British Petroleum reportedly has 17,000 unsolicited offers of advice for fixing the catastrophic oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico (and at least one impatient demand from on high), but metalcasters will be intrigued to read the proposal from one of their suppliers.

Don Sanchez of Chesapeake Specialty Products, a supplier of deveining agents, metallic abrasive, and iron oxide products, has suggested using his firm's high-density material rather than drilling mid for the "Top Kill" approach that BP officials hope will resist the pressure of the flowing petroleum. Sanchez believes that HDM has a higher specific gravity than the mud, and thus will settle and hold over the open well better than the mud will do. It's an interesting proposal, and maybe a one-shot opportunity, but whether the company understands or even takes note of his idea isn't clear.