Offshore Oil Drilling and the Oil Rig Disaster in the Gulf

[lindab]

The first stages of the fire. Images from hell.

[lindab]

Deep Horizon goes under

[Dog Walker]

That next to the last picture looks like something out of Star Wars!

[BridgeTroll]

A few jackasses were for a policy that took risks that they never understood.  With that public (and completely ignorant) support, these rigs were allowed and accelerated.

Remember that one of those "jackasses" was our current President and unless you are living a petroleum free life you are as duplicitous as the rest of us.

Or are you going to pretend that its actually everyone elses fault and just rely on 'someone' to pay for it?

No... but you sure seem to be.

[CS Foltz]

stephen..........I find it hard to understand that there was no contingency plans for just what took place! I have allways had a plan B or C and am having a hard time grasping why BP did not CYA!

[BridgeTroll]

Not evasions at all.  I have said more than once I have had a change of position as the reality and magnitude of the disaster has unfolded.  You however... remain smug.  The president himself was for the expansion of offshore oil drilling.  As I also said... I bet he is also having a change in position as are many others.

[lindab]

Here's the leasing boundaries for the Eastern coastline. Makes it a little more personal, doesn't it?

[north miami]

Today's Anchorage Daily News (adn.com) headline:

BP didn't plan for major spill

In a 2009 environmental impact analysis for the well BP suggested it was unlikely or virtually impossible for an accident to occur........

[BridgeTroll]

I never said anthing of the like.  I am also an evironmentalist... which is why this catastrophe make me ill.  I believed in the technology.  I trusted the auto shutoff valves and the ability of engineers to limit a spill to a manageable crisis.  Unlike a supertanker that might spill its entire load... that load has a limit.  At this time there is no limit to the amount of oil spewing into the bottom of the ocean over a mile down.

Shut down all the offshore rigs.

[Lunican]

The Deepwater Horizon well is at the end of one branch of the Gulf Stream, the famed warm-water current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Atlantic. Several experts said that if the oil enters the stream, it would flow around the southern tip of Florida and up the eastern seaboard.

"It will be on the East Coast of Florida in almost no time," Graber said. "I don't think we can prevent that. It's more of a question of when rather than if."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36870222/ns/us_news-environment/

[lindab]

From: Depnews [mailto:Depnews@dep.state.fl.us]
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2010 3:33 PM
Subject: DEEPWATER HORIZON RESPONSE DAY 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION (ESF 14)
SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010                                                                               (850) 921-0217
              www.FloridaDisaster.org

DEEPWATER HORIZON RESPONSE DAY 2

TALLAHASSEE- - The State Emergency Response Team in support of the Department of Environmental Protection as the lead response agency for the state of Florida is actively monitoring the Deepwater Horizon response. Currently, there are no projected impacts to the state of Florida through Monday, so residents and visitors may continue with weekend activities as scheduled. However, it is possible that some areas along the coast may see indications of oil residue. Should any resident or visitor experience these impacts, please refer to the recommended actions listed below.

Response efforts by the state of Florida to date include:
·         The State Emergency Operations Center has activated to a Level 2 or Partial activation.
·         Governor Charlie Crist has declared a state of emergency for the counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay and Gulf.
·         The State Emergency Response Team has representatives at the Unified Command at the U.S. Coast Guard's Sector Mobile, helping to coordinate the efforts to protect Florida's shoreline.
·         The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), county governments, water management districts and several federal agencies are conducting pre-impact assessments, including sampling of water, fish, shellfish, and habitats along the Florida coastline and into the Gulf of Mexico.

Recommended environmental actions:
·         There are rapid response teams staged to deploy to shorelines affected by oil to evaluate and determine an appropriate clean-up effort to minimize the impact to the environment. To report any sightings of oil residue, please call BP's oil report line at (866) 448-5816.
·         If any air quality changes are suspected, residents may report them at http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/.
·         Residents and visitors concerned about Florida's air quality may view an up-to-date map with pollutant concentrations at www.airnow.gov.
·         Individuals should not attempt to help injured or oiled animals, but to report any sightings to the following toll-free number: (866) 557-1401.
·         Homeowners may be able to help prevent any oil from reaching yards and damaging sensitive vegetation by utilizing sandbags or sorbent booms. To obtain more information on these types of protective measures, please contact BP's community information line at (866) 448-5816.

Recommended health actions:
·         At this time, there are no indications of any health risks to Floridians due to the Deepwater Horizon incident. However, any person who is concerned about change in air quality due to this event should contact their primary health care provider.
·         As with wildfires and other events that increase particulate matter in the air, consider staying inside, in an air-conditioned room and change the air-conditioner filter to ensure peak performance.
·         Avoid strenuous activities outside.
·         Anyone who experiences difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or other serious symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
·         Should Florida's coastline become affected by the incident, avoid entering areas where oil can be seen or smelled. If any oil is sighted or smelled, leave the area right away.
·         Avoid direct skin contact with oil, oil-contaminated water and sediments.
·         Do not swim or ski in areas affected by the oil spill, and if traveling through the area by boat, take precautions when hoisting the boat anchor. If oil makes contact with skin, wash it off immediately with soap and water.
·         Do not fish in the oil spill-affected waters.
·         Do not harvest and eat dead fish, fish with oily residue or fish that have a petroleum odor.
·         Avoid boating through oil slicks or sheens.
·         Young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and individuals with underlying respiratory conditions should avoid the area.
·         Restrict pets from entering oil-contaminated areas.

Recommended volunteer opportunities:
·         For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit www.VolunteerFlorida.org.
·         BP has established a volunteer program and set up a toll-free number for those interested in volunteering.  When calling, interested parties should communicate what they are volunteering for what areas they are available to work in.  In addition, potential volunteers may call this line to learn about the training that is required to work in oil spill clean-up operations.
·         For information on assisting with the response efforts, please contact BP's community information line at (866) 448-5816.

For the most up-to-date information on Florida's Deepwater Horizon Response, please visit www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon. The following is a link to the State Emergency Response Team Situation Report for Saturday, May 1, 2010: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/files/situation_report3_050110.pdf

###

[Timkin]

From: Depnews [mailto:Depnews@dep.state.fl.us]
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2010 3:33 PM
Subject: DEEPWATER HORIZON RESPONSE DAY 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION (ESF 14)
SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010                                                                               (850) 921-0217
              www.FloridaDisaster.org

DEEPWATER HORIZON RESPONSE DAY 2

TALLAHASSEE- - The State Emergency Response Team in support of the Department of Environmental Protection as the lead response agency for the state of Florida is actively monitoring the Deepwater Horizon response. Currently, there are no projected impacts to the state of Florida through Monday, so residents and visitors may continue with weekend activities as scheduled. However, it is possible that some areas along the coast may see indications of oil residue. Should any resident or visitor experience these impacts, please refer to the recommended actions listed below.

Response efforts by the state of Florida to date include:
·         The State Emergency Operations Center has activated to a Level 2 or Partial activation.
·         Governor Charlie Crist has declared a state of emergency for the counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay and Gulf.
·         The State Emergency Response Team has representatives at the Unified Command at the U.S. Coast Guard's Sector Mobile, helping to coordinate the efforts to protect Florida's shoreline.
·         The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), county governments, water management districts and several federal agencies are conducting pre-impact assessments, including sampling of water, fish, shellfish, and habitats along the Florida coastline and into the Gulf of Mexico.

Recommended environmental actions:
·         There are rapid response teams staged to deploy to shorelines affected by oil to evaluate and determine an appropriate clean-up effort to minimize the impact to the environment. To report any sightings of oil residue, please call BP's oil report line at (866) 448-5816.
·         If any air quality changes are suspected, residents may report them at http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/.
·         Residents and visitors concerned about Florida's air quality may view an up-to-date map with pollutant concentrations at www.airnow.gov.
·         Individuals should not attempt to help injured or oiled animals, but to report any sightings to the following toll-free number: (866) 557-1401.
·         Homeowners may be able to help prevent any oil from reaching yards and damaging sensitive vegetation by utilizing sandbags or sorbent booms. To obtain more information on these types of protective measures, please contact BP's community information line at (866) 448-5816.

Recommended health actions:
·         At this time, there are no indications of any health risks to Floridians due to the Deepwater Horizon incident. However, any person who is concerned about change in air quality due to this event should contact their primary health care provider.
·         As with wildfires and other events that increase particulate matter in the air, consider staying inside, in an air-conditioned room and change the air-conditioner filter to ensure peak performance.
·         Avoid strenuous activities outside.
·         Anyone who experiences difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or other serious symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
·         Should Florida's coastline become affected by the incident, avoid entering areas where oil can be seen or smelled. If any oil is sighted or smelled, leave the area right away.
·         Avoid direct skin contact with oil, oil-contaminated water and sediments.
·         Do not swim or ski in areas affected by the oil spill, and if traveling through the area by boat, take precautions when hoisting the boat anchor. If oil makes contact with skin, wash it off immediately with soap and water.
·         Do not fish in the oil spill-affected waters.
·         Do not harvest and eat dead fish, fish with oily residue or fish that have a petroleum odor.
·         Avoid boating through oil slicks or sheens.
·         Young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and individuals with underlying respiratory conditions should avoid the area.
·         Restrict pets from entering oil-contaminated areas.

Recommended volunteer opportunities:
·         For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit www.VolunteerFlorida.org.
·         BP has established a volunteer program and set up a toll-free number for those interested in volunteering.  When calling, interested parties should communicate what they are volunteering for what areas they are available to work in.  In addition, potential volunteers may call this line to learn about the training that is required to work in oil spill clean-up operations.
·         For information on assisting with the response efforts, please contact BP's community information line at (866) 448-5816.

For the most up-to-date information on Florida's Deepwater Horizon Response, please visit www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon. The following is a link to the State Emergency Response Team Situation Report for Saturday, May 1, 2010: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/files/situation_report3_050110.pdf

###

BP should readily and GLADLY pay any compensation to volunteers for this cleanup .  I certainly wish I could participate...  The manpower it is going to take (saying nothing at all for the equipment)is going to be staggering.   This is such a sad situation and I really wish some thought had been put into the possibility of this happening , because herein is the proof that it can and did.  Before any further drilling is done, measures to prevent this monumental disaster should be in place.. and backup plans A, B , and at least C. in case the first plan does'nt work..

Our planet and ecosystems cannot endure many of these incidents without it being catastrophic.

[Coolyfett]

bad bizness

[Dog Walker]

There is a letter from a reader to the TU in this mornings paper (can't find it to post it) that just leaves me shaking my head.  The writer said that we should restrict offshore drilling to less than one mile off shore rather than in deep water because then it would be easier to fix problems when they occurred.

Just what we want.  A coastline surrounded by huge drilling platforms just off shore with a guarantee that every little problem or leak would instantly foul our beaches.  Why we could even put them onshore between the hotels, condominiums, homes and marinas and slant drill to the oil deposits in the Gulf!  Makes as much sense or more.   

[Timkin]

OMG!   Idiot.   That would have the oil spill on the coastline like, immediately.  We need to CEASE drilling until a plan is in place that is proven to work to contain a disaster such as the present..and a backup plan a, b, and c , for good measure. 

Seriously someone has their head up somewhere it shouldn't be if they think this is a remedy.  I dont want to see oil platforms off the coast or even in sight... At present I do not trust A N Y drilling rig.