Offshore Oil Drilling and the Oil Rig Disaster in the Gulf

[JaxByDefault]

Working a rig is a tough job -- and we all use oil products -- so drilling somewhere is necessary, but it is also high cost and dangerous  I feel for the families of the lost workers. I oppose expanding offshore drilling in the Gulf, but I'm also fully aware that the most egregious environmental violations associated with drilling are far from our shores (look at Nigeria, for example) and that if we continue to need oil, companies will drill somewhere --- likely where there is little regulation or oversight.  It's a tough problem, and we need economically viable alternative energy solutions that minimize our fossil fuel use.  

Both political parties in Alabama have long opposed off-shore drilling. (Thrilled that the NYT actually pointed this out instead of lumping all the northern gulf states together.) Alas, now their coastline will suffer all the same.

My youngest sister is preparing to return home for the summer from Auburn Univeristy. Instead of playing on her beloved beach and bay this summer, she's now looking into volunteer opportunities to help clean them.

40% of our nation's wetlands -- 40%-- are vulnerable to damage from this spill. As if the Katrina coast needs yet another gut punch.

I hear there are already "Drill Here. Spill Now." stickers on gulf coast bumpers.

*Edited for typo.

[BridgeTroll]

It is probably time to shut down all offshore rigs...

[JC]

It is probably time to shut down all offshore rigs...

Maybe your tune will change when that crap comes floating up Florida's east coast and cripples the tourist industry! 

Oooh, maybe we can use this to our advantage and advertise a free hot oil hair treatment with every swim!

[BridgeTroll]

Geez guys...   Whaddya want?  I said it is probably time to shut down all the offshore rigs...  This coming disaster has convinced me that it is time to shut em all down.  Perhaps the platforms could remain and wind turbines replace pumps...

[JC]

I am wondering if any of you writer/photographer types want to take a road trip out to the spill area? 

I know, yall dont know me from a hole in the ground but I did a carpool from NY to DC for the inauguration with two strangers who became close friends over the last few years. 

I just think the imagery has the potential to be really great and MetroJax can get some original reporting on the issue!

[JaxByDefault]

I encourage everyone to sign up with environmental orgs in the area.

Hopefully, spouse and I will be taking a working vacation with the Mobile Baykeepers (http://www.mobilebaykeeper.org/) and other orgs doing clean up work.

Check with the DWHR website for more information on the spill. http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/

[JC]

I encourage everyone to sign up with environmental orgs in the area.

Hopefully, spouse and I will be taking a working vacation with the Mobile Baykeepers (http://www.mobilebaykeeper.org/) and other orgs doing clean up work.

Check with the DWHR website for more information on the spill. http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/

Thanks for the links! 

Have you heard anything about a firm landfall date?

[JaxByDefault]

Wind is supposed to kick up to 20kts before the weekend, which could push the spill toward the outlying banks, islands, and marsh barriers of the northern Gulf coast. High threat areas are LA, MS, and AL outlying coastal areas and the MS River delta wetlands refuge, Breton refuge, MS sound, Chandleur, and Dauphin Island.

There is no word on predicted landfall, if any, at this time. The NOAA link, above, has a daily predictive map.

Check the Mobile Press Register and the NOLA Times-Picayune websites, for more info, too.

Do a rain dance or pray for rain in north AL, north MS, and TN. More outflow from the MS river and Mobile Bay helps to protect the wetlands and beaches.

[Sportmotor]

http://www.youtube.com/v/QkCt5xDEeTE


Now I am not one to go raising alarms often, but that kinda sends up a flag when you have the president saying he might get the Department of Defence involved and have SWAT Teams "inspect" all the other oil rigs...
The heck is actually going on? According to the news thus far the oil rig explodered and it being an oil rig is dangerous to start with so not really batting an eye at, it was an accident but never heard them getting called in before.

anyway Oil spill pictures from Boston.com

Find the rest here ---> http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/oil_spill_approaches_louisiana.html

[Sportmotor]

Damn, work on a truck come back an hour later and shit falls apart


Well it meets the M.O. of terrorist. to a degree.

[CS Foltz]

SWAT Teams on any oil rig would be dangerous to the swat teams! You don't have rookies/newbies unattended or unwatched on a deck for any reason and they would be useless in that enviroment............plain and simple! Haliburton on the other hand has a record of dropping the ball and I don't think any company that over charges for work in Iraq should be doing work here!

[Sportmotor]

This isnt Iraq this is off the coast

I find it alarming(highly) that they have to go this far to get DOD and SWAT in on it.

[tufsu1]

not that I'm a fan of drilling...but it would not have been so bad if the U.S. required remote shut off valves for the oil rigs...like many other countries do.

[urbanlibertarian]

^^"remote shit off valves"

Pun intended?

[Timkin]

What are the chances of two rig accidents within a week of each other being Accidental???


OMG..