We are in daily contact with people “on the ground” connecting with fishermen, tour operators and any other persons boating in the gulf off the coast of the Mexican states of Yucatan and Quintanna Roo [Progresso – Isla Holbox – Cancun – Isla Mujeres – Cozumel – Playa del Carmen – Mayan Riviera].
To date there have been no reportings of oil or oil contaminants on or near the Yucatan Peninsula coast. The beaches in Mexico are presently clean and oil free.
AUGUST 10 UPDATE – Por Esto [Cancun print edition] reported today that approximately 5Kg of dried oil chunks washed up on a 100 meter stretch of beach in Tulum [near Esmeralda K and Aklin Beach Club]. The petr�leo seco [dried oil] was collected and SEMARNAT is presently working to determine its origin and if it is related to the GOM disaster.
The article published on-line in Por Esto below talks about the viscosity of the oil as “tar” and speculates that it is waste from a passing ship.
No le compete a la Zofemat
(August 10 Por Esto) TULUM, 10 de agosto.- Ante la aparici�n de manchones de petr�leo en las playas de Tulum, la directora de la Zona Federal Mar�timo Terrestre (Zofemat), Carolina Ramos Mecott, indic� que es a la Secretar�a del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Semarnat) y la Comisi�n Nacional del Agua (Conagua) y Procuradur�a Federal de Protecci�n al Ambiente (Profepa), a quienes corresponde verificar la situaci�n. Read Article
- NOAA Shoreline Threat Update
- NOAA: Oil No Threat to S Florida, Keys, East Coast [and Yucatan]
- Loop Current [Wiki]
There is less than a 1% chance of oil reaching the Yucatan Peninsula. - The Gulf of Mexico Loop Current: A Primer
- Gulf of Mexico Speed + Currents
- Monitoring the GOM Conditions During the DH Oil Spill
- Gulf of Mexico Near Real-Time Altimeter Viewer
- Gulf of Mexico Near Real-Time Velocity Viewer
The “Loop Current” pushes the oil and oil contaminants away from the Yucatan Peninsula. [The Yucatan Peninsula is at the bottom of the map between 90°W and 85°W.] Cancun, Isla Holbox, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and the Mayan Riviera [Puerto Morelos to Tulum] are all located in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
Deepwater Horizon Response Official Site of Unified Command
Deepwater Horizon MC252 BP Oil Spill Disaster Reference Material
NOTE: THIS PAGE WILL NOT BE UPDATED UNTIL AUGUST 29th AS OUR WEB TEAM IS ON VACATION IN YUKON, CANADA!
Cleanup Actions – Get Involved With The Gulf Recovery
What Happened to the Oil? – Official BP/Government explanation if you can believe it.
BP August 13 Update – BP Completes MC252 Well Pressure Test, Results Being Reviewed
Crews in Gulf will go ahead with drilling of relief well
(August 13 CNN) – “Everyone agrees we need to go forward with the relief well,” National Incident Commander Thad Allen said Friday of the now-plugged BP gusher in the Gulf, adding that officials are now considering other options in addition to the relief well. Read Article
U.S.: Final kill needed as BP well not secure
(August 13 msnbc) – NEW ORLEANS � Ending days of uncertainty, the incident chief for the busted BP well said Friday that BP experts and government scientists agree a relief well needs to be finished to completely kill the busted well, but just how to do so is still being discussed. Read Article
August 12 Press Briefing by National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen
Adm. Allen Confused – So, Now, Everybody Else is, Too
(August 12 The Daily Hurricane) – For the last several days, I’ve been trying to figure out what BP is doing and what is the actual condition of BP’s MC252 well after their “static kill” and cementing procedure last week apparently didn’t work. Read Article
Coast Guard admits dispersants still in use �over the wellhead�
(August 12 Florida Oil Spill Law) – A liaison officer with the United State Coast Guard told the Destin Log that dispersants are currently �being used over the wellhead in Louisiana.� Read Article
Tests to determine if sealed BP well needs more work
(August 12 AP/Tampa Tribune) NEW ORLEANS – In the strongest indication yet that BP’s broken oil well in the Gulf of Mexico may be plugged for good, officials today said they’re conducting tests to determine if further work to seal the well is needed. Read Article
Gulf leaders wary over wavering on final plug
(August 12 AP/Washington Post) NEW ORLEANS — With the oil well that had been spewing into the Gulf of Mexico plugged from the top and BP PLC and federal officials pondering whether the final plug, or “bottom kill,” is needed, local officials fear national disengagement from what remains a crisis of unknown proportions. Read Article
US scientists see spike in oil-soaked Gulf turtles
(August 11 Reuters) HOUSTON – U.S. wildlife officials have recovered over 1,000 oil-soaked turtles from the Gulf of Mexico in recent weeks, but the threat from BP Plc’s (BP.L) (BP.N) oil spill has waned since the ruptured well has been capped, experts said. Read Article
Oil seepage on seabed from Ocean Intervention III ROV 2 – August 11.
Has the Oil Well Really Been Capped?
(August 11 Washingtonsblog) But even the government’s spokesman, Thad Allen, isn’t saying that it’s been capped. Read Article
BP oil spill evidence to be collected by suspects
(August 11 Yahoo News) NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AFP) � Key evidence on one of the world’s worst oil spills could soon be in the hands of the leading suspects as BP and partner contractors are set to start salvaging the wreckage of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. Article & Pictures
Tropical depression forms in Gulf of Mexico, heads for oil spill site where work is halted
(August 10 AP/Hartford Courant) MIAMI � The National Hurricane Center says a tropical depression has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and it is heading toward the oil spill site off the coast of Louisiana. Article & Pictures
The latest updates and pictures from cleanup efforts in the BP oil spill disaster
(August 10 Examiner) – By now most Americans know that BP has stopped the constant flow of oil going into the Gulf, but many may not know that relief operations continue. The company and government are still fighting a two-front war against the oil spill which, under the best estimates, is still five times larger than the Exxon-Valdez spill. Article & Pictures
Gulf Oil Relief Well: 100 Feet To Go
(August 10 AP/Huffingtonpost) – NEW ORLEANS – One man guides a drill more than two miles beneath the sea floor and three miles from the surface, trying to hit a target less than half the size of a dartboard. The drill is about as wide as a grapefruit. Read Article
Oil penetrates previously pristine Mississippi marsh, weeks after well cap
(August 9 AL) – HORN ISLAND, Miss. — Weeks after BP capped its runaway well, a greasy band of oil appeared on the grasses fringing Garden Pond, a previously pristine interior marsh. Read Article
BP oil spill: Endangered species still at risk
(August 9 UK Guardian) – US officials recorded a big jump in the numbers of dolphins and endangered brown pelican and sea turtle injured or killed by the BP spill over the past week, even as officials were proclaiming that the oil was rapidly disappearing from the Gulf. Read Article
BP August 9 Update – Update on Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
Peak Oil Theorist, Matt Simmons, Dies at 67 – Video
(August 9 Examiner) – Matt Simmons, a prominent oil investor, and outspoken critic of BP has died of an apparent heart attack. He was 67. Simmons said he sold BP stock short–the only time he ever sold stock short-expecting BP to go out of business. Read Article
Final ‘kill’ of Gulf oil spill well set to begin this week
(August 9 Christian Science Monitor) – BP said its ‘bottom kill’ to plug the Gulf oil spill well permanently should start later this week. BP also deposited its first installment � $3 billion � in the Gulf escrow fund. Read Article
Gulf spill site becomes an underwater crime scene
(August 7 AP/Boston Globe) – NEW ORLEANS � Now that BP appears to have vanquished its ruptured well, authorities are turning their attention to gathering evidence from what could amount to a crime scene at the bottom of the sea. Read Article
BP August 6 Update – Clarification: Comments From BP’s Doug Suttles On The Future Of MC252 Reservoir
BP Says It Might Drill Again In Gulf Reservoir
(August 6 AP/NPR) – “There’s lots of oil and gas here,” Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles said at a news briefing. “We’re going to have to think about what to do with that at some point.” Read Article
BP Keeps Drilling Relief Well After Cementing Macondo From Top
(Aug. 6 Bloomberg) – BP Plc drilled an additional 15 feet (4.6 meters) of the relief well needed to permanently seal the source of the biggest Gulf of Mexico oil spill in history. Read Article
BP Fires 10,000 Cleanup Workers
(Aug. 6 Mother Jones) – New BP CEO Bob Dudley wasn’t kidding when he announced last week that it was time for the company to scale back oil-spill cleanup operations. In fact, by the time he’d said that, the responder force had been drawn down by about 25 percent. Read Article
BP looks to relief well to finish plugging Gulf leak
(Aug. 6 AFP/Yahoo) – NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AFP) � With its runaway well in the Gulf of Mexico finally plugged with cement, BP turned Friday to a relief well to make sure the source of the United States’ worst environmental disaster is blocked for good. Read Article
Disturbing discovery of crabs filled with black substance
(Aug. 5 FOX8) – A pair of fishermen in Mississippi made an alarming discovery that has many wondering what’s happening below the surface in the Gulf of Mexico. They found several full-sized crabs filled with some sort of black substance. Article & Video
BP Finishes Pumping Cement Into Broken Well
(Aug. 5 ABC) – BP finished pumping fresh cement into its blown-out oil well Thursday as it aimed to seal for good the ruptured pipe that for months spewed crude into the Gulf of Mexico in one of the world’s worst spills. Read Article
BP August 5 Update – BP Completes Cementing Procedure on MC252 Well
BP August 5 Update – BP Commences Cementing Procedure on MC252 Well
BP August 5 Update – BP Authorized to Begin Cementing Procedure on MC252 Well
The Crime of the Century: What BP and the US Government Don’t Want You to Know, Part I
(Aug. 4 Huffingtonpost) – The unprecedented disaster caused by the BP oil spill at the Deepwater Horizon Mississippi Canyon 252 site continues to expand even as National Incident Commander Thad Allen and BP assert that the situation is improving, the blown-out source capped and holding steady, the situation well in hand and cleanup operations are being scaled back. Read Article
BP August 4 Update – MC252 Well Reaches Static Condition; Well Monitoring Underway
BP has backup plans for oil spill if kills fail
(Aug. 4 Reuters) – HOUSTON – While U.S. officials welcomed the initial success of BP’s (BP.L) (BP.N) latest attempt to plug its Gulf of Mexico oil well, the company still has backup options in the event something goes wrong again. Read Article
BP says `static kill’ has overcome oil spill flow
(Aug. 4 Miami Herald) – After pumping heavy drilling mud for eight hours, BP early Wednesday pronounced it had finally brought its blown-out well at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico under control. Read Article
BP August 3 Update – Static Kill Injectivity Testing Commences on MC252 Well
‘Static kill’ under way in effort to seal Gulf oil well
(Aug. 3 CNN) – Houston, Texas (CNN) — BP is conducting a long-awaited procedure to permanently seal its crippled well in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s proceeding with a complex operation known as a “static kill,” pumping heavy drilling mud down from above to push oil back into the well reservoir. Read Article
Oil spill size near upper range of earlier estimates
(Aug. 3 LA Times) – BP’s ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico released more than 200 million gallons of oil before it was capped, government officials said Monday, as the company was poised to stuff the well with dense mud in preparation for a final seal later this month. Read Article
U.S. Puts Oil Spill Total at Nearly 5 Million Barrels
(Aug. 2 NY Times) – NEW ORLEANS � Nearly five million barrels of oil have gushed from the BP�s well since the Deepwater Horizon spill began on April 20, federal scientists said on Monday in announcing the most precise estimates yet of the well�s flow rate. Read Article
BP August 2 Update – Static Kill Injectivity Testing on MC252 Well Expected Tuesday
Oilgate! BP and All the President’s Men (Except One) Seek to Contain Truth of Leak in the Gulf
(Aug. 2 Huffingtonpost) – Barataria, LA. — Bonnie Schumaker slowed her souped-up Cessna 180 from 130 to 50 knots so I could hold open the window for documentary film producer Bo Bodart to shoot the grim scene below us. The oil-laced air rushed in and stung our throats and eyes. Read Article
BP Prepares to Finally Plug Gulf Oil Leak on Monday
(Aug. 2 CNBC) – BP could start plugging its broken deepsea oil well in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday night, more than three months after its rupture led to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history. Read Article
Aug. 1 – NOW THEY TELL US? Static “Kill” a MISNOMER; What BP’s “really doing” is conducting “test”
Nungesser: “Thad Allen went to the BP school of how to deny. He’s in denial.”
BP to scale back oil spill cleanup
(July 31 Montgomery Advertiser) – BILOXI, Miss. — BP’s new boss said it’s time for a “scaleback” in cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Federal officials said there is no way the crude could reach the East Coast. And fishing areas are starting to reopen. Read Article
Debris in Relief Well Sets Back Work on Gusher
(July 31 ABC) – Crews found debris in the bottom of the relief well that ultimately will be used to plug the leak for good, retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said Friday. The government’s point man on the spill said the sediment settled in the relief well last week when crews popped in a plug to keep it safe ahead of Bonnie. Read Article
Bid to seal oil well next week
(July 30 Gulf-Times) – BP Plc said yesterday that it could seal its ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well by next week as US lawmakers prepared to vote on reforms that would put tougher restrictions on offshore drilling. Read Article
First steps in permanent plug soon
(July 30 GulfNews) – For more than three months, the world has waited for a permanent fix to the BP oil leak. It may not have to wait much longer. As early as tomorrow evening, the oil giant will take the first steps in a weeks-long process that, though highly complex, has a simple idea at its core: to cram a leaky hole full of cement. Read Article
Dudley To Outline BP Gulf Recovery Plans
(July 30 KCRA) – NEW ORLEANS — Incoming BP CEO Bob Dudley was set to outline his company’s long-term efforts to help the Gulf of Mexico recover from the oil spill Friday morning, and will be getting help from a Clinton administration-era emergency management official. Read Article
BP’s Press Releases since the 26th have been focused on its financial state of affairs. There is no mention of the “Relief Wells”. The Static-Kill/Top-Kill were stated as being band-aid remedies with the Relief Wells being the “cure”.
The only streamed video we see from the ROVs is purely censored video meant for us to see “something”. The media really has no clue what is going on down there.
What is the progress on the Relief Wells?
A final fix to gulf oil leak may be at hand
(July 29 Chicago Tribune) – The ‘static kill’ operation to plug the well for good could begin as early as Sunday. One expert puts its chances of success at ‘close to 100%.’ Read Article
Surface of Gulf of Mexico looks better, but millions of gallons of oil remain below
(July 29 NOLA) – Charter captain Mike Frenette has been wondering whether the news media are living in a parallel universe. The Internet and mainstream media this week are filled with reports that the BP oil disaster is over, that the Gulf is now devoid of the slicks and sheen, and the marshes are no longer being bathed in crude. Read Article
NOTE: The following article is an example of what to expect now that BP has their PR campaign in high-gear.
The BP Spill: Has the Damage Been Exaggerated?
(July 29 Time/CNN) – Yes, the spill killed birds � but so far, less than 1% of the birds killed by the Exxon Valdez. Yes, we’ve heard horror stories about oiled dolphins � but, so far, wildlife response teams have collected only three visibly oiled carcasses of any mammals. Read Article
Recently we stated we would no longer be posting any of Matt Simmons articles until he actually stated in detail what his theory is. We post the following two links with no malice intended towards Mr. Simmons. These articles are simply the repercussions from his previous statements.
A Critical Examination of Matt Simmons� Claims on the Deepwater Spill
Gulf cleanup to shift as oil slicks vanish
(July 29 msnbc/AP) – NEW ORLEANS � The government’s point man for the Gulf spill plans to meet with coastal parish officials Thursday to talk about what’s next now that the oil has stopped flowing. Read Article
(July 28 TravelYucatan.com) – There has yet to be any sightings of oil or oil contaminants in Isla Holbox or Cancun. There have also been no reports or approaching oil, slicks or plumes. Asked if the Mexican Government and Media would hide or fail to disclose information pertaining to any oil sightings, our answer would be; “no-way-Jos�”.
The Mexican Government, be what it may, would respond immediately in regards to protecting the Cancun coastline. The Media would be all over it as well if there was even the slightest hint of oil hitting Cancun’s beaches.
Hurricane Forecast July 28 – All interests are now turning towards the long range prospects of things getting very busy in the tropical Atlantic starting next week. The GFS, Canadian and European models all forecast that Colin will form sometime next week with Danielle and Earl possibly developing during the following week (Week of August 9th).
The GFS model forecasts that Colin will form east of the Lesser Antilles near 50 West Longitude on Tuesday and then pass just north of the Virgin Islands next Thursday before curving out into the open Atlantic. The GFS model also forecasts that Danielle will form near the Cape Verde Islands next Thursday or Friday before that storm is pulled out into the open Atlantic. Ultimately, the GFS model forecasts that Earl and possibly Fiona will form out in the eastern Atlantic around August 12th.
The Canadian model forecasts that Colin will develop in the eastern Atlantic near 35 or 40 West Longitude this weekend and be located near 50 West Longitude on Tuesday. Ultimately, the Canadian model forecasts that Colin will be pulled northward well east of the Lesser Antilles later next week. The Canadian model also forecasts that Danielle will form in the southwest Caribbean on Monday and track west-northwest and come ashore on the Yucatan Peninsula next Wednesday.
The European model is pretty troubling and it’s kind of hard to ignore. It forecasts that Colin will form from the tropical disturbance that is now tracking off of the coast of Africa and is located between 15 and 20 West Longitude early this morning. The Euro forecasts that Colin will develop late this weekend or early next week out near 35 or 40 West Longitude. The European model forecasts that this system will track westward and track across the Lesser Antilles (Looks like directly over Dominica and Martinique next Thursday. In 10 days or next Friday, the European model forecasts that Colin will be located in the eastern Caribbean just south of Puerto Rico.
So, it seems the bottom line is that activity will remain quiet for the next few days, but then it may ramp up pretty rapidly within the next 7 to 10 days, if not sooner. Rainfall total maps from Africa show that it has been pretty wet there over the last week and this is a pretty good signal that things will pick up really soon. Crown Weather Services
Aerial View of the Gulf – Where’s the Oil?
(July 28 NOLA) – Here is a list, released by Louisiana emergency officials, of areas where oil was sighted Wednesday. The list is not a comprehensive tally of areas affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Read Article
Aerial View of the Gulf – Where’s the Oil?
(July 28 CBS ) – On day 100 of BP’s oil leak, there’s some good news to report. Most of the floating blob of oil — once the size of South Carolina — is gone. Article & Video
BP working to increase its ability to contain oil even as plans for ‘static kill’ move forward
(July 28 The Times-Picayune) – BP is working to increase its ability to contain oil that could be released from its runaway Gulf of Mexico well, even though it hopes to shut the well down permanently in the coming weeks. Read Article
Oil spewing from well near Louisiana marsh
(July 27 msnbc) – Adding insult to the Gulf’s injury, a wellhead hit by a tug boat is now spewing oil near a Louisiana marsh area, officials said Tuesday. Read Article
Gulf Cleanup Chief Needs to Know: ‘Where Is All the Oil’?
(July 27 FOX) – Nearly two weeks after successfully capping the gushing well in the Gulf of Mexico, cleanup crews roving the water’s surface have a pressing question at hand: where is the oil? Read Article
Plaintiffs Attorneys Knock BP Fund Administrator
(July 26 Law.com) – A South Florida plaintiffs attorney active in oil spill litigation is calling on the administrator of BP’s $20 billion compensation fund to disclose how much the oil giant is paying him and to stop discouraging victims from seeking legal representation. Read Article
Twitter Report: The Evolving State of Public Sentiment Towards BP and Obama
Preparations for BP well ‘kill’ operation move ahead
(July 25 Yahoo UK) – Engineers moved ahead on Sunday with preparations for a well “kill” operation that officials hope will permanently plug the oil leak causing the worst US environmental disaster. Read Article
Ships return to Gulf spill site as storm fizzles
(July 25 AP/La Times) – GRAND ISLE, La. � The fleet tending the blown-out BP well headed back to the oil spill site Saturday after a tropical storm system fizzled, eliminating the threat of dangerously high seas. Read Article
NOTE: There are two years now that are fairly analogous to this hurricane season, 1998 and to a lesser extent 2004:
In 1998, we transitioned from an El Nino to a La Nina, which is very similar to this season. One thing to point out is that in 1998, the first named storm did not occur until July 27th with the second named storm occurring on August 19th. From the period of August 19th and October 10th, there were 11 named storms, 8 of those becoming hurricanes and 2 of those hurricanes becoming major hurricanes. Also, the 1998 hurricane season ran late with a named storm in late November and early December. In all, the 1998 hurricane season produced 14 named storms, 10 of those becoming hurricanes and 3 of those hurricanes becoming major hurricanes.
The 2004 hurricane season did not kick off until July 31st with the first named storm. Then between July 31st and October 11th, there were 14 named storms, 9 of those storms becoming hurricanes and 6 of those hurricanes becoming major hurricanes. The 2004 hurricane season, much like 1998, ran late with a named storm in late November and early December. In all, the 2004 hurricane season produced 15 named storms, 9 of those becoming hurricanes and 6 of those hurricanes becoming major hurricanes. Crown Weather Services
Researchers confirm subsea Gulf oil plumes are from BP well
(July 23 McClatchy) – ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. � Through a chemical fingerprinting process, University of South Florida researchers have definitively linked clouds of underwater oil in the northern Gulf of Mexico to BP’s runaway Deepwater Horizon well � the first direct scientific link between the subsurface oil clouds commonly known as “plumes” and the BP oil spill, USF officials said Friday. Read Article
University of South Florida Press Release
Capping the Well Video – [BP] An in-depth account of how remotely operated vehicles were used to fit the sealing cap on the Macondo well.
BP Response in Video – BPs attempt to sway public opinion in their favor.
There was no official BP July 22 Update [GOM Press Release] We did see more commercials on CBS and NBC describing BP as the best company ever!
Cap to remain in place if storm forces evacuation of gulf well site
(July 22 St. Petersburg Times) – Federal and BP officials have decided that if they have to evacuate the Deepwater Horizon well site because of a tropical storm, the cap now on the well will remain. Read Article
Waters Reopen To Shrimping
(July 21 WKRG) – Fishermen are reminded to maintain at least 65 feet away from oil booms. [hmmm…tastey Corexit Shrimp basted in Butoxyethanol!] Read Article
Gathering storm halts BP operation to kill well
(July 21 Washington Post) – With weather conditions deteriorating in the eastern Caribbean, BP stopped work Wednesday on efforts to finally kill its blown-out well and installed a plug in the relief well as protection if the seas get rough. Read Article
Matt Simmons Says Gulf Clean Up Will Cost Over $1 Trillion, Sees BP At $1, Says “We Have Now Killed The GoM”
(July 21 ZeroHedge) – Matt Simmons shares some startling revelations in his latest Bloomberg TV interview, in which he says none of the propaganda matters on TV 24/7 (photoshopped or not) as the ultimate clean up cost will likely be well over $1 trillion, and a result he is unconcerned about his BP short. Video & Article
I Think I Understand What Matt Simmons Is Talking About…
July 21 (Oil Drum Thread) – BP�s Deepwater Oil Spill � the 3-ram stack � and open thread 2
There was no official BP July 21 Update [GOM Press Release] Although we did see a commercial on CBS during the CBS Evening News [$$$] proclaiming what a swell company they are.
Gulf Oil Spill: Relief Well Could Be Completed By This Weekend
(July 21 HuffingtonPost/AP) – NEW ORLEANS – Three months into the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the federal government’s spill chief says a relief tunnel should finally reach BP’s broken well by the weekend, meaning the gusher could be snuffed for good within two weeks. Read Article
There was no official BP July 20 Update [GOM Press Release]
Gulf oil spill update: Operational overview from Admiral Zukunft, Navy airship (blimp) aerial video
(July 20 News Examiner) – Yesterday, Coast Guard Rear Adm. Paul Zukunft gave an operational overview of recent efforts in response to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster. The Admiral is Federal On-Scene Coordinator for what has turned out to be the biggest oil spill response in U.S. history. He said that 40,122 people; 5,640 vessels and 116 aircraft are working in this operation. Video & Article
Feds tamp down fears leaks mean BP well unstable
(July 20 Yahoo) WASHINGTON � The federal government’s oil spill chief said Tuesday that seepage two miles from BP’s oil cap is coming from another well, tamping down fears that leaks mean the ruptured well is unstable. Read Article
There are lots of naturally occurring oil seeps in the floor of the Gulf of Mexico.
BP Considers New Plan to Permanently Seal Well
(July 19 NY Times) As scientists on Monday allayed concerns that BP�s well in the Gulf of Mexico was damaged, the company said it was considering an alternative plan that could permanently seal the gusher sooner than had been anticipated. Read Article
Hearings: Fewer cement-seal devices used than were available
(July 19 NOLA) This is an update from the joint hearings by the Coast Guard and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement investigating the causes of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion. Read Article
BP Top Kill Redux. Now Called the “Static Kill”
(July 19 The Daily Hurricane) I’m listening to Kent Wells Monday afternoon McBriefing. After all of the normal generalities, he has just dropped the bomb that they’re considering the “static kill”. He said that it’s not approved and they studying it, and then did not elaborate. So far, the press hasn’t picked up on it and are mostly focused on the Hatfields and McCoys style feud that kicked up yesterday after the Suttles briefing. Read Article
New leaks could rupture sea floor
(July 19 FOX Tampa Bay) WASHINGTON – Four days after the capping of the well, trouble may be seeping into the Gulf of Mexico.
“There have been three general areas of anomalies that have been detected since the 17th of July. The first one was a seepage about three nautical miles from the well head itself,” according to National Incident Commander Thad Allen. Read Article
Natt Simmons interview with Kingsworld
Oil Cap Leaking: Seepage Detected Two Miles From Wellhead
(July 19 AP) NEW ORLEANS – Oil and gas are leaking from the cap on BP’s ruptured oil well but the cork will stay in place for now, the federal government’s point man on the spill said Monday. Read Article
Oil spill media blackout UPDATE for Tampa, Florida: Gulf oil spill sea floor leak now confirmed
(July 19 Examiner) NEW ORLEANS – BP has confirmed that there is an oil leak on the sea floor several miles away from the Deepwater Horizon’s damaged blowout preventer. The undisclosed specific location of the sub- sea leak is reported to be billowing oil and deadly methane gas. Video & Article
Seepage Detected Near BP’s Busted Oil Well
(July 19 AOL) NEW ORLEANS – A seep near the oil well that had been spewing into the Gulf of Mexico is adding a new twist to a disagreement between BP and the government over what to do next now that the oil has been capped. Read Article
Allen: Seep detected at oil spill site
(July 18 CNN) – Tests relating to the recently recapped oil well in the Gulf of Mexico have detected a “seep a distance from the well,” Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said in a letter to a BP official.
Allen, in a letter to BP Chief Managing Director Bob Dudley, directs BP to provide a written procedure for restarting flow from the well if oil seepage near the wellhead is confirmed. Video & Article
Leak gets bad at around the 5:00 mark of the video.
Report: Seep found near BP�s capped oil well
(July 18 The Hill) – A federal official said Sunday that scientists are concerned about a seep and possible methane seen near BP’s busted oil well in the Gulf of Mexico.
Both could be signs there are leaks in the well that’s been capped off for three days. Read Article
BP July 18 Breifing
BP: Audio of TechBriefing – July 18, 2010 at 7:30 am CST
BP, feds at odds over next steps with cap?
(July 18 msnbc) – NEW ORLEANS � Adding confusion to the capping delays that were followed by a test extension, BP and the federal government seemed to be at odds Sunday over what the next steps for the busted Gulf oil well will be.
A senior BP executive on Sunday appeared to lean towards keeping the well capped, assuming the well integrity test is declared a success, until a relief well is drilled and the well plugged with cement. Read Article
BP says it plans to keep gulf oil well cap closed
(July 18 Washington Post) – In a press conference Sunday morning, a BP executive said that a mechanical “cap” used to shut off the geyser still seems to be holding. As a result, he said, “right now there is no target set to open the well back up to flow” — and it could remain shut until a “relief well” can plug the leak at its source. Read Article
Geologist: Depletion of Oil Reservoir “Unlikely”
(July 18 ZeroHedge) – There are 4 alternative explanations for the unexpectedly low oil pressure in the BP well: (1) A leak in the pipe in the well bore; (2) flow under the well between sand layers; (3) a blockage in the well; or (4) depletion of the oil reservoir Read Article
Recapped Gulf oil well continues to hold
(July 18 CNN) — The recently recapped oil well in the Gulf of Mexico could remain closed until the relief well is drilled if tests remain favorable, a BP official said Sunday morning.
BP’s Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles said a variety of tests show oil and gas are not escaping. Read Article
U.S. Orders BP to Reopen Gulf Well and Capture Oil After Tests
July 18 (Bloomberg) — BP Plc was ordered by U.S. officials to open its sealed Macondo gusher in the Gulf of Mexico and resume capturing the escaping oil after it concludes tests on the well. Read Article
Simmons’ Take on the Oil Spill in the Gulf
“Keep in mind when the well blew, the rig caught fire and the guy at the joystick on the rig moved the rig away from the well so people could jump off,” said Simmons. “Then the water boats pushed the rig farther from the well.” Simmons described the real blowout as an open hole gushing 120,000 barrels of toxic crude every day below the surface of the Gulf six or seven miles away from the riser. And BP is ignoring it, he said. Read Article
Multiple oil rig leaks now threaten entire Gulf
Despite the admittedly Herculean efforts on the part of British Petroleum to contain and stop the oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, the situation might have suddenly become much worse.
The main oil slick has now been measured and reaches 142 miles from the wellhead. The main oil slick…other slicks have been discovered. Read Article
Three oil leaks in Gulf possible
An analysis of satellite imagery suggests there may be oil leaks at three separate sites in the Gulf of Mexico, in addition to the possibility of three leaks at the Deepwater Horizon site. Read Article
BP July 17 Breifing
BP: Audio of TechBriefing – July 17, 2010 at 7:30 am CST
BP: No sign of leaks as capped well nears 48 hours
(YAHOO July 17) – NEW ORLEANS � BP’s experimental cap was holding Saturday as the final hours ticked away in a two-day trial run to make sure it keeps oil from pouring into the Gulf of Mexico without blowing a new leak in the busted well. Read Article
Giant oil skimmer ‘A Whale’ deemed a bust for Gulf of Mexico spill
(NOLA July 16) – The massive “A Whale” oil skimmer has effectively been beached after it proved inefficient in sucking up oil from the Gulf of Mexico spill.
The oil is too dispersed to take advantage of the converted Taiwanese supertanker’s enormous capacity, said Bob Grantham, a spokesman for shipowner TMT. Read Article
Professor: Low pressure reading may suggest well has lost power, not that it’s leaking
(NOLA July 16) – As a team of scientists works to interpret pressure readings inside the blown-out Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico, a geologist who has been following the gusher said a pressure reading of lower than the 8,000 to 9,000 pounds per square inch target that officials have said they are hoping for does not necessarily indicate bad news. Read Article
(CNN AC 360) reports a new Gallup poll shows that the percentage of Americans who think the Gulf Oil Spill is the top problem facing the USA has dropped from 18% in June to 7% in July.
Yes, these are dead fish. Click to see more misery.
Click to see full size image.
Deepwater Oil Spill – the Last Cement Job? From The OilDrum
Oil taints food chain in Gulf of Mexico
Dr. Hoffmayer is worried about the whale sharks. He recently observed 100 whale sharks just 60 miles west of the leaking oil well.
“The hope was that yes, they’d be able to detect it and stay away. But based on a few recent observations they are well within the site of the oil and within oil, suggests that they are not seeing this is a toxic signal and that they are feeding in areas of the oil.” Read Article
Gulf Disaster Fly-Over
NOTE: The currents presently flow away from the Yucatan Peninsula pushing the oil and gunk Northward. To see the Ocean Forecast Map in realtime see: Oil Spill Animations & Forecasts.
Concentrations of 0.0005 and Higher – June 18, 2010 – Google Earth version
This animation, displayed using Google Earth software, provides sharpened contrast between comparatively clear ocean and areas of higher dye concentration by eliminating dye concentrations below 0.0005 (a dilution of 2,000 times relative to the source). As a result, the area covered in beige (most diluted) is reduced compared to the animations released on June 3, 2010 (see below), with some of the lowest concentrations becoming transparent.
The animation shows one scenario of how oil released in the upper 65 feet of the ocean at the location of the Deepwater Horizon disaster on April 20 in the Gulf of Mexico could move. This is not a forecast, but rather, it illustrates a likely dispersal pathway of the oil for roughly four months following the spill. It assumes oil spilling continuously from April 20 to June 20. The colors represent a dilution factor ranging from red (most concentrated) to beige (most diluted).
The simulations do not make any assumptions about the daily rate or total amount of oil spilled and the dilution factor does not attempt to estimate the actual barrels of oil at any spot. Instead, one unit per day of a liquid “dye tracer” is injected in the model at the spill site (injected continuously over the period April 20 through June 20). The animation shows possible scenarios of what might happen to dye released in the upper 65 feet of ocean at the spill site. The dilution factor depicts how dye released at the site of the spill will be progressively diluted as it is transported and mixed by ocean currents. For example, areas showing a dilution factor of 0.01 would have one-hundredth the concentration of oil present at the spill site.
The animation is based on a computer model simulation, using a virtual dye, that assumes weather and current conditions similar to those that occur in a typical year. It is one of a set of six scenarios (view these below) that simulate possible pathways the oil might take under a variety of oceanic conditions. Each of the six scenarios shows the same overall movement of oil through the Gulf to the Atlantic and up the East Coast. However, the timing and fine-scale details differ, depending on the details of the ocean currents in the Gulf. (Visualization by Michael Burek, NCAR; based on model simulations.)
Source: UCAR
This animation shows one scenario of how oil released at the location of the Deepwater Horizon disaster on April 20 in the Gulf of Mexico may move in the upper 65 feet of the ocean. This is not a forecast, but rather, it illustrates a likely dispersal pathway of the oil for roughly four months following the spill. It assumes oil spilling continuously from April 20 to June 20. The colors represent a dilution factor ranging from red (most concentrated) to beige (most diluted).
The simulations do not make any assumptions about the daily rate or total amount of oil spilled and the dilution factor does not attempt to estimate the actual barrels of oil at any spot. Instead, one unit per day of a liquid “dye tracer” is injected in the model at the spill site (injected continuously over the period April 20 through June 20). The animation shows possible scenarios of what might happen to dye released in the upper 65 feet of ocean at the spill site. The dilution factor depicts how dye released at the site of the spill will be progressively diluted as it is transported and mixed by ocean currents. For example, areas showing a dilution factor of 0.01 would have one-hundredth the concentration of oil present at the spill site.
The animation is based on a computer model simulation, using a virtual dye, that assumes weather and current conditions similar to those that occur in a typical year. It is one of a set of six scenarios released today (animations and still images) that simulate possible pathways the oil might take under a variety of oceanic conditions. Each of the six scenarios shows the same overall movement of oil through the Gulf to the Atlantic and up the East Coast. However, the timing and fine-scale details differ, depending on the details of the ocean currents in the Gulf. (Visualization by Tim Scheitlin and Mary Haley, NCAR; based on model simulations.)
Source: UCAR
Cleanup Actions
�Global Green has spent the past few months working to enable greater media access, provide assistance to local fishing communities, protect injured wildlife and to lobby Congress to enforce tougher regulations on the oil and coal industries. Volunteer with Global Green or donate to their 100×100 campaign — $100 to mark 100 days — to support these efforts.
�Mobile Baykeeper, an affiliate of Waterkeeper Alliance, is dedicating resources to educate potential volunteers on how to help and address the long-term environmental change needed in the Gulf region. Make a donation to these efforts.
�The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has dedicated their resources to aiding the environment, wildlife and citizens of the Gulf region. Through August 5, for every dollar you donate to EDF, supporters Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham will donate two dollars, until they reach their $100,000 goal. The EDF proposes to encourage Congress to finish all restoration projects for which money has been set aside.
�The Sierra Club is gathering volunteers to help with the cleanup efforts. Sign up online to volunteer and the Sierra Club will help you find the right opportunities for you.
�The Coalition To Restore Coastal Louisiana is also helping to coordinate volunteers. You can register online to volunteer or make a donation.
�CrisisCamp’s April 30 conference call compiled information about potential relief efforts — review the meeting notes, containing volunteer information with nonprofits and information from government organizations. You can also continue to follow the CrisisCamp oil spill Twitter list for updates.
Wildlife Actions
�The National Wildlife Federation has set up mobile giving services to support their work in the Gulf Coast. Donors can send a text message with the code “WILDLIFE” to 20222 to automatically give a $10 donation to help wildlife affected by the oil spill.
�The National Audubon Society is asking concerned citizens to donate or volunteer. Sign up to get trained and volunteer to help local birds.
�The Oiled Wildlife Care Network is recruiting volunteers on a state-by-state basis, information for which can be found on Deepwater Horizon’s Facebook page.
�The International Bird Rescue Research Center has deployed a professional rescue team to the Gulf Coast to help birds covered in oil. Though they are not accepting volunteers at this time, you can help by making a donation to support their ongoing wildfowl rehabilitation efforts or by adopting a bird through their website.
Support For Gulf Citizens
�The Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) has set up a fund to benefit Gulf fishermen and their families in the parishes of Plaquemines, St. Bernard, lower Jefferson, Terrebonne, and Lafourche. GNOF funds also support equipment and training for volunteers and the Louisiana SPCA to take care of pets that many families can no longer afford to care for.
�Oxfam America is working to help affected communities with financial assistance, as well as protect local wetlands and marshes. Make a tax-deductible donation to Oxfam America.
�Go to the Gulf! Businesses from Louisiana to Florida are hurting due to a lack of tourism. Put money back into the local economy — SouthCoastUSA has resources from all Gulf states to help plan a trip to the region.
Political Actions
�Give BP a call. Numbers are listed for their offices throughout the United States. The BP Volunteer Hotline has also set up numbers if you need to report injured wildlife or damage related to the spill. You can request volunteer information at 1-866-448-5816.
�In addition to their volunteer opportunities, the Sierra Club is offering a chance to contact President Obama to call for an end to all offshore drilling proposals.
�Oceana’s goal is to reach 500,000 names on a petition to stop offshore drilling permanently. A map on their website displays how much the oil has spread across the Gulf as well as the location of wildlife in relation to the spill.
�Petition sites are packed with letters to politicians that you can sign on to. Care2’s The Petition Site, aiming to encourage President Obama to reconsider his plan to expand offshore drilling and instead invest in clean energy resources, has surpassed their goal of 10,000 signatures, but is still encouraging citizens to add their voice to the cause. A similar petition can be found on TrueMajority.org.
�Join the Facebook group 1 Million Strong Against Offshore Drilling. Check out the action page for more suggestions of how to lend your voice to the anti-drilling movement, and invite 100 of your friends to join as well.
�If you want to do more after writing to your representatives, you can always boycott BP products. The main ones you use? Arco and ampm. If Americans stopped buying gas and products from these places, they’d feel it.
