The news keeps getting worse with Gulf Oil Leak
The news just keeps getting worse when it comes to the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico just off the coast of Louisiana. The massive coverage of oil on the surface just keeps growing and growing. Efforts to shut off the leak have produced no results thus far and word is the oil patch could reach the Louisiana coastline as early as tomorrow. The flow of oil from the leaking well is estimated to be at 5,000 barrells per day well above the original thought of 1,000 per day.
On Wednesday crews began an experiment with burning off parts of the oil slick in an effort to to prevent it from washing ashore and harming the fragile wildlife and plant life that dot the coast. The controlled, test burn was successful late Wednesday afternoon. British Petroleum was to set more fires after the test, but as night fell, there were no more burns. The burns were not expected to be done at night.
Greg Pollock, head of the oil spill division of the Texas General Land Office stated "When you can get oil ignited, it is an absolutely effective way of getting rid of a huge percentage of the oil," he said. "I can't overstate how important it is to get the oil off the surface of the water."
When the flames go out, Pollock said, the material that is left resembles a hardened ball of tar that can be removed from the water with nets or skimmers. "I would say there is little threat to the environment because it won't coat an animal, and because all the volatiles have been consumed if it gets on a shore it can be simply picked up,"
The massive oil skimmer A Whale is being tested and readied to join the fight cleaning up the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Read More
Concerns are growing as Hurricane Alex gains strength in the southern Gulf of Mexico as to how it could effect the ongoing efforts to stem and cleanup the oil spill off Louisiana.
Read More
President Barack Obama is demanding BP set aside billions of dollars to pay damages from the Gulf oil spill catastrophe. He is seeking to counter an image of detached leadership in the oil spill.
Read More
The terrible oil slick reached the pristine Florida peninsula beaches Friday and President Obama finally took off the gloves and lashed out at British Petroleum.
Read More
Everything we have thrown at the spewing oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico has failed and it looks like the leak could continue for weeks and even months.
Read More