posted on May, 10 2010 @ 02:43 PM
This oil disaster is causing millions, if not billions of dollars in damage to many industries along the coast, including the fishing and shrimping
industries, which have been shut down entirely. At this point the oil slick is probably reaching the US Southern Coast as we speak. It will do an
unknown amount of damage to the region for an unknown amount of years, but what we do know is that this is an oil spill of unprecedented size.
A Los Angeles Times article, called "BP weighting other options to stop oil leak" today said,
After failing in their attempt to funnel the oil leaking under the Gulf of Mexico with a 100-ton box, BP officials on Sunday were considering
deploying a smaller container that might be less prone to clogging.
...
The plan was for the oil-and-water mixture to flow from the containment box through a pipe to the ocean's surface, where it would be collected inside
waiting tankers.
...
The drilling of a relief well, which could take three months, was continuing.
Just a couple of questions and comments I have.
1. British Petroleum has clearly demonstrated that they are negligent and are unfit to handle this problem.
2. Why is BP digging a "relief well" in an area that has clearly demonstrated that it is prone to huge methane bubbles that cause these sorts of
disasters?
Cited in the article,
This particular well, he (a worker on the well who wished to remain anonymous) said, "had a bad history of producing lots of gas."
3. This just seems like BP is more concerned about getting oil out of their well than actually stopping the problem, especially this part of the
article:
The plan was for the oil-and-water mixture to flow from the containment box through a pipe to the ocean's surface, where it would be collected
inside waiting tankers."
Acting immediately is necessary to prevent huge monetary losses for the affected region in the future. The United States Navy should drop a gigantic
rock, or block of cement, or whatever humongous clogging mechanism they choose to use, and just clog the hole for good. Then they should bill British
Petroleum for the materials and time. Even if BP can't pay for all of it, acting immediately will still save money for the country in the long term
because it will save all of the industries that stand to take losses if little action is taken in three months. Clogging this huge spill will save us
money in the future, assuming the environment is not already too damaged.
[edit on 10-5-2010 by Albastion]