Oil Spill

[derrelt]

Don't you know BP says there is not anything there.

[Tigerfish]

oh yeah that's true. haha

[Where Y'ak?]

Interactive Map:

Here's the latest link I have.

NOTE: The map is only updated through yesterday, 6-7-10. There were additional closure announcements today. This map is very good detail, but always seems to be about a day behind in being updated.

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/oilspill/map/fishing-closure/

[Yak-a-Lou]

Thought y'all might enjoy the latest find...

[Branch_Office]

Thought y'all might enjoy the latest find...

We would just have to clean that up too lol.

[Yak-a-Lou]

LOL! No, really!

[Yak-a-Lou]

Whoops... supposed to say "NEW Logo"

Anywho, how's this?

Ball caps wanted!

[fishtaco]

Interactive Map:

Here's the latest link I have.

NOTE: The map is only updated through yesterday, 6-7-10. There were additional closure announcements today. This map is very good detail, but always seems to be about a day behind in being updated.

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/oilspill/map/fishing-closure/

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?t=h&hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=29.55554,-89.708862&spn=0.52801,1.347198&z=10&msid=102121004545203874406.0004888e97244266446f3

Try this out until LA WLF catches up with the interactive map. EDIT: Checked the WLF interactive map today (06/09) and it's currently up to date.

[Hobie1Kenobie]

I thought some might appreciate this pic considering the comedic element and the backdrop.

[jallen355]

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!

[bigredbobber]

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!

+1 on dat.

[Speckled_Tiger]

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/tigerpride3183/bp-spill-wtf.gif

[MDR]

I thought some might appreciate this pic considering the comedic element and the backdrop.

I love it.

[MDR]

Interesting stuff on WAFB the other night for a new clean up product. The demo did not use the wave action they will have in the actual gulf, but it still looks interesting. It is some type of powder that when sprinkled on the oil causes the oil to become a hardened substance in just a couple of minutes. I dunno if the stuff floats or sinks so I guess that would determine where they could use it.
Of course the guy from the company says they have been down here since April and they are still awaiting gov't approval to use it even though it has already been certified as safe to use in Canada.

They also had some LSU marsh specialist that mentioned burning the marsh. He said that this would be the best method for regeneration/clean-up in most cases of oil in the marsh.

[Sandman]

How BP trains to stop oil spillshttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/tigerpride3183/bp-spill-wtf.gif

:roflmao::lol: HALARIOUS! :lol::roflmao::lol:

[BayouCadillac]

Ha!

Got this one yesterday with the caption "Local Entreprenuers in Grand Isle Captialize on Influx of Thirsty Cleanup Workers."

[yak-aholic]

:lol::lol::lol::buttrock::buttrock::buttrock::lol::lol::lol:
:fing20:

[BayouCadillac]

If you got the time, an interesting read from Rolling Stone on the Oil Spill...I get warm fuzzies knowing that no one is in charge, deliberately or otherwise.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/111965?RS_show_page=0

[Yak-a-Lou]

They also had some LSU marsh specialist that mentioned burning the marsh. He said that this would be the best method for regeneration/clean-up in most cases of oil in the marsh.

I see two problems with burning the marsh.

The first is the air pollution that would affect local communities. It's temporary but it could be notable. Not the biggest problem,but still a problem.

Second and most notable in my undereducated mind... If you burn the marsh and then it's covered with oil a second or third time we'd suffer a very high chance of killing the roots and rhizomes of the plants. If that happens, erosion will quickly follow.

It hasn't been getting any press as of late but I think that when weather conditions allow it, they're still burning oil offshore. It's something I overhead while I was down in Venice a couple of weeks ago. If I understood things right, the skimmers that are working offshore drag the oil into a big pool and it gets burned. If it's true, I approve. I think that almost anything that keeps it from reaching the marshes is the lesser of two evils whether that be burning or berms.

[Speckled_Tiger]

I think that almost anything that keeps it from reaching the marshes is the lesser of two evils whether that be burning or berms.

BINGO!!! I keep hearing people say burning it isn't good, building berms/dredging can be damaging, etc. BUT even if it is bad, it's still better than crude oil soaking into our wetlands. It's lose-lose situation at this point, now it's just about minimizing those losses.

[Yak-a-Lou]

BINGO!!! I keep hearing people say burning it isn't good, building berms/dredging can be damaging, etc. BUT even if it is bad, it's still better than crude oil soaking into our wetlands. It's lose-lose situation at this point, now it's just about minimizing those losses.

See? We don't always disagree. ***Man-hug / Pat-Onna-Back / Separate quickly*** ;)

[Racechaser]

BINGO!!! I keep hearing people say burning it isn't good, building berms/dredging can be damaging, etc. BUT even if it is bad, it's still better than crude oil soaking into our wetlands. It's lose-lose situation at this point, now it's just about minimizing those losses.

Plus in my opinion if not fortified with rocks, the berms will dissapear after a couple of Hurricanes. So no long term "generational" impacts. If they work and cause no problems, then fortify them and keep them for coastal erosion prevention and to stop storm surge.

[bigredbobber]

http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/

Interactive map from ERMA. You can see where everything is and add on as many layers as you feel relevent to your search.

I used it to see where oil was found or impacted and how in the GI area.

[MDR]

I am all for burning it before it gets to the beaches, marsh, etc. Can't be that much environmental impact in burning it out there. (Other than the guys right around the burning oil of course)

As I said back in the first week or so my idea of a burn in the marsh was similar to what happens in a forest fire. I know it is not the same, but my gut feeling was that it is something similar. I can sure see a problem if it is burned and more oil gets into it. I would think the burn idea would probably be pretty much a one-shot deal.

I also liked the idea that some supposedly smart guy at LSU did not completely blow my idea out of the water. (pardon the pun) I honestly do not have a clue what the best approach for the marsh is. I have to believe that simply allowing it to sit there and let nature take its course is not a wonderful idea. I may be wrong, but it seems like the longer it sits in one location, i.e. the marsh, the more it settles and sinks. Once that crap begins to settle into the mud and muck I don't see anyway for it not to kill the marsh grass. The roots and the thingies YAL said have to start sucking it up at that point.

[ijuswannafish]

Just in case anyone is wondering. Yellow Cotton Bay is open for fishing as of Monday. From just West of the Triumph pump station to Red Pass.

Here is the link
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/pdfs/news/DETAIL-SHEET-1.jpg

[Choupique]

yea saw that!

[Where Y'ak?]

Disgusting:

In response to the Coast Guard's recent letter demanding a more detailed and concerted effort regarding the leak (It's about damn time!!),
BP has responded with a plan for "capturing" more of the leak. However, it all but appears they have given up on any thoughts of totally stopping the leak until the relief well(s) are drilled possibly some time in August. There is NO mention of any more Top Hat, Top Shot, Junk Shot, Piss Pot or any other hair-brained plans to stop the leak.

However, there is a big flaw in the plan. The plan is basically to increase the amount of oil they can capture at the source of the leak and also increase the storage capacity of the vessels on the surface of the Gulf to where they are pumping the captured oil. They plan to have four major vessels in place by July/August capable of handling as much as 80K barrels a day.

However, with no plans to actually stop the leak, a hurricane or tropical weather event in the Gulf will mean that they will have to temporarily abandon all recovery efforts, remove the ships and again let the leak run wild for however long it takes for the weather to clear and the ships to restart pumping operations. This would mean another estimated 40K+ barrels a day in the Gulf. With an active hurricane season predicted, this could conceivably happen several times over the next couple of months.

There's GOT to be a way to fully stop this leak short of waiting until August for the releif well(s). WE SHOULD DEMAND NOTHING LESS!

P.S. I just noted that they had to stop capturing oil today because of a lightening caused fire on the drill ship. They are expected to resume pumping operations later today. Again, here goes more oil into the Gulf. Anything short of capping the well is subject to these kind of circumstances that only lead to more leaked oil.

BPissed.

[Choupique]

maybe if we drop flyers similar to these over london they will get actually fix this? :hide:

[jallen355]

maybe if we drop flyers similar to these over london they will get actually fix this? :hide:


I'm for that one!

[snake doctor]

[QUOTE=MDR;9794]I am all for burning it before it gets to the beaches, marsh, etc. Can't be that much environmental impact in burning it out there. (Other than the guys right around the burning oil of course)

Burning off oil in combination with salt water (namely sodium chloride) is a bad idea. This generates chlorinated dioxins, dibenzofurans, and PCBs, which are much more dangerous and potent toxic substances than the oil itself. These burn byproducts will persist for decades and contribute to long-term contamination to shrimp, oysters, etc.
Burning the absorbent boom material after it has been used to soak up oil will do the same.

The least damaging way to get rid of the oil after it has been captured is to use it to make asphalt, etc. or to biodegrade it.

[Where Y'ak?]

More great news:

Breaking News
Experts: Oil spill could top 2 million gallons per day
Scientists now say oil spill is leaking between 1.47 million and 2.52 million gallons a day

[MDR]

[QUOTE=MDR;9794]I am all for burning it before it gets to the beaches, marsh, etc. Can't be that much environmental impact in burning it out there. (Other than the guys right around the burning oil of course)

Burning off oil in combination with salt water (namely sodium chloride) is a bad idea. This generates chlorinated dioxins, dibenzofurans, and PCBs, which are much more dangerous and potent toxic substances than the oil itself. These burn byproducts will persist for decades and contribute to long-term contamination to shrimp, oysters, etc.
Burning the absorbent boom material after it has been used to soak up oil will do the same.

The least damaging way to get rid of the oil after it has been captured is to use it to make asphalt, etc. or to biodegrade it.

Wow. Did not know that. Thanks for the info/clarification. I figured if you burn it, it, well, burns off. Did not think of any possible by-products or unintended consequences.

[Red Slayer]

I am getting more and more upset everyday. I am seeing more and more of my coast being destroyed by BP. I have friends working cleanup in MS and there is a lot of standing around waiting on the coast guard to issue orders or some ass kisser from BP to say go. Why are BP stations still open in this country? What can we do to shut them down?

[MDR]

I am getting more and more upset everyday. I am seeing more and more of my coast being destroyed by BP. I have friends working cleanup in MS and there is a lot of standing around waiting on the coast guard to issue orders or some ass kisser from BP to say go. Why are BP stations still open in this country? What can we do to shut them down?

With the knowledge that I will be in the minority, and opening myself up to much criticism, here goes: To begin with I am not a BP supporter, but if they don't make money who pays all the upcoming bills? Yes, they screwed up in a major fashion. It looks like their actions just before the explosion are going to constitute criminal negligence. Not sure if anyone will actually go to jail, but a criminal conviction can help in any legal proceedings that will arise.

I still have to beleive that BP has done what they can to shut off the leak. Now, if someone can show me some actuarials (numbers) where BP is going to make more money in collecting what they are from the leak above and beyond what they are spending on clean up, pay outs, lost Market value, current and future losses associated with this ordeal, etc then I will be happy to re-examine my thinking.

As far as clean up goes I'm not sure who gets the bulk of the blame, but I am inclined to lean toward the bureaucracy of gov't. Some of it sucks, but is necessary and some of it is just f'ing stupid. I'd like to see BP speed up the payments to folks that have lost revenue. I can't fault BP for asking to see prior years tax returns, etc, but they have got to find a way to speed things up. Should not surprise anyone that I do not think turning over this process to the gov't is a good idea.

The moratoriam on drilling is a dumb idea. Although overused I will use it as well in that we do not shut down air travel after a plane crash. Hell, there wasn't even an executive order to pull virtually all the Toyotas off the road when most of their cars were being recalled.

Again, I am not a BP supporter or even an apologist for them despite how it may look. I do not own their stock, do not have relatives emplyed by them, etc. I would like to think I am approaching this whole situation as a realist. An outrageous and unbelievable accident took place. It may well turn out to have been an accident prefaced by reckless choices, but it is still an accident in the sense that it was not intentional. It is also the first of its kind at a location such as this and creates an unbelievable, and for all of us, costly, learning curve.

I have no idea why south Louisiana has now suffered a 2nd event that is so catastrophic in nature. They share the similarities of having man-made influences in making them worse (crappy levees, crappy decisions, greed, etc) and similarities in screw ups dering the follow up response. Somehow we will make it thru this as have the folks impacted by Katrina.

On a side note, as I type this I have Letterman on. It sure does not help for him to be making jokes about how this has affected the seafood industry. I know his job is comedy and I should not be so sensitive, but damn. There are likely folks that will believe what he is saying and thus stay away from our seafood.

[Branch_Office]

You know I use to really like Letterman years ago. I do not know if I have just gotten older and my views have changed or what but now I think he is just an ass! It is real obvious he is a Dem as well and I really just do not find him humorous at all and his side kick Paul is a big suck up. He is talented musically but that is about it.

[snake doctor]

I agree with MDR that a freeze out on BP is not a good thing. While we may want to choke them until their eyes pop out, this will not do us any good in the long run. We need BP to survive so that they can pay for their sins. The Deepwater Horizon is a 1 billion $ per year well if oil prices hold up. This money is needed to help people like the oysterman that is not going to be able to harvest his bed for the next 5+ years.

We fish from plastic boats using rods, lines and lures that are made from petroleum products. We are tangled deep is a web of petroleum. It is hard to find whether BP oil products went into this or that item. If we stop buying BP, then why not also stop buying Exxon, Chevron, Shell, etc., because each one has had major environmental issues here in the US and abroad. There is not a "clean" producer for us to support.

We (the USA) need to get off oil and carbon based fuels as quick as possible. In the mean time, we need to produce oil, coal and gas in a responsible manner. Hopefully the changes at MMS will allow us to coexist with the oil industry. If not, then the Sportsman's Paradise will become a wasteland and then wash away into the oily gulf.

[ReelThrill]

This is one of the calmest and most sensible thing I have heard since this whole thing happened. Good on yah Snake doctor, I finally heard someone on the news last night talk about using the Mississippi River to supply turbine energy (we talked about that on one of our fishing trips weeks ago). We have so many natural resources at our disposal and still choose not to use them. For right now we have created a dependence on oil that we will not be able to break for many years. Hopefully this will be a wake up for everyone that still believes we don't need to explore and develop new means of clean renewable energy. For right now though we need the oil, we just have to make sure that those collecting it are using every means possible to prevent disaster. As we advance with drilling, we also need to advance the way in which we can respond to a spill and contain a possible disaster.

I have many friends that work in the oil industry and I by no means want to put them out of work, but we will not be able to continue to use fossil fuels the way we have in the past. There has to be a breaking point, and I think we have reached that point.

I also agree that we should not freeze out BP. We need them around so they can clean up this mess they helped make.


I agree with MDR that a freeze out on BP is not a good thing. While we may want to choke them until their eyes pop out, this will not do us any good in the long run. We need BP to survive so that they can pay for their sins. The Deepwater Horizon is a 1 billion $ per year well if oil prices hold up. This money is needed to help people like the oysterman that is not going to be able to harvest his bed for the next 5+ years.

We fish from plastic boats using rods, lines and lures that are made from petroleum products. We are tangled deep is a web of petroleum. It is hard to find whether BP oil products went into this or that item. If we stop buying BP, then why not also stop buying Exxon, Chevron, Shell, etc., because each one has had major environmental issues here in the US and abroad. There is not a "clean" producer for us to support.

We (the USA) need to get off oil and carbon based fuels as quick as possible. In the mean time, we need to produce oil, coal and gas in a responsible manner. Hopefully the changes at MMS will allow us to coexist with the oil industry. If not, then the Sportsman's Paradise will become a wasteland and then wash away into the oily gulf.

[MDR]

Excellent points gentlemen. Although it tends to be controversial I am still a bit perplexed as to why the US has not pursued the nuclear angle a bit more as several countries in Europe have done. I am all for the exploration of new or improved technologies for our energy needs. I'll add though that I hope that the ideas are better considered than say the use of corn that became so popular a couple of years ago. While it sounded great to some of the, uh, "greener" folks, in actuality it had many more drawbacks than it is worth. (How anything that costs more to produce and uses more energy to produce than the finished product provides and is considered a good thing is beyond me)

Regardless of the means in supplying our energy needs, it has got to be safer. I am not by nature a big government person or a huge fan of constant oversight, but when it comes to something that has the potential for disaster like this or mining or whatever then we damn sure need the regs.

BP is rightfully going to take it in the a$$ for their (apparent) reckless decision making in the drilling. I hope it serves as a wake up call to others in the petro-chem industry and other industries that cost cutting manuevers will frequently come back to bite you. Hell of a lot better to spend the extra bucks up front to ensure a safe, professional result.

[Where Y'ak?]

I not opposed to big oil. I use more than my share. I also agree that alternative energy sources need to be developed.

I do have a problem with increased nuclear efforts. There are major concerns over the storage of the waste and just think what could happen if the same mentality as BP and the Federal regulators were used at a nuclear facility.

A major nuclear event would be far more devastating than any oil spill. We'd all be looking back on this oil spill with a lot of fondness.

[Yellow Submarine]

Are any new ideas being added to meet the task? (pipe plug) I hope we just not hanging around for the other drilling to be completed. Like most of us we all have ideas about how to solve this, I just hope they are trying something as we speak, But I really don't see anything going on. Please don't be a stalemate.

[Yak-a-Lou]

Not very many places you can go on the web and find this level of rational discussion. :thumbup:

MDR - I agree in most every respect with what you've written. I'm having fun making the little 'Pee on BP' dude and other little 'hatin on BP' things but the rational part of me knows that what you say is true. I don't really hate BP as a corporation but I'd love to spend a little time alone with those particular individuals who made the wrong decisions that led to this whole mess. That includes the honchos at BP and the regulators who were in their pockets. It's kinda like the love/hate affair I have with my dentist. I LOVE it when she makes pain go away but it hurts like a beotch to get worked on sometimes. I love the comforts and conveniences provided by oil but I get a knot in my stomach and another one in my neck when I look at our coast right now.

I need to do some more research lest I speak completely out of turn but as I understand things alternative energy sources still aren't viable and those that are in place are heavily subsidized by the government. We need a source that doesn't need to be subsidized. Wanted: clean and affordable energy without government subsidies. The subsidization issues can quickly branch off into various spokes on the wheel since (reportedly) oil companies get tax breaks on this-n-that.

Subsidies vs. tax breaks vs. political contributions vs. bigger government vs. the rich get richer and we get screwed.

I don't know where the truth begins or ends. My mind remains befuddled.

Based on what I've read, nuclear energy is the next best option right now except for the potential problem Chris noted. That's a serious problem though from what I understand wildlife near Chernobyl is bouncing back faster than scientist anticipated. :rolleyes:

My 2¢ donated freely... worth every dime you paid.

[revredfish]

Dont' forget BP was the big oil company of choice for environmentalists, and green development for years (boy have they blown that image)

[MDR]

Todd, I love the lil dude and the other comical smacks at BP. I really love the you tube sketch. Hell, BP deserves all they get in that regard. I would love to join you in "speaking" with those that made the crucial, most likely profit driven, and reckless decisions that lead to this catastrophe. I think I even have a spare phone book or two left over from my deputy days.

Chris, No way I can disagree with you on the fears associated with nuclear, but as far as I can tell the safety records have been pretty darn good. Sure a heck of a lot better than the petro-chem industry. Yes, there are a bunch more petro-chem plants then there are nuc plants, but the record is still pretty impressive. (No, I do not include Chernobyl. The Russians made some of the same cost cutting driven decisions that BP appears to have made. Not to mention that anytime we think graft is present in our system we don't hold a candle to what exists in Russia and the other former Soviet states.)

Goodness knows I don't have the answers. Hell, I failed Chem 101 my first semester at LSU and I know about two minutes worth of engineering stuff. I also hope they are thinking of some ways to stop the leak rather than simply waiting for the two relief wells to be completed.

[ReelThrill]

This is one of my favorite ideas. Right now there is a portion of NYC that is in the development of being run with a system similar to this. In a place with a constant moving current it is a great natural resource. This is just one of the many things we have at our disposal.

http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/12/10/underwater-power-generating-ocean-turbines/

This is a proposal for Florida. We have the same capabilities here for Louisiana.

[Red Slayer]

I still say choke BP out, like any other failed business, another will take its place. Let a more responsible company come in and do the work. When it comes to alternatives here is a 10 year plan, it is not my idea but it is a good one.

1. Begin today the licensing for new Nuclear facilities. 15 universities around the USA have been begging for over 10 years to begin "mini reactors" to provide power for research and development. Fund those programs now and let them move forward.

2. Begin full production of automobiles and the infrastructure required to operate on Natural Gas, this would divert Natural gas from the production of electricity and allow full use of clean coal technologies until the nuclear is online. We have the largest natural gas reserves in the world.

3. Allow private landowners the opportunity to lease their private land to drillers of gas and oil.

4. Once these are online, then there will be no dependence on foreign oil, we can leave the Persian gulf and let them kill each other off, we can annex cuba and use it for staging grounds for drilling off Florida, or we can export those "Greenies" there and let them live in their utopia.

5. If you want a windmill, build it. If you want solar, build it. Develop more hydro power. I live in the Memphis area and there is no reason that they cannot connect paddlewheels to the bridges and generate municipal power from it. The same could be done there in new orleans.

I will not apologize for wanting BP to go out of business, I think they will anyway. It is going to require more than a full year's worth of profits for them to clean up. They have already suspended dividends and major shareholders are jumping ship. Yeah, I want them to pay, that is what we have judges for, they are 39% US owned and we could go after them in the courts. They are 40% British owned and the remainder is divided among smaller holders.

[Red Slayer]

http://www.optimpower.com/technology.html

[snake doctor]

Tulane and Xavier Universities are working to harness MS "River Power" using underwater windmills. See the link ... http://tulane.edu/news/newwave/041510_riversphere.cfm

[ReelThrill]

Natural gas was another one that I wanted to mention. Another thing that a lot of people don't know about is biodiesel made from algae.

http://gas2.org/2008/06/11/solazyme-makes-first-algae-diesel-to-meet-strict-us-standard/

http://gas2.org/2008/04/17/first-heavy-duty-diesel-powered-by-algae-biodiesel-solazymes-soladiesel/

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4133633.ece

Another great step forward.

[ecb]

IMHO,

Nuclear is the greenest option out there, its a proven technology with a small foot print; It would take one hell of a big windmill farm to equal the power of Waterford 3 or RiverBend.

If France and India among others can do it, we should be able to. Yes there are risks and issues, but nothing is really free.

I believe most scientists agree that corn based ethanol is an environmental loser (its a farm subsidy, really). I know my gas mileage decreased with ethanol.

If we eliminated all of the petroleum based, petroleum delivered products from our lives, I am not sure what would be left. we would definitely starve.

A little rant: If you peel back all the issues of this accident, you find a bean counter at root of it. Some idiot thought he could save a little money by shortcutting the process and is now going to spend exponentially more than he was trying to save. It would be funny if it wasn't so tragic. I hope he is the one personally bankrupted and sent to prison.

[Red Slayer]

This was funny

[Red Slayer]

Sad but true

[Yak-a-Lou]

Backwoods Home Magazine is a great resource for currently available alternative energy ideas for the home.

Maybe when I retire and move to the backwoods of Tennessee I'll adopt their way of life.

A recent article discussing such options: http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/elliott28.html

Dave Duffy, John Silveira, and Massad Ayoob are three of my favorites on their site. Dave and John usually rank up there with Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell in my book.

Home page here: www.backwoodshome

[MDR]

Backwoods Home Magazine is a great resource for currently available alternative energy ideas for the home.

Maybe when I retire and move to the backwoods of Tennessee I'll adopt their way of life.

A recent article discussing such options: http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/elliott28.html

Dave Duffy, John Silveira, and Massad Ayoob are three of my favorites on their site. Dave and John usually rank up there with Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell in my book.

Home page here: www.backwoodshome

I'll give the site a look since I also like Williams and Sowell, but in order to move to the backwoods of Tennessee don't you have to divorce your wife so you can marry your sister?

[Yak-a-Lou]

...but in order to move to the backwoods of Tennessee don't you have to divorce your wife so you can marry your sister?

Yep gotta gets at least three teefs pulled too.

[Yak-a-Lou]

This just in from my Facebook... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RPrtxFa5R4

I used to know that dude. He's kinda crazy but he's OK.

[MDR]

A couple of evenings ago I blasted David Letterman for comments in his monologue about our seafood and the oil. I stand by that, but I have to say that his top ten list Wed night did give me a laugh. It was good that he had a couple of New Orleans transplants on the show. John Goodman looks great with the weight loss. Unfortunately he gave the weight to Emeril who looks like crap.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Top Ten Things Overheard During President Obama's Meeting with Tony Hayward


10."So, what's new?"
9."Careful, you're getting oil all over the Oval Office"
8."Before I start kicking asses, would any of you like some sparkling water?"
7."Speaking of leaks, where's the men's room?"
6."Thanks for giving my administration something to worry about besides two wars, a crushing debt, global warming and the worst economy in 70 years"
5."$20 Billion? Hell, I got that on me!"
4."Tony, I forgave you the second I heard that dreamy British accent"
3."Gotta keep this short, I'm meeting with the president of Indonesia about that smoking baby" (Videotape of Smoking Baby)
2."Biden, please, enough with the vuvuzela"
1."How can we blame this on Bush and Cheney?"

[Where Y'ak?]

'"Coast Guard to BP: Speed up spill response.
BP to Coast Guard: We're spilling as fast as we can!"

[Racechaser]

Here is some encouraging news on COREXIT. it is the dispersant everyone was leary about having efffects on marine life and the environment.

http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=94888

[GreenWave]

Here is some encouraging news on COREXIT. it is the dispersant everyone was leary about having efffects on marine life and the environment.

http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=94888

Uh, dude? You're a sharp guy, so I suspect you already know this... That's not "news". It's a press release by NALCO, the manufacturer of COREXIT. Its "data" is a month old observation (you know, before the oil came onshore) noting no observed ill effects on coastal marine life at that time. That was before the scores of dead sea turtles, etc.

I'll remain leery for now.

[snake doctor]

Here is a link to more than you want to know about oil dispersants.....

http://toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Oil+Dispersant

[Racechaser]

Uh, dude? You're a sharp guy, so I suspect you already know this... That's not "news". It's a press release by NALCO, the manufacturer of COREXIT. Its "data" is a month old observation (you know, before the oil came onshore) noting no observed ill effects on coastal marine life at that time. That was before the scores of dead sea turtles, etc.

I'll remain leery for now.

Well I took this info as I read it today coupled with the fact that NOAA just released it's findings today that seafood tested both in the spill and away from the spill all tested 100% "pristine" was the term the guy from the seafood board said.

Even at the massive amounts being used, it is so dilluted after mixing with the entire volume of the Gulf.

Heck even the spill is minimal when looking at the sheer volume of the entire Gulf. I think even at the max flow rate flowing into September the numbers were like 1 gallon of oil for every 6.6 million gallons of water. Not to minimize the spill but mathematically it's POSSIBLY not the doom and gloom we are making it out to be.

Just because it's illegal to use in England does not necessarily make it bad. Heck just about ALL genetically modified seeds and plants are still banned there and we have been using them for over a decade.

And I know marine life is dying. But as we are now hearing it may be more of the incredible amounts of methane being released causing oxygen deprivation as opposed to Hydrocarbons or Corexit. The Methane is certainly bad news but at least we have reason to believe that we won't be catching two headed fish out there. That is all I am encouraged about in the last few days. What's the point of a limit of trout you can't eat?

[GreenWave]

I think the dilution you cite is really our best shot. I have read that barring a hurricane, the loop current will keep the vast majority of the oil from ever reaching shore before the hydrocarbons have broken down (though that still leaves huge amounts that do). The dispersants appear to "disperse" more than break down, but the same logic applies.

A hurricane really is the nightmare scenario. Unfortunately, it's not a remote one. Fingers crossed.

The feared long term effects of COREXIT include cancers and birth defects. I wouldn't expect those to be showing up in appreciable numbers for some time. I hope they never do.

My point is that it's WAY too early to predict the effects of truly massive amounts of oil and chemicals being dumped into the Gulf. Heck, we're not even close to knowing how much will eventually end up out there yet. You show me someone saying all is well at this point, and I'll show you someone with an agenda - in this case, the manufacturer of COREXIT.

Conversely, I DO put some faith into the findings of NOAA and the Louisiana Seafood Board. This is one of NOAA's areas of expertise, and they are accustomed to operating from an enforcement perspective. Though the seafood board is an advocacy group, they understand the devastating consequences of ANY tainted seafood ever making it to market. (Wanna buy some Chinese drywall?) I believe DaveFox's organization is doing some of the testing they cite as well, and he's about the only guy involved that I COMPLETELY trust!

[Red Slayer]

I got really lucky yesterday! I opened an oyster and found an oil filter!

[Racechaser]

http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/water.html#analysisdispersants

If you pick dates you can see the data collected. You can also get a map of the sampling points for both the oil an dispersants.

This is the water sampling data I wanted to post this AM but was getting off work when I read Jeff's response. The only place of moderate concern was at cas tette island.

The other table is VOC's collected and observed. If you look there are only a handful of spots. The rest are labeled N/D which means none determined. It looks like Cocodrie has the most observed VOC's right now.

The Gulf was the best place this could have happened because every day wave action agitates the oil and hastens evaporation of hydrocarbons and VOC's.

[ijuswannafish]

How about this video for a solution to capping the well. This came from FOX news.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/is-bp-smarter-than-a-10-year-old-20467971

[Racechaser]

I think the reason that can't be done is the submersibles don't have enough strength to remove the bolts on the flange. The theory he is talking about is used every day. It is called a "slip blind".

You figure the bolts on a 21" pipe flange (on pipe rated for pressure in way excess of 30K PSI) have to be put on with hydraulic impact wrenches.

I'm just guessing though. I anxiously await H1K to chime in.

[Racechaser]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100621/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gulf_oil_spill_how_big_3

Perspective on the size of the spill in relation to things we can visualize.

[Where Y'ak?]

Bumbling idiots!!! Here we go again with more oil.

More oil gushing into Gulf after problem with cap

Tens of thousands of gallons more oil gushed into the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday after an undersea robot bumped a venting system, forcing BP to remove the cap that had been containing some of the crude.

It was yet another setback in the nine-week effort to stop the gusher, and it came as thick pools of oil washed up on Pensacola Beach in Florida and the Obama administration tried to figure out how to resurrect a six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling.

When the robot bumped the system just before 10 a.m. Wednesday, gas rose through the vent that carries warm water down to prevent ice-like crystals from forming, Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said.

Crews were checking to see if crystals had formed before putting it back on. BP spokesman Bill Salvin could not say how long that might take.

"We're doing it as quickly as possible," he said.

[Speckled_Tiger]

in this situation, you don't get to make an "oops". I know it must be difficult work, but so is brain surgery, they don't get to make careless mistakes either.

[Hobie1Kenobie]

I think the reason that can't be done is the submersibles don't have enough strength to remove the bolts on the flange. The theory he is talking about is used every day. It is called a "slip blind".

You figure the bolts on a 21" pipe flange (on pipe rated for pressure in way excess of 30K PSI) have to be put on with hydraulic impact wrenches.

I'm just guessing though. I anxiously await H1K to chime in.

Can't comment too much on what is going on out here guys. It wasn't me that bumped the top hat. Can't say who did either, but will say that they have inferior ROV pilots. We don't even like flying around them because they are perhaps not use to doing hard core "Intervention" work. We have been playing with some of the other subsea equipment involved in the oil recovery process for the past few days (manifolds & etc.). We did take on some scientists and one Coast Guard Lt to take samples from the plume a few days ago and the scientists gave me some information. They were estimating about 40% of the oil coming out of the BOP was evaporating before it would ever have a chance to reach the marsh. Me and my guys are still taking what we are given and making it work. More boats with some of my co-workers are being mobilized as I type and should be in the field shortly.

[ijuswannafish]

Thanks for the update Hobie1. Keep up the good work and stay safe out there.

[noahvale]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3bzypjTIWg

[yak-aholic]

You go girl

[Racechaser]

Here is Ken Wells latest update for those like me who find them interesting. It is about the relief wells.

http://bp.concerts.com/gom/kwellsreliefwells062710.htm

[jallen355]

So. They say they're withing 55' of the spewing well. But they also keep telling us mid August before they can seal it....????

[yak-aholic]

I'm with ya jallen. I think it has something to do with the little green and yellow logo on their shirts

[jallen355]

Ding-ding!!

[bigredbobber]

you guys don't honestly think they may try to make a little profit while/before sealing that well do you boys? not BP. If pure crude comes out of one of those relief wells, I'm sure it'll find it's way to a refinery and sold.

[MDR]

Not trying to be the voice of dissent or kick sand on anyone's comments, but I do hope they are able to sell the oil they retrieve. I want them to make enough money to insure they pay for all of the damage they caused and the loss of revenue incurred as well. Hell, I hope the state and local gov'ts have a way to determine how much sales tax revenue they have missed out on and then collect on it.

[Racechaser]

They are within 55' of the well traveling in the same direction linearly. They still have to drill down vertically while continuing to hone in on the well bore. The next drill will be 125' he said or I read somewhere. Then two days to remove drill bit and lowerer cathodic device into relief well. They have to get the well intersected at the lowest point possible, before the resevoir though, to allow as much drilling fluid in the well bore.

Somewhere else I read a while back, was the target or what you might say "sweet spot" they are trying to ideally hit is a 7 inch round target.

I firmly believe the TransOcean guys are top notch at what they do. I also believe BP empolyees are the best at what they do. Some BP MORON on a rig decided to cut corners to save money or speed production. Knowing how to do something right and actually doing it is two different things.

I'm not taking up for BP. I'm just saying that I think they are as competent as any of the other companies at stopping this. My only contention was that I heard some good ideas that were never tried. Did any of ya'll see the guy from the electromagnet company? He wanted to magnetize the BOP after topkill, and instead of shooting in golf balls and tire rubber he wanted to use random shaped and sized pieces of metal. He said it would have clogged the BOP so a second top kill could be tried had it clogged it. Pretty good theory to me.

[Yak-a-Lou]

How The Bastards Killed Our Coast

Yet another example of inflexible government regulations causing harm...

http://thehayride.com/2010/07/how-the-bastards-killed-our-coast/

[revredfish]

So. They say they're withing 55' of the spewing well. But they also keep telling us mid August before they can seal it....????

guys if they tell us they will get it mid july and it takes till late July you would be screaming for their heads - they know thats just the way it works.

Its in a star trek scene I forget which movie Scottie is telling the guy it will take about 4 hours to repair a job the captain calls and he sys 24 hours then he looks at the guy and says something to the effect that it makes him look like a miracle worker.

It lowers expectations - I suspect they will hit it within days of their internal documents if you want to make a conspiracy out of it that is certainly your choice.

For the next 30 days at least this is our new normal but if you want BP to pay then you want BP to make money. Thats cold hard facts.

[Branch_Office]

Well there is a new ship the "A Whale" that has arrived out there to assist with the surface capture. This thing is over 3 football fields long and 10 stories tall - massive. Maybe this will help a little....

[LuvDaTigers]

So. They say they're withing 55' of the spewing well. But they also keep telling us mid August before they can seal it....????

I thought I heard on WWL 870 that they were within 20 feet but it would take a month to go that last 20 feet.
They said that they will drill a bit, pull everything out, send down sensors to determine exactly where they are, pull the sensors out, then drill a bit more. That process apparently takes a couple of days.
So at this point they literally are inching towards the the well.

[jallen355]

I posted 55' as reported by the media on 6/28.

This morning, 7/02, ABC 11 reported that they claimed to be within 16'.

[Racechaser]

http://bp.concerts.com/gom/kwellsreliefwells062710.htm

Watch this and look closely at the diagrams. Even when this close they still are drilling 2000 feet more vertically to reach the intercept point.

[Hobie1Kenobie]

Speaking with the drill rig (as I did every day on conference call's) I can confirm they are very close. They are being extra careful at this point to ensure the last little bit is on target. The expectation is that we will have hit the old drill pipe by next week. As soon as they see a pressure spike they are going to jump on it and start pumping drill mud/concrete to cap the original well. All of this is well ahead of schedule and they don't want to mess up now by swinging and missing.

[Yak-a-Lou]

All of this is well ahead of schedule and they don't want to mess up now by swinging and missing.

On this count we're ALL pulling for them. GOOD LUCK!!!

[ijuswannafish]

On this count we're ALL pulling for them. GOOD LUCK!!!

+ 1

[MDR]

Thanks for the update. Pretty amazing to be able to drill that far down with that kind of precision.

Let's also hope the "A Whale" works as advertized. Too bad Barack, et al could not see fit to allow the use of it sooner.

[yak-aholic]

Disturbing news...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38098571

[snake doctor]

In addition to the report below of oil in the Rigolets, there was a report of oil on Galveston, TX beaches on today. Grrrrrr! It is going everywhere.

[Red Slayer]

I know things are bad and getting worse, but here is some comic relief.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSujCHfvTb0&feature=related

[yak-aholic]

Yeah, I think someone on here posted the one titled "The Front Fell Off" a while back. Those guys are pretty funny.

[Lttran]

you guys don't honestly think they may try to make a little profit while/before sealing that well do you boys? not BP. If pure crude comes out of one of those relief wells, I'm sure it'll find it's way to a refinery and sold.

Im sure they will find a way to sell it and turn it into a profit...it only makes sense they lose 1 rig mess some stuff up, cough up a billion dollars to make billions more. They might try to shadow their profit by giving some of the money they make for research and recovery but in the end they still come up on top somehow.....thats what i believe.

[Yak-a-Lou]

HOLD BABY HOLD!!!

THEY'VE GOT HER CAPPED OFF!!!

HALLA-DAMN-LOO-YA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100715/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gulf_oil_spill

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38255728?GT1=43001

[Sandman]

HOLD BABY HOLD!!!

That's what she said! :lol:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I couldn't believe it when I heard the report. Let's hope this thing stays capped off!!!!

[jallen355]

What's the deal with the 6-48 hour "testing period"? What...do they plan on letting it rip again after that?

Sure is encouraging news.

[bigredbobber]

They're afraid the pressure the cap is holding may cause tension on the casings and underground piping that leads to the actual oil deposit. If the pressure starts making leaks below the surface or on pipes below the cap, they will have to release the pressure or risk the well being even less controllable than it ever was.

Let's pray it works.

[Laidback]

I'm praying it holds, plus I have my fingers, toes and eyes crossed. Talked to some friends working the various areas from Fourchon/Grand isle to Panama City and things are looking good. Or as good as they can at this point.

[Red Slayer]

Let's pray this thing holds for sure!

[Nobody]

Ain't this a beautiful site!

http://www.wwltv.com/video/featured-videos/Video-shows-oil-flowing-like-steam-from-a-geyser-93623389.html

Press "PLAY" to get a view of NOTHING happening!!!

[Yak-a-Lou]

Ain't this a beautiful site!

http://www.wwltv.com/video/featured-videos/Video-shows-oil-flowing-like-steam-from-a-geyser-93623389.html

Press "PLAY" to get a view of NOTHING happening!!!

I never would have dreamed that such a relatively ugly picture of some oil field stuff underwater could be so freakin beautiful!

[yak-aholic]

2 days in a row of very good news...
We can fish.
They stopped the leak.
Now if we could just wake up and this slick in the gulf has just miraculously disappeared.

[Hobie1Kenobie]

Sorry it took us so long guys. Everything looks good out here still. The cap has been on for several hours now and no problems.

[Branch_Office]

Thanks Rashid!

[Hobie1Kenobie]

And now it's off to Fourchon for a few days. My vessel had just came out of dry dock when we got pulled away to work this and we need to fix some stuff on the boat. It will be nice to be voc free. We will be back out in about two days.

[Sandman]

Am I missing something? I clicked the link and it says it is oil live feed, but it's definitely not the oil footage.

[ijuswannafish]

Am I missing something? I clicked the link and it says it is oil live feed, but it's definitely not the oil footage.

I just saw the same thing

[yak-aholic]

I'll be glad when we can finally put this thread to rest

[bigredbobber]

Amen.

[ecb]

Amen +1

[Yak-a-Lou]

The "Oil Spill" thread can FINALLY die but a "Cleanup & Restoration" thread could go on for years.

I know... I just peed in the punch. Sorry.

I fear that, like we did in the 70's, it's time to start buying "disposable" flip-flop sandals to wear at the beach. You get to wear them to the beach once and throw then in the trash as you leave the beach. Once stained by a tarball, NOTHING will clean it off.

[bigredbobber]

Truth must be told, YAL.

[ecb]

"Once stained by a tarball, NOTHING will clean it off."

my cousin lives in California, where natural tar seeps occur on the beaches and offshore.

She keeps a bottle of cooking oil by the back door to clean it off the feet. I don't know if it works on flip flops, but it definitely works on feet.

Fwiw

[ReelThrill]

When I lived in the Bahamas we would have tarballs wash up on shore. Cooking oil works and another good substitute is mayonaise. Mayo will take tar right off with no problem.

[snake doctor]

Baby oil, mineral oil, or rubbing alcohol also work well to remove tar from your feet. You have to be careful because some solvents react with plastics and other materials.

[Yak-a-Lou]

WD-40 followed by soap will get it off of skin also but from what I recall it ain't never coming off of your Converse High-Tops.
(Yes, I'm that old. Shaddup or I'll twap u wit a twout!)

Is it ironic that you need oil to remove oil???

[yak-aholic]

WD-40 followed by soap will get it off of skin also but from what I recall it ain't never coming off of your Converse High-Tops.
(Yes, I'm that old. Shaddup or I'll twap u wit a twout!)

Is it ironic that you need oil to remove oil???

Gotta catch a "twout" first...

Oh, wait. I'm the one who can't catch a trout.

[Yak-a-Lou]

Gotta catch a "twout" first...

I am shamed.