Oil Spill Update: Mile-long tube sucking oil away from Gulf well

[B_Mister Buildington]

sheesh I guess it's time to change profiles again

 

[sbat]

Awww... I'm surprised nobody liked the headline, which I did not editorialize. Yes, AP used 'tube' and 'sucking' in their headline! lol!

I was going to say something, but I didn't want to look all horny teenager on such a serious site :biggrin1:

 

[maxcok]

it's just some crude oil, it really isn't that big a deal. heavy crude is pretty benign, in terms of toxicity

Plus: “The Gulf of Mexico is a very big ocean. The amount of volume of oil and dispersant we are putting into it is tiny in relation to the total water volume.” -- Tony Hayward, BP CEO

My other personal fave: "We had too many people who working to save the world." -- Yep, Tony again, speaking to Stanford Graduate Business School a year ago, explaining why the culture at BP needed to change.


For more of his Greatest Hits: Keith Olbermann Presents BP CEO Tony Hayward

 

[Rikter8]

It's a real shame as the U.S. as a country can't step in and cap that well.

It's pathetic that they allow a major oil corporation destroy the earth we live on because of political and financial gain.
It's sad that our President is still standing by.

There's no reason why we couldn't have capped that well by now.
We're fucked, and nobody cares.

 

[sbat]

"When seconds count between living or dying, the police are only minutes away." - Phillip Van Cleave (October 30, 2007)

If you live in the city. You might want to change "only minutes" to "at least 15 minutes" if you live out in the country

 

[B_VinylBoy]

It's a real shame as the U.S. as a country can't step in and cap that well.

It's pathetic that they allow a major oil corporation destroy the earth we live on because of political and financial gain.
It's sad that our President is still standing by.

I don't think our President is standing by. There are many laws, corporate stipulations and red tape in place to prevent anyone from walking in and stopping them from drilling.... which sucks for us because we're on the precipice of losing a major source of animal life and ecological resources. And all because of a few greedy & selfish men who thought the first billion dollars was simply not enough for them to sustain any level of living for their families.

There's no reason why we couldn't have capped that well by now.

Science suggests a completely different theory to that. I mean, it's not everyday that scientists can create the same climate & conditions as being a mile under the sea level to conduct thorough tests and be able to come up with fast solutions to potential problems. But it is a tell that we as humans shouldn't have been out there doing this stuff to begin with.

We're fucked, and nobody cares.

I would say that the people who do care can't do anything substantial about it. That's why we're fucked.

 

[sbat]

I don't think our President is standing by. There are many laws, corporate stipulations and red tape in place to prevent anyone from walking in and stopping them from drilling.... which sucks for us because we're on the precipice of losing a major source of animal life and ecological resources. And all because of a few greedy & selfish men who thought the first billion dollars was simply not enough for them to sustain any level of living for their families.



Science suggests a completely different theory to that. I mean, it's not everyday that scientists can create the same climate & conditions as being a mile under the sea level to conduct thorough tests and be able to come up with fast solutions to potential problems. But it is a tell that we as humans shouldn't have been out there doing this stuff to begin with.



I would say that the people who do care can't do anything substantial about it. That's why we're fucked.

It's not that they can't. They just don't have the mentality necessary. They are ideal-oriented, rather than results oriented. They would rather argue about the emotional impact, tell the story of 10 people whose lives are forever screwed, and ceaselessly whine that SOMEBODY should do something, then pat themselves on the back for caring.

 

[lucky8]

The recent cap put on the well isn't doing shit. Let's say the well was leaking (by some estimates) 60,000 barrels a day (probably more). Before installing the cap, BP openly said sawing off the pipe would increase the amount of oil by 20%. This would be 12,000 barrels per day more....leaving us with a total of 72,000 barrels per day of spewing oil. Now that the cap is in place, BP claims to be capturing around 14,000 barrels a day...I bet it's less ; ) So. 72,000-14,000=58,000 barrels of oil spewing into the ocean every day. 2,000 less than before. This means nothing whatsoever, especially if you consider recent estimates of leakage are reaching 100,000 barrels/day. If it's been leaking more than 65,000 per day, BP essentially fucked us again and made things worse...surprise surprise

 

[FRE]

it's just some crude oil, it really isn't that big a deal. heavy crude is pretty benign, in terms of toxicity

What about crude oil that contains large amounts of hydrogen sulfide? Is the hydrogen sulfide non-toxic because somehow the toxicity is neutralized by the crude oil?

Crude oil can also contain other toxic substances. Are they all somehow neutralized by the crude oil?

 

[freyasworld]

200 oil leaks reported to the US government in the gulf of mexico in the last year!
Rig sank in 2004 and the well has not been capped, spewing oil into the gulf for the past 6 years and still counting, but that's ok.

25% of the worlds oil goes to the USA, 35,000 wells drilled in the gulf of mexico, surely it stands to reason there are going to be spills, accidents and the like. The world relies on oil, pure and simple, but none of us want to see it, touch it, smell it or taste it.

When there is such massive demand for a particular commodity there will be risks and consequences - we hope that the governments regulate and do a through risk assessment before any work is allowed to be started.

 

[FRE]

200 oil leaks reported to the US government in the gulf of mexico in the last year!
Rig sank in 2004 and the well has not been capped, spewing oil into the gulf for the past 6 years and still counting, but that's ok.

25% of the worlds oil goes to the USA, 35,000 wells drilled in the gulf of mexico, surely it stands to reason there are going to be spills, accidents and the like. The world relies on oil, pure and simple, but none of us want to see it, touch it, smell it or taste it.

When there is such massive demand for a particular commodity there will be risks and consequences - we hope that the governments regulate and do a through risk assessment before any work is allowed to be started.

Although I agree, there is more.

We should be working harder towards ending our dependency on oil, regardless of its source. The quantity available will begin to decrease, probably in the fairly near future. That will cause price increases which will damage our economy unless we end or greatly reduce our dependency on oil. Moreover, there are environmental risks associated with oil.

Way back in 1970, some of us were ridiculed for our concern about the increasing dependency on oil. Obviously we turned out to be right.

 

[freyasworld]

Although I agree, there is more.

We should be working harder towards ending our dependency on oil, regardless of its source. The quantity available will begin to decrease, probably in the fairly near future. That will cause price increases which will damage our economy unless we end or greatly reduce our dependency on oil. Moreover, there are environmental risks associated with oil.

Way back in 1970, some of us were ridiculed for our concern about the increasing dependency on oil. Obviously we turned out to be right.

Of course's there's more...how many coal miners died in the last 12 months world wide, how many people have been killed processing raw materials, our need and demand for natural resources is unceasing, look at the open cast mining, whole mountains removed, rivers diverted, lakes damned, forests, valleys drowned.

The world, not just the USA or Europe the whole world needs vast natural resources, Coal, iron ore, bauxite, oil and natural gas, governments are clear, whatever it takes, whatever the cost get it out the ground, it is in the "National Interest" we need it for our economies, Britain had a nuclear accident, the USA and Ukraine, who's next?

Sorry to say this, but an oil leak a mile under the ocean, is nothing compared to Chernobyl, the leak will be stopped, the oil cleared up, compensation paid to victims. Then there will be a new set of recommendations, then a new department set up, then in 2 years all forgotten about and it will be business as usual.

Get it out the ground whatever the cost!

Just like in 2004, that rig sank in a hurricane, it's been left to leak oil into the gulf! Why?

Simple people don't see it, taste it, smell it or touch it, unlike the BP spill!
The other 200 spills and oil leaks into the gulf have been reported to the government, what has happened....nothing!

 

[FRE]

Of course's there's more...how many coal miners died in the last 12 months world wide, how many people have been killed processing raw materials, our need and demand for natural resources is unceasing, look at the open cast mining, whole mountains removed, rivers diverted, lakes damned, forests, valleys drowned.

The world, not just the USA or Europe the whole world needs vast natural resources, Coal, iron ore, bauxite, oil and natural gas, governments are clear, whatever it takes, whatever the cost get it out the ground, it is in the "National Interest" we need it for our economies, Britain had a nuclear accident, the USA and Ukraine, who's next?

Sorry to say this, but an oil leak a mile under the ocean, is nothing compared to Chernobyl, the leak will be stopped, the oil cleared up, compensation paid to victims. Then there will be a new set of recommendations, then a new department set up, then in 2 years all forgotten about and it will be business as usual.

Get it out the ground whatever the cost!

Just like in 2004, that rig sank in a hurricane, it's been left to leak oil into the gulf! Why?

Simple people don't see it, taste it, smell it or touch it, unlike the BP spill!
The other 200 spills and oil leaks into the gulf have been reported to the government, what has happened....nothing!

Although I agree with most of what you said, I think that the oil leak may be worse than Chernobyl; that has yet to be determined.

Actually, the damage done by Chernobyl was much less than what most people think. By using google, you can get some very good information on the actual damage, but you have to discount the sites that promote hysteria.

 

[freyasworld]

You gotta be joking....tell that to the farmers that even today that cannot sell sheep in certain parts of Britain!

 

[midlifebear]

Chernobyl, yup, nothing like caesium-137 remaining semi stabilized in top soil for a couple thousand years as well as other ionized isotopes with half-lifes between 10,000 and 20,000 years. Those elements left over from Chernobyl, not to mention the new and unknown properties of chernobylite (the thermal radiating crystals that formed on top of the cooling melted power plant core) can really ruin the fauna that nibbles on the local flora.

In comparison, it makes an oil spill look like a walk in the park. Still, both are bad. It's like comparing apples with very, very long lived oranges.

 

[FRE]

Chernobyl, yup, nothing like caesium-137 remaining semi stabilized in top soil for a couple thousand years as well as other ionized isotopes with half-lifes between 10,000 and 20,000 years. Those elements left over from Chernobyl, not to mention the new and unknown properties of chernobylite (the thermal radiating crystals that formed on top of the cooling melted power plant core) can really ruin the fauna that nibbles on the local flora.

In comparison, it makes an oil spill look like a walk in the park. Still, both are bad. It's like comparing apples with very, very long lived oranges.

Considering the normal background radiation, by what percentage is the cesium 137 increasing the total radiation? How does it compare with the radiation in our own bodies resulting from carbon 14 and radioactive potassium?

 

[FRE]

You gotta be joking....tell that to the farmers that even today that cannot sell sheep in certain parts of Britain!

What is the actual increase in radiation in the sheep resulting from Chernobyl?

 

[dandelion]

You gotta be joking....tell that to the farmers that even today that cannot sell sheep in certain parts of Britain!

What is the actual increase in radiation in the sheep resulting from Chernobyl?

Cant say, but I do recall the joke that when sheep carcases were tested and found to be radioactive, some had been in the freezer since before the accident. We have had our own litle leaks, the Windscale test reactor caught fire...

Considering the normal background radiation, by what percentage is the cesium 137 increasing the total radiation? How does it compare with the radiation in our own bodies resulting from carbon 14 and radioactive potassium?

Still dont know. But I would observe one of the difficulties is with small particles which get inhaled, lodge in place and give a big dose in a small region of the body. There is an issue about radioactive particles on certain scottish beaches. (Ahem dounreay, I think they said, had an interesting waste disposal system involving a cliff and the sea)

 

[FRE]

Cant say, but I do recall the joke that when sheep carcases were tested and found to be radioactive, some had been in the freezer since before the accident. We have had our own litle leaks, the Windscale test reactor caught fire...

Still dont know. But I would observe one of the difficulties is with small particles which get inhaled, lodge in place and give a big dose in a small region of the body. There is an issue about radioactive particles on certain scottish beaches. (Ahem dounreay, I think they said, had an interesting waste disposal system involving a cliff and the sea)

Of course the sheep were found to be radioactive. All sheep are radioactive. We are radioactive. Our bodies contain carbon 14 and potassium 40, both of which are radioactive, and other radioactive elements as well. Bananas contain potassium 40 so if you eat a banana, you become more radioactive. We live in a radioactive environment.

Obviously radiation above a certain level is hazardous. However, the natural background radiation varies considerably depending on location. Studies have shown that people living in areas with higher background radiation live just as long as people living in areas with lower background radiation.

Coal is radioactive because it contains trace amounts of uranium and thorium, both of which are radioactive. When the coal is burned thereby eliminating the carbon, the radiation is concentrated. The uranium and thorium in coal actually contain more energy than the carbon. Coal burning power plants actually emit more radiation than nuclear power plants are permitted to emit but no one seems concerned about it.

This not to minimize the danger of radiation. However, the inordinate hysteria regarding radiation makes it difficult to make rational decisions and get factual information. The MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging) was originally called an NMR scan (nuclear magnetic resonance) but because of radiation hysteria, they had to change the name of it.

 

[B_talltpaguy]

BP is proven once again to be lying its ass off... I really, really hope that we drive their ass into bankruptcy, because THEY DESERVE IT.



Gulf oil spill figures may be double earlier estimates

Government scientists say as many as 40,000 barrels of oil per day have been gushing into the gulf. BP has said the blown-out well will not be plugged before August.

LATimes.com
By; Richard Simon, Betina Boxall and Margot Roosevelt
June 11, 2010

Reporting from Washington and Los Angeles — Government scientists said Thursday that as many as 40,000 barrels of oil have been flowing daily from the blown-out BP well, doubling earlier estimates and greatly expanding the scope of what is already the largest spill in U.S. history.

The new figures could mean 42 million to 84 million gallons of oil have leaked into the Gulf of Mexico since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on the night of April 20 — with the lowest estimate nearly four times the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill.

The flow estimates were released by Marcia McNutt, director of the U.S. Geological Survey, and do not count any increases that may have occurred since the cutting of the well's riser pipe, a step that was expected to boost the flow.

That same group has now concluded that "given the limited data available and the small amount of time to process that data, the best estimate for the average flow rate for the leakage … is between 25,000 to 30,000 barrels per day, but could be as low as 20,000 barrels per day or as high as 40,000 barrels per day," McNutt said in a release.

In a sign of the difficulty of gauging the flow, one team believes that the upper range could be as high as 50,000 barrels. There are 42 gallons in a barrel of oil.

To read full article, click here


And for you investor types, this means that part of BP's liability just doubled. (the civil fine they'll get for spilling oil into Federal waters)... Hope none of you are long on BP!