Concerning the response to the burning oil wells…
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/moilfire.html
I have to wonder if Tapioca ever heard of or saw the IMax Movie, “Fires of Kuwait” made in 1992.
In the movie they use the big pipe mentioned in the response to put the fire out by getting the flame to come out the top of the pipe, then tilting the pipe at an angle such that the flame shoots off in one direction, away from the spewing oil.
In another segment of the movie, two MIG jet engines are used to ‘blow’ out an oil fire.
In yet another section of the movie, nitro gylcerine IS used to blow out a well fire.
In all cases, a large hole is dug near the fire and it is filled with water to spray on the fire to make it cool enough for people to get close to put the fire out.
That’s what I remember from watching the movie 11 years ago. It was a very impressive movie.