Offshore Oil Drilling and the Oil Rig Disaster in the Gulf

[Bostech]

Do we all stop flying when there is an airplane crash? Do we all stop driving due to car crashes? So why would we stop looking for alternative means of energy, just because of one disaster? I don't understand the logic.

Unless you happen to be in one of those crashes.

[Mattius92]

While this hasn't beaten the Ixtoc 1 Oil Spill, that happened in 1979 in the Gulf, which released an staggering 140 million gallons of oil, but this one might be one of the fastest, releasing around 200,000 barrels a day, that beats the Ixtocs 40,000 a day. Might be another week till the get this under control if they are successful, just hope our Florida beaches and wildlife stay safe.

[finehoe]

Do we all stop flying when there is an airplane crash? Do we all stop driving due to car crashes? So why would we stop looking for alternative means of energy, just because of one disaster? I don't understand the logic.

Maybe what you don't understand is the meaning of "alternative means of energy".  What is "alternative" about drilling for oil?  I haven't heard a soul say we should cease research into solar or wind power due to this disaster.

[Lunican]

Crewmembers aboard the motor vessel Joe Griffin look on as the mobile offshore drilling unit Q4000 lowers a pollution containment chamber May 6, 2010. The chamber was designed to cap the oil discharge that was a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Kelley.




Oil washes onto the sides of a pollution containment chamber as the mobile offshore drilling unit Q4000 lowers it into the water at the Deepwater Horizon site, May 6, 2010. The chamber was designed to cap the oil discharge that was a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Kelley.




The mobile offshore drilling unit Q4000 lowers a pollution containment chamber into oily water at the Deepwater Horizon site May 6, 2010. The chamber was designed to cap the oil discharge that was a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Kelley.




The mobile offshore drilling unit Q4000 lowers a pollution containment chamber May 6, 2010. The chamber was designed to cap the oil discharge that was a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Kelley.

[buckethead]

Nice shots. If any here are of the praying type, a prayer for the success of this effort would be welcome.

For everyone else: thoughts!

[JC]

Does anyone know what the process it for revoking a corporate charter and if its possible to put political pressure on state leaders to do so?  I understand a revocation of BP's charter would not solve the larger problem but it would go a long way in sending a message.  And why are people still buying BP gas in the affected states?

[BridgeTroll]

And why are people still buying BP gas in the affected states?

Hopefully to help keep em in business long enough to pay for the cleanup and compensation.

When is the government going to order all offshore rigs shutdown and dismantled.  This wake up call should spur action as this will likely happen again and again...

[buckethead]

BP did not own the rig.

BP did not employ the workers.

BP did not manage the drilling process.

They were purchasing a commodity from those who did.

BP has the big money, therfore BP is who is going to be held liable.

[JeffreyS]

The BP CEO said they are responsible and that it was BP's oil spilling into the gulf.  Now if they want to sue the sub contractors that is BP's prerogative.

[JeffreyS]

They were purchasing a commodity from those who did.

This is the part I think you have wrong BP has already claimed the oil they just have subed out the extraction.  Can anyone confirm I have the process correct or not?

[NotNow]

BP owns the drilling rights.  They contracted Transocean to drill and extract.  BP is responsible for the spill and the claim they have with their subs is civil.

Drilling and extracting will not stop in the gulf.  BP is a British corporation and the US can not "revoke" any charter.  If the US stops US companies from drilling and extracting somehow then foreign companies will just continue and will buy out US rights.

[JaxByDefault]

And why are people still buying BP gas in the affected states?

Hopefully to help keep em in business long enough to pay for the cleanup and compensation.

Exactly. The same reason many shrimpers have leased boats/hours to BP in the cleanup efforts -- to make sure BP pays what it owes, especially to those who are most injured.

I'll still be buying BP gas despite the accident -- and my family's home is on the slicked coast. First, BP's worldwide record is better than many other companies, and second, I want to make sure that they pay every damn dime owed for clean up efforts for the Gulf and Mobile Bay. (Hopefully, the US and UK won't so much as let BP even attempt corporate restructuring to escape a shred of liability.)

[finehoe]

[Hopefully, the US and UK won't so much as let BP even attempt corporate restructuring to escape a shred of liability.

This probably depends on if Goldman Sachs or JP Morgan can make money off of it or not.

[Timkin]

Nice shots. If any here are of the praying type, a prayer for the success of this effort would be welcome.

For everyone else: thoughts!

Completely agree.  I hope and pray this works.. the environmental effects of this will be obvious for a long long time to come as it is now.. It can only get worse if not contained.

[Mattius92]

So did that 300-ton contraption work or not?