GOM Oil Spill - BP Stops Oil Leak

[jinftl]

The slow devastation of an oil spill lacks the headline news clips that really draw viewers in...reporters being almost blown away by hurricane force winds, aerial shots of flooded neighborhoods, and distressed and fed up evacuees. It is harder to 'see' the damage that is going on in the Gulf. For that reason, the nation will not embrace this story like they did Katrina even though this could devastate industries based in the Gulf. Sadly, if we start to get images of wildlife and marshland with visible oil contamination, those images will be everywhere on the news and, in an election year, will scare anyone running for office from embracing 'drill baby drill' quite as blindly.

I'm really astounded more people aren't commenting on this devastation. This has far worse implications than any hurricane.

This is an out-of-control, free-flowing oil source. There is currently *no viable plan* to stop the free flow.

Options:

1. We do have an untested, science fiction "dome-type device being" currently being engineered. 8-14 days away at best. No ideas if it will actually work at current depths.

2. We have an alternate well being drilled to possibly take pressure off the site (this will take 3+ months, at least) No ideas if it will actually work.

3. ???

beyond this - the oil will leak into the Gulf at rates beyond comprehension.
There is no definitive data as to actual rates. Meanwhile, marine life-kill has begun in earnest.

I am so frustrated - Pensacola has some of the most beautiful beaches on the planet.
Our entire state and the gulf coast is in peril.

[cycloneye]

Is sad to see this image of dead animals washing out in the beach. This is in Pass Christan Mississippi.

[brunota2003]

Here is something interesting that I thought of, considering the SWAT thing and the survivors not talking..."what if" this was not an accident, but something done on purpose that went horribly wrong? Not that I could EVER imagine someone doing something like that...it would be akin to playing with a live nuke, instead of just fire, but

[LizzardInFlorida]

Thanks cycloneye. That image makes me very sad.

1 request - Can we please keep all political posts/ conspiracy theories off this thread?
We don't need loony bins in here.
We need facts for the people on the Gulf Coast.

[brunota2003]

This is from my facebook:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) NOAA restricts fishing for a minimum of ten days in federal waters most affected by the BP oil spill, largely between Louisiana state waters at the mouth of the Mississippi River to waters off Florida’s Pensacola Bay, effective immediately. The order balances economic and health concerns and closes just areas affected by oil. Fishermen who wish to contact BP about a claim should call 800-440-0858.

Full Article Inset on post by NOAA:
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories201 ... eries.html

Quite a large area is now off limits to fishing:

[Jag95]

I did a little googling and found a SWAT Consulting firm that specializes in spills, containment, and coordination. Maybe that's what he meant.

[KWT]

So it seems like this is going to be an issue for quite some time unless the dome idea actually comes off...I think whats most dissapointing is from the sounds of things the oil companies really tried to not acknowledge how severe it was at first.

Would there being any effect on the oil prices if this kept up for quite some time?

[brunota2003]

Just out of curiosity, what would happen if you spread a layer of sand or dirt ontop of the oil? There has got to be something we could spread over the oil that the oil would stick to (thus becoming heavier than water) and sink to the bottom of the ocean. The only problem would be subsurface currents, though.

[Stephanie]

I have volunteered for cleanup as well here in the Pensacola area. I do wonder though, as to why the survivors haven't come forward to tell the American people what exactly happend on that rig. Fishing has now been banned, recreational as well as commercial...from Louisaiana to Florida. Lets hope they can come up with a solution to stopping this oil from gushing a MILE beneath the surface of the gulf, and preferably one that won't take 3 months to accomplish.

Good for you and thanks you as well!

[Stephanie]

Just out of curiosity, what would happen if you spread a layer of sand or dirt ontop of the oil? There has got to be something we could spread over the oil that the oil would stick to (thus becoming heavier than water) and sink to the bottom of the ocean. The only problem would be subsurface currents, though.

It sounds like something that would help, but I'm sure that it would take tons and tons of sand. I really don't know and it's obvious that the oil "experts" do not know.

[SunnyThoughts]

For Those interested in the technical aspects of how these oil rigs are designed, accounts from experts on how what could have gone wrong...complete with diagrams...this is a fantastic site.
http://www.theoildrum.com/

[attallaman]

For Those interested in the technical aspects of how these oil rigs are designed, accounts from experts on how what could have gone wrong...complete with diagrams...this is a fantastic site.
http://www.theoildrum.com/

Good website.

[Dionne]

Thanks cycloneye. That image makes me very sad.

1 request - Can we please keep all political posts/ conspiracy theories off this thread?
We don't need loony bins in here.
We need facts for the people on the Gulf Coast.

"loony bins".....? That's an insult. All I did was post what our President said about SWAT teams being deployed.

[Dionne]

Is sad to see this image of dead animals washing out in the beach. This is in Pass Christan Mississippi.

The really sad part......it wasn't just one sea turtle.....at least 20 dead sea turtles were found along Mississippi's coast in recent days. Cause of death is unknown at this time.

[Tom8]

idea how to catch this oil
use greenhouse foil

please follow this ideas to rescue teams

But STYROFOAM" will last about 15 seconds after it makes contact with oil.
so the blocks must be covered something







please follow this ideas to rescue teams

[Tom8]

another idea

verticcaly pipe wery wide in the bottom

Put another pipe verticcaly over that and wery wide in the bottom

the next importan is that if it is the truth that rig sank it flipped over and landed on top of the drill

so they must go with floating cranes and lift up this and move it away .

[Tom8]

vertical pipe wery wide in the bottom



I'm cheanging idea

big size of the wide in the bottom will be not good because wider it is it will be more dificult to hammer it to the ocean floor

[Terry]

Crist extends the state of emergency to all coastal counties north of Sarasota

Gov. Charlie Crist has just extended the state's emergency declaration to include the coastal counties of Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota because of oil spill impact from the Deepwater Horizon disaster. On Friday, Crist had declared a state of emergency for six Panhandle coastal counties.

"As the oil continues to spill from the well and all efforts to stop the discharge have failed and may not suceed for an extended period of time, more Florida counties could be affected,'' Crist write in his executive order.

[Dionne]

Along with the dead sea turtles....."huge numbers of dead jellyfish are being found on a Mississippi barrier island"....I found it a bit odd that the specific island(s) were not mentioned.

[WeatherLovingDoc]

ABC graphic, suggesting three times the amount of oil spread from Thursday to Sunday (start at 1:25)? if true.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/fishing-banned-oily-gulf-coast-10537444&tab=9482931&section=1206833&playlist=&page=1