Gulf coast oil spill

[Griff]

More than 200,000 gallons of oil a day are spewing from the blown-out well at the site of BP's Deepwater Horizon rig, which exploded April 20 and sank two days later. Crews are using at least six remotely operated vehicles to try to shut off an underwater valve, but so far they've been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, high winds and waves are pushing oily water over the booms meant to contain it. Besides BP, a slew of federal and state agencies are scrambling to minimize the onslaught of damage.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Griff

Crews are using at least six remotely operated vehicles to try to shut off an underwater valve, but so far they've been unsuccessful.

Keep in persective BP's reputation. For example, their maintenance of the Alaska pipeline is well known by all whose news is from news sources - not gossip or politically tainted sources. BP apparetly has some of the most unsafe refineries in the industry based upon the number of explosions and deaths.

This well head was about to be capped since drilling was almost complete. Well heads have a valve structure with both automatic and manually operated valves. Five days later, BP sort of requested help from everyone. Apparently did not say why. None of those many valves are working. The entire well was draining into the Gulf. BP simply underplayed the extent of an impending disaster (apparently for the same reasons why they also forgot to mention why the Alaska pipeline was at such serious risk).

About one week ago, this open well had the potetial of being larger than that largest oil spiil. No, that was not Exxon Valdez. An oil spile three times larger was earlier in Brooklyn by Mobil oil. Mobil also did not pay for the cleanup.

This spill has one additional problem. It will be picked up by the Gulf stream. It can spread aroung the FL coast and up the American Atlantic coast. A major spill was not carried by a major current. So we learn.

BP said that drilling rig was not at risk of sinking. One day later, it capsized. Why are those valves not working? Too few facts are forecoming from BP. Expect this oil spill to be much worse because BP is contantly suppressing facts. It is BP's history from many refinery fires and why the Alaska pipeline was not being properly cleaned.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by tw

Keep in persective BP's reputation. For example, their maintenance of the Alaska pipeline is well known by all whose news is from news sources - not gossip or politically tainted sources. BP apparetly has some of the most unsafe refineries in the industry based upon the number of explosions and deaths.

I'll have to take your word for it. Got no idea which company is safer than another.

In ironic twist, BP finalist for pollution prevention award
BP, now under federal scrutiny because of its role in the deadly Gulf of Mexico explosion and oil spill, is one of three finalists for a federal award honoring offshore oil companies for "outstanding safety and pollution prevention."

The winner of the award - chosen before the April 20 oil rig incident - was to be announced this coming Monday at a luncheon in Houston. But the U.S. Department of Interior this week postponed the awards ceremony, saying it needs to devote its resources to the ongoing situation resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and fire.

Eleven workers are presumed dead and an estimated 5,000 barrels of oil are leaking every day from the well. The cause of the explosion is still unknown.

A spokeswoman for the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service said she did not know which of the three finalists for the non-monetary award had been selected, nor did she say whether the current circumstances could influence the decision if BP was the winner.

I would certainly hope that this would influence their decision. WTH?