TR> I wonder why they don't lower a large, bell-shaped structure to the
 TR> leak, and channel the spewing oil up to the surface and into a
 TR> waiting tanker? 

they have done that... twice... with two different structures... the first
one was the one that had the frozen hydrate problem... their attempt with
the RITT (Riser Insertion Tube Tool) resulted in only 900000 gallons being
recovered... 

http://tinyurl.com/36evukx

"The Riser Insertion Tube Tool involves inserting a four-inch diameter
tube into the Horizon's riser (21-inch diameter pipe) between the well and
the broken end of the riser on the seafloor in 5,000 feet of water.

The insertion tube would be connected to a new riser to allow hydrocarbons
to flow up to the Transocean Discoverer Enterprise drillship located on the
surface."


http://tinyurl.com/24n3r4p

"The company failed in the days after the spill to use robotic
submarines to close valves on the massive blowout preventer atop the
damaged well, then two weeks later ice-like crystals clogged a 100-ton box
the company tried placing over the leak. Earlier this week, engineers
removed a mile-long siphon tube after it sucked up a disappointing 900,000
gallons of oil from the gusher."


)\/(ark