Hollywood actors who stepped forward with ideas about how to stop the massive flow of oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico, reports are now saying it could have be an everyday plumber who ultimately solved the problem.

A late-night call from a “mystery plumber” got the attention of Robert Bea, a civil and environmental engineering professor at the University of California-Berkley about six weeks ago.

The caller, who humbly refused to give his name, ultimately sent Bea a design for a containment cap that would fit over the well. Bea thought the idea was a good one, and sent the sketches directly to the U.S. Coast Guard; from there, sketches went to a clearinghouse.

BP had requested ideas on how to stop the spill from the public after repeated failed attempts since the April 20 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that killed 11 people.

BP representatives said it was unknown if the plumber’s design actually influenced the final cap design, but noted that “bits and pieces” of 300,000 suggestions from around the world could have been used.

But not only has Bea seen a striking similarity between the cap and the proposed designs, but a Kansas man has come forward, claiming the work.

His name is Joe Caldart and he said in an interview that he has gone public because he “felt like people should know that here an average guy submitted something that maybe helped.”

So far, the cap is holding, but President Obama remained cautious about declaring an end to the disaster as scientists are monitoring the well.

AP Photo/BP PLC

A Chicago native, Bridgette has been a journalist since she first wrote for her seventh grade newsletter. Today, that passion is just as strong. She has written for several newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle, the Houston Defender, the Marshall News-Messenger (Texas) and the Springfield News-Sun (Ohio).

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4 Responses to ‘Mystery Plumber’ May Be the One to Thank for Oil Spill Cap, Kansas Man Steps Forward

1. Iowa guy says:

   11:32am July 21, 2010 at 11:32 am

   Can I/we see a sketch or diagrams of any sort of this cap that they put on? I am curious how it was designed, what it looks like, and the basic parts they used in the cap. Lets see what actually stopped this leak of all leaks.

   Reply
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