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You are > Home > Precious coastline is engulfed
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Thursday, June 10, 2010
Precious coastline is engulfed
BY FINBARR SLATTERY
EURONEWS put it well in just 14 words when it announced, in its early morning news on May 30, that BP’s attempt to stop the oil flow in the Gulf of Mexico by pumping barrels of mud into the opening had failed.
These were the words spoken: "Americans can only wait helplessly as the black oil slick engulfs their precious coastline."
What is happening in the Gulf of Mexico right now sees this planet of ours and all it contains, be it animal, vegetable or mineral, suffer untold damage.
Ian R McDonald, Professor of Oceanography at the Florida State University, gives some idea of the enormity of this oil spill disaster in an article he wrote for The Observer on Sunday, May 30.
"I am told that Britons like to measure areas by comparison of Wales. The oil spill stretching across the Gulf is now far bigger than Wales – it’s about the size of Scotland and growing by more than 1,500 square kilometres (580 square miles) a day. It was my observation, in satellite images of this inexorable spread, that led me to conclude in early May that the rate of release being cited by BP and parroted by our coastguard – 1,000 barrels a day – was preposterous.
McDonald added: "After initial pressure, the rate was upped to 5,000 barrels per day – still too low by my estimation by at least a factor of five, BP, however, refused to make any effort to estimate the flow, claiming this could jeopardise its response efforts, which could not possibly be any greater, it avowed.
"Several scientists were able to estimate flow rates at between 40,000 and 100,000 barrels a day. Suddenly a great many people were highly interested in video and other information. Threat of congressional subpoena – a very powerful writ ion our system – forced BP to produce more video and eventually the live feed from the bottom we can now see at bp.com.
The gusher video went viral."
Trying to plug a gushing oil well through a mile of water takes some doing. According to the Sunday Times (May 30) 414 dead sea birds have been found so far. Also listed are 200 turtles and 10 dolphins.
Another strategy is being tried to try and contain the seabed oil gusher. This new procedure will attempt to fit a containment cap over the leaking well. This is something that has never need attempted before at a depth of one mile down to where the oil is leaking. The world is watching and hoping that it will succeed.
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