(Photo of cleanup from Flickr and BP_America)
BP will bring in four large tanker ships to increase oil production from the gushing well head in the Gulf to 50,000 barrels/day from the current 15,000 barrels/day, Adm. Thad Allen said yesterday. These ships, however, will take several weeks to get here. One is coming from the North Sea. Two have not yet been selected.
When they are in place, the company hopes to replace the containment cap at the bottom of the sea with a “hard cap” and flexible mooring so the ships can be detached in case of a hurricane and then reattached.
While waiting for the large tankers, BP is calling two smaller ships into duty, probably the end of next week, to bring the capacity up to as much as 38,000 barrels a day.
The problem, of course, is no one knows what the flow rate is. The most recent government estimate was 40,000-50,000 barrels, but that was based on data before the broken riser was cut. No one knows for sure how much that increased the flow, but some have guessed as it’s now much as 100,000.
And every barrel not captured is going into the Gulf.
The ultimate solution will come in mid-August or later, when a relief well will allow the gushing well to be cemented and stopped.
As BP salvages some oil it can profit from, and seems to be making strides toward salvaging more, critics are upset with the hodgepodge of cleanup plans as more and more oil reaches shore. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, who visited the area, says the booms put out to stop the oil are not well tended and therefore not working well. And the number of skimmers are insufficient.
Each state and locality is lobbying for help from either BP or the federal government (or both) but delays are long and frustrating as the oil keeps moving ashore.
There’s also the whole issue of oil and gas under the water and the damage it can do – as well as ill effects from the dispersant used to break it up and keep it below the surface.
It’s now (past) time to focus on the cleanup and make a comprehensive and effective plan to deal with that. And someone needs to be clearly in charge.
(Sources include: Greenwire, CBS News, Rachel Maddow Show MSNBC)
2 comments:
There is a growing community of volunteers, innovators and regular folks who are collaborating on just that - how do we go in and make a dent in the cleanup - over at www.gulfclean.org
Rather than being a repository for ideas that never again see the light of day, the goal of the community is to bring those ideas to fruition. In fact, one idea to come out of the community has already been built and demonstrated. The community is looking for anyone who wants to help make a difference during this time of crisis.
Glad to hear about it. Hope lots of people are going to your site. But we still need someone or some body with authority to spend money and get equipment onsite. That should be Thad Allen or someone else appointed to the job, who doesn't have to wait around for BP's OK. Keep up the good work, though. Citizen involvement is crucial. Good luck!!
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