GOM OIL Spill headed for the Coast ?

[Joe-Nathan]

NOT TO DOWN PLAY THE CONTINUED HARMING OF LA SE MARSHES and SOON TO BE MISS. COAST.

BUT MOTHER NATURE DOES THIS EVERY DAY:


More Oil Seeps Naturally Than from Human Spills
http://alfin2100.blogspot.com/2010/0...than-from.html

The Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska's Prince William Sound released 10.8 million gallons of oil -- or almost 250,000 barrels of oil. But natural oil seeps off California release up to 80 times that amount. And natural seeps in the Gulf of Mexico release twice the amount as the Exxon Valdez every year.

The Transocean oil spill may eventually match that of the Exxon Valdez -- if it continues leaking at the current rate for the next month or two or more. Politicians and environmentalists are already declaring states of emergency, but better technology may yet break up the oil spill and allow natural forces to dissipate it.

Curious claims are being made from various sources regarding the origin of the oil platform fire, explosion, and sinking. But even if the oil platform was deliberately destroyed, as some are claiming, the well itself should have had some type of inbuilt mechanism -- a blowout preventer -- to stop oil flow in case of a catastrophic disruption in continuity of the piping. [Update 1 May 2010: Apparently the blowout preventer at the site failed to operate. At this time no one knows why the blowout preventer failed. Certain automatic safety switches that were not included in the operation may have been able to trigger the blowout preventer.]

Other offshore wells incorporate such safety features, which would likely have stopped the oil spill very early in its course.

So the problem is not offshore drilling so much as it is making sure the best technology is utilised when drilling offshore. And, yes, try to maintain a sense of perspective.

This Denver Post article presents a bit of background

Labels: ocean, oil

posted by al fin at 6:02 PM

[jess]

NOT TO DOWN PLAY THE CONTINUED HARMING OF LA SE MARSHES and SOON TO BE MISS. COAST.

BUT MOTHER NATURE DOES THIS EVERY DAY:


More Oil Seeps Naturally Than from Human Spills
http://alfin2100.blogspot.com/2010/0...than-from.html

I read an old ship report from the late 1800's describing sailing through great rafts of oil as they sailed through the coastal waters to Port Arthur, Texas. I don't remember the exact source, but I'll post the link if I ever find it again.

The coastal beaches between on the Gulf have always had "beach tar" which are globs of heavy crude oil. They wash onto the beaches and are an annoyance even in small quantities. My understanding is that the amounts are substantially reduced from the amounts before the great Spindletop Gusher, which was the start of a pressure reduction in the reserves that seeped through the ocean floor. Otherwise, offshore, and land, drilling helped reduce an ecological "disaster".

[kobayashi]

Coincidentally I get the API daily but that's had less information in any detail on the "what went wrong"

The administration mentioned Dept of Interior sending SWAT teams out to all rigs, but they have MMS teams


There are overseas reports that the administration has an information blackout on two attacks, one in the pacific theater

Then I could ask about the Pittsburg and Times Square SUV attacks - I haven't checked what the talking points memos are this hour for the Goldman Sachs Carbon Credits trading, Fannie Mae royalties on the trading at the Chicago Climate Exchange.

Arizona, BP, Goldman Sachs which was 11 back as far as contributors to the banking chrisis.....I have to ask myself which evil villan is going to pop up next? seems like a villanous "Talkie" movie from ancient times in "The Progressive Era"

BTW I think it was Pravda or Izvestia that said the administration is trying to squelch the news that one of the axis-of-evil countries torpedoed "Deep Horizons" which would explain why the BOP was fouled up.

[proger]

You've got to be kidding me, you really believe this?

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[Joe-Nathan]

UPDATE:



TRANSOCEAN DISCOVER ENTERPRISE will begin operations to place a containment (closed coffer dam) box over the BOP and begin pumping the oil into its tanks:




TRANSOCEAN DEVELOPMENT DRILL III began drilling the relief well yesterday.

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Fresh Greens

10 Things You Can Do to Help the Gulf Coast Clean the Oil Spill

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By Maura Judkis
Posted: May 3, 2010

Workers clean the beach of debris as it is prepared for possible contamination from the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on May 3, 2010 in Pass Christian, Mississippi.

Alarming photos of dead sea turtles washed ashore—as well as satellite images of an ever-spreading oil slick—demonstrate that a serious ordeal is ahead for the Gulf Coast. The April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig caused a spill that has spread more than 130 miles so far. The spill has reached land in Louisiana, and is expected to reach Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. If it continues, it will surpass the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill as the worst in history. Here's how you can help:

1. Want to lend a hand? Affected states allow you to register to volunteer online. Louisiana and Florida volunteers can register online, or Gulf Coast volunteers can call 1-866-448-5816. Oil Spill Volunteers is another registration site that matches up those willing to assist with the groups that need their help. Volunteer opportunities run the gamut from wildlife sitter to administrative support, so any and all help is appreciated.

2. Florida is calling on untrained volunteers to pick up trash on its beaches to minimize the impact of the spill once it hits land. Volunteers are asked to leave natural debris in place, though, as it provides shelter for birds and other animals. If you'd like to help out with areas where oil has already washed ashore, it is recommended that you contact a local group to be trained in how to handle oil-covered materials.

3. If you're in the Gulf Coast area and see a distressed animal, do not try to assist it on your own. Injured animals can be defensive and may try to bite you—also, crude oil can be harmful when it comes in contact with human skin. A hotline has been established for injured and dead animal sightings. Call 1-866-557-1401 to leave a message with the animal's precise location. iPhone users in the Gulf can download the Noah project's app to document distressed animals and the spill's impact on wildlife. Learn more about Noah here.
4. Two specialized opportunities to help are available for qualified professionals. BP has called upon fishermen and boaters in the Gulf area to participate in their "Vessels of Opportunity" program. Those with eligible vessels will be compensated for their use in cleanup efforts. For more information, call 281-366-5511. In addition, the EPA has called upon engineers and experts to submit alternative cleanup solutions via this form.
5. However, if you're not already living in the area, it is not recommended that you travel to the Gulf Coast to assist. OilSpillVolunteers.com and other organizations stress that your help would be more appreciated in the form of a donation. The National Wildlife Federation, Alabama Coastal Foundation, and Save our Seabirds are among the many organizations accepting donations for coastal relief.
6. Dishwashing detergent is used to clean oil off of birds and animals, and Dawn is pitching in to help. Purchase a bottle of Dawn and $1 will go towards the Marine Mammal Center and the International Bird Rescue Research Center. Please note that you must go online to activate this donation—it's not automatic with your purchase.
7. Own a salon or pet grooming business? Hair collects oil, so the group Matter of Trust is taking donations of hair and nylons. For more information, visit their website or call 415-242-6041.
8. For those inclined to send a political message about the need to restore the Gulf Coast, the National Wildlife Federation has created this form letter you can send to President Obama. Those in favor of halting all ocean drilling can use this form letter from the Sierra Club.
9. The Audubon Society, protecting American birds and their habitats for more than 100 years, has launched a response to the crisis. They'll be organizing volunteers for wildlife rescue and beach clean-up, as well as researching the effects of the spill on habitats in the weeks and months following its landfall. If you'd like to volunteer for the Audubon Society, you can fill out this volunteer form. If you'd like to donate money to aid relief efforts, you can use this site.
10. For up-to-date news on volunteer and relief efforts, several Twitter users have aggregated the best sources of oil spill tweets into lists. Follow Crisis Camp's list, Crisis Mappers' list, or the hashtag #oilspill. Two good individual accounts to follow are EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, and BP_America.

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Oil Spill Volunteer Training Available

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by MEMA
Published: Tue, May 04, 2010 - 10:10 am CST Last Updated: Tue, May 04, 2010 - 10:13 am CST 0 Views |Short URL: http://wkrg.com/883310


PEARL, MS - The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Marine Resources have been meeting with British Petroleum to announce the availability of training for volunteers this week. Community training for beach cleanup will be conducted at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College campuses as follows:

2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

o Jackson County Campus in the gymnasium.

o Jefferson Davis Campus in room U202.



2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

o Pearl River CC Han**** County Center.



This response training is hosted by local elected officials, BP personnel, community organizations and MGCCC. The training sessions will qualify volunteers to participate in pre-landfall beach cleaning to minimize impact to the beaches. Federal, state and private entities are asking any volunteers to attend training to ensure their personal safety and well-being. After training, volunteers will be at the following locations for beach clean-up:

Han**** County

· 2 p.m. at Bay St. Louis.

· 4 p.m. at Waveland.

· 6 p.m. at Buccaneer State Park.



Harrison County

· 2 p.m.:

o Pass Christian Central.

o Pass Christian East.

o Long Beach.

o Biolxi Central.

· 4 p.m.:

o Gulfport West.

o Gulfport Harbor.

o Gulfport West Central.

o Biloxi East.

· 6 p.m.:

o Courthouse Rd.

o Gulport East.

o Edgewater



Jackson County

· 2 p.m.:

o Front Beach.

o Shearwater.

· 4 p.m.:

o Gulf Park Estates.

o St. Andrews.

· 6 p.m.:

o Pascagoula Beach West.

o Pascagoula Beach East.

[Squirrelmonkey]

this is depressing.......

[kobayashi]

Did they get the SOP Fire Booms yet so they can start burning it off? That was the 1994 Federal Regulation but nothings been done with burning it yet.

http://www.hardcoreweather.com/showthread.php?t=22770

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/05/fire...ll_raines.html

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Latest NewsNOAA RolesLearn MoreFactsheetsVisuals Deepwater Horizon Incident, Gulf of Mexico
Cumulative Trajectory Map: Jump down to Current Trajectory Maps on this page for full-sized versions.

As the nation’s leading scientific resource for oil spills, NOAA has been on the scene of the Deepwater Horizon spill from the start, providing coordinated scientific weather and biological response services to federal, state and local organizations. More

Updated daily
Situation: Sunday 02 May
Today NOAA restricted fishing in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico threatened the BP oil spill - from the mouth of the Mississippi to Pensacola Bay (***click here for map***). The closure, which will be in effect for at least 10 days, is to protect consumers and the seafood industry. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke said, “We stand with America's fisherman, their families and businesses in impacted coastal communities during this very challenging time. Fishing is vital to our economy and our quality of life and we will work tirelessly protect to it". NOAA is part of the Department of Commerce. Support came from Harlon Pearce, Chairman, Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and Ewell Smith, Executive Director, Louisiana Seafood Board who said, “We Support NOAA’s precautionary closure of the affected area so that the American consumer has confidence that the seafood they eat is safe. It is also very important to underscore the fact that this closure is only the affected area of the Gulf of Mexico, not the entire Gulf. The state waters of Louisiana West of the Mississippi River are still open and the seafood coming from that area is safe.” Further details can be found here: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/.
24 Hour Trajectory Map: Jump down to Current Trajectory Maps on this page for full-sized versions.

The state of Louisiana has already closed vulnerable fisheries in state waters – within 3 miles of the coast. NOAA is closing areas directly adjacent to the area closures enacted by Louisiana, and is working with state governors to evaluate the need to declare a fisheries disaster, which would facilitate federal aid to fishermen. NOAA fisheries representatives will be meeting with fishermen this week to assist them, and BP will be hiring fishermen to help clean up and deploy boom in the Gulf of Mexico.
President Obama was on-scene today getting a first-hand look at the spill, which is still leaking at a rate of approximately 5000 barrels (210,000 gallons) per day from three damaged sections of piping on the sea floor. Engineers are working to inject dispersants at the oil’s source - 5000’ below the surface. If successful, it could reduce or prevent an oil plume from forming at the surface. Drilling of a relief or cut-off well started today, but it will take several months to stop the flow. Work also continues on a collection dome at the sea floor; this technique has never been tried at 5000’. Very high winds and rough seas curtailed surface operations, such as skimming and applying dispersant by aircraft. Hundreds of thousands of feet of boom have been deployed to contain the spill, with hundreds of thousands more staged and ready to be deployed.
NOAA efforts have included: modeling the trajectory and extent of the oil, getting pre-impact samples surveys and baseline measurements, planning for open water and shoreline remediation, supporting the Unified Command as it analyzes new techniques for handling the spill and starting Natural Resource Damage Assessments (NRDA).

• NOAA’s National Weather Service displayed radar data at central command today so the command could see where thunderstorm activity was moving and receive warnings immediately.
• A forecast decrease in winds should allow the full spectrum of surface operations starting tomorrow.
  NOAA’s Emergency Response Division (ERD) creates the oil trajectories that response planners rely on.
• The Coast Guard is using forecasts and graphics of oil movement prepared by NOAA’s Emergency Response Division (ERD) and Marine Charting Division to keep mariners out of oil areas by depicting them on electronic charts.
• NOAA’s Damage Assessment Remediation and Restoration Program (DARRP) is conducting a Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA). From past experience, NOAA is concerned about oil impacts to fish, shellfish, marine mammals, turtles, birds and other sensitive resources, as well as their habitats, including wetlands, mudflats, beaches, bottom sediments and the water column. Any lost uses of these resources, for example, fishery and beach closures, will also be evaluated. The focus currently is to assemble existing data on resources and their habitats and collect baseline (pre-spill impact) data. Data on oiled resources and habitats are also being collected.

Important Contacts

• For NOAA media inquiries, please contact Keeley Belva at keeley.belva@noaa.gov or 301.713.3066
  
• For response inquiries, please phone the Joint Information Center (JIC) at 985.902.5231 or 985.902.5240
  
• To report oil on land, or for general Community and Volunteer Information, please phone 866.448.5816
  
• To report oiled or injured wildlife, please phone 866.557.1401
  
• To discuss spill related damage claims, please phone 800.440.0858
  
• BP is asking fishermen for their assistance in cleaning up the oil spill. BP is calling this the Vessel of Opportunities Program and through it, BP is looking to contract shrimp boats, oyster boats and other vessels for hire to deploy boom in the Gulf of Mexico. Fishermen should phone 281.366.5511 about this program.

More Information about this Incident • top

• IncidentNews: Deepwater Horizon View the most up-to-date information on OR&R's IncidentNews site. [leaves OR&R site]

• EPA: Federal Response to BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico This site tracks EPA's ongoing work in the area and help answer questions about the incident. [leaves OR&R site]

• Deepwater Horizon Joint Information Center This site is providing information regarding the April 20 incident in the US Gulf of Mexico involving a Transocean drilling Rig Deep Water Horizon. The Horizon was engaged in drilling activity on behalf of BP at Mississippi Canyon Block 252, about 52 miles southeast of Venice, La. [leaves OR&R site]

• Deepwater Horizon Response on Facebook This site is providing information regarding the April 20 incident in the US Gulf of Mexico involving a Transocean drilling Rig Deepwater Horizon. [leaves OR&R site]

Current Trajectory Maps • top

• Deepwater Horizon 24Hr Trajectory Map 2010-05-03-2300 The 24 hour trajectory forecast prepared on May 3 at 11:00pm.
  (Document format: PDF, size: 1.7 M)

• Deepwater Horizon 48Hr Trajectory Map 2010-05-03-2300 The 48 hour trajectory forecast prepared on May 3 at 11:00pm.
  (Document format: PDF, size: 1.7 M)

• Deepwater Horizon 72Hr Trajectory Map 2010-05-03-2300 The 72 hour trajectory forecast prepared on May 3 at 11:00pm.
  (Document format: PDF, size: 1.7 M)

• Deepwater Horizon Cumulative Trajectory Map 2010-05-04 Approximate oil locations from April 30, 2010 to May 4, 2010 based on trajectories and overflight information including forecast for May 5. Produced May 4, 2010
  (Document format: PDF, size: 353.4 K)

Latest NewsNOAA RolesLearn MoreFa

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[Squirrelmonkey]

this spill reminds me of this scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLlUgilKqms


*I can't embed...youtube is blocked from work today

[proger]

It has been pretty windy off shore (20-30 mph winds) thus preventing any controlled burns. Wind is dying down now and they are suppose to starting burning

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[Joe-Nathan]

MODIS Image from yesterday:

[Windwatcher]

Would it make sense to have a few of those containment domes already built and ready to transport to a leak site on a moment's notice? How much do they cost to build?

[nightrider]

Would it make sense to have a few of those containment domes already built and ready to transport to a leak site on a moment's notice? How much do they cost to build?

It would. Does anyone have all the things that might be needed? Cost of these will not be .000000000000000001% of what this spill will cost BP and the oil industry all together