We're Gonna Get Hammered - Oil Spill!

[jay_merrill]

Well, it looks like were going to get hammered with oil from the Transoceanic/BP disaster. What was described as a 1,000 BDP problem, is now estimated at 5,000 BPD. I'm trying to volunteer for booming now, but haven't had much luck, so far. The Coast Guard did give me a phone number, but that just had a message with a website link. I'll know more in the morning.

Since this thing may well affect shorelines from Texas to Florida, I'd be happy to see information on pollution mitigation efforts, posted here. I'll start - in Alabama ....

"Interested volunteers are asked to provide contact information to the MBNEP office by phone at 251- 431-6409 or by email to mbnep@mobilebaynep.com. Updates about volunteer efforts can be found at MBNEP?s website, www.mobilebaynep.com."


Please DO NOT turn this thread into a political discussion on the pros and cons of offshore drilling. Those of us who may be affected have bigger fish to fry right now. I would like this thread to stay open, for dissemination of pertinent information on the spill and resulting mitigation/cleanup efforts.



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[marlboro180]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

Thanks for trying to help preserve what is out there on that beautiful coastline. Good for you, and like MSN reported, nobody knows those waters like the locals.

 

[KeyWestSkipper]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

This is looking worse and worse.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

I have spoken with a number of people regarding attempts to keep the oil out of the marshes and its not looking good. The character of the oil is also apparently quite different than what has been reported up until a few hours ago.

There was an attempt to describe the oil as a very thin film, with less thickness than a human hair. As was explained by a Coast Guard Captain, who sounded very much like he is an expert on the matter, this simply isn't true. The crude that is produced in our area, is commonly referrred to as "light/sweet crude." Basically, what that means, is that it is a light crude, with little sulpher in it. The problem is that the lighter components of the crude tend to separate on the journey from the sea floor (5,000 feet down)and the heavier oil, which is still lighter than water, then surfaces. It is then agitated by wave action and turned into a "mousse" that is about the consistenecy of what the Coast Guard Captain descibed as "Noxema Skin Cream."

My major concern at this point, is that there still seems to be very little going on in the way of planning and executing an effort to protect the marshes. This concern has been confirmed by one of our Parish Presidents, who learned in a meeting about an hour ago, that the plan is much more focused on cleanup. Part of the reason for this, seems to be that the sea state is currently about 4 - 6 feet. Since regular containment booms are ineffective at these wave heights, it sounds like everyone is just giving up. IMO, that is folly, because the marshes are made up of very irregular shorelines and they are not all going to be impacted by wave heights on the order of what is being experienced 20 miles out.

For anyone who would like to follow this situation and/or volunteer, see the following website:

www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com

This is the Unified Command Center's site. They can also be reached at 866-448-5816, for those who want to volunteer.



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[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

GOOD FOR YOU.

This is looking like a real disaster. A wildlife expert said this morning
the timing couldn't be worse as it's mating season.

 

[angus63]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

Latest from NOAA :

http://response.restoration.noaa.go...pic_topic)=2&topic_id(entry_subtopic_topic)=1

 

[skargo]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

Man, I hope they figure this out quickly, or else it's effects will be felt for a long time to come.

 

[QC]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

Yesterday there were reports that they (the Coast Guard?) was going to set fire to it. I have two questions:

1) What happened with that plan?

2) Exactly how was that supposed to happen? Some guy with a match? How could the entire slick be/get hot enough to burn? Am I missing something?

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

They did a test burn yesterday afternoon. The burn area is ignited by setting a flammable piece of boom on fire and letting it drift into the burn area. The burn area is surround with fire resistent boom, to keep it contained. Further and more extensive burns are planned.

Here is more info on volunteering. To my knowledge, this information is in regard to areas in southeastern Louisiana and southwestern Misssissippi. If I find out otherwise, I'll repost.


Volunteer your vessel


All people with vessels who want to help with the deployment of booms or in any way they can are asked to call 425-745-8017.

Be prepared to give the dimensions and specs of your boat and your location when you call.

Or you can use the following email to volunteer to help deploy booms:
vince.mitchell@lamor.com
grant.johnson@bp.com

To report oiled or injured wildlife,
please call 1-866-557-1401.

To report oil on land, or for general Community and Volunteer Information,
please call 1-866-448-5816.



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[mscher]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered!

Yesterday there were reports that they (the Coast Guard?) was going to set fire to it. I have two questions:

1) What happened with that plan?

2) Exactly how was that supposed to happen? Some guy with a match? How could the entire slick be/get hot enough to burn? Am I missing something?

From another thread

"Re: Oil Leak In The Gulf

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thirty years ago, the refinery I work for, had a big spill of heavy #6 oil, in a nearby river. A solid slick about 1/2 mile. They covered the slick with jet fuel and with the Fire Dept. on the ready, lit the jet fuel, which burned up most of the oil.

Ah, the good old days.

They are considering similar for this spill. Not sure how the environmentalist will get on board."

 

[Cofe]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered - Oil Spill!

How far down is the well head submerged? I have heard reports that the well is 5000 feet down, but is that total well depth?

I still haven't deciphered why they couldn't get the blowout preventer to work.

 

[joed]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered - Oil Spill!

I think I heard this afternoon that the well head is down 1000 feet.

There was a big press conference today where the company that owns the well was asking for any help any one can offer. They were asking if other oil companies had any suggestions to bring them on. They will listen to anything that could help.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered - Oil Spill!

Looks to me that they would be prepared for a disaster like this when it comes to shutting the oil flow off

 

[Cofe]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered - Oil Spill!

1000 feet down is a BIG hindrance. I have read reports that they are making a dome to place over the well head and trap most of the oil to be pumped directly to tankers. This too will take time.
Offset drilling is iffy if they can get it to work at all. "Kinda like hitting a needle in a hay stack'. And will take a lot of time.

I hope the well looses pressure. But who knows if it would do that any time soon.

Can under water weldors work at 1000 feet?

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered - Oil Spill!

The wellhead/BOP is at a depth of 5,000 feet. The drilling depth is apparently about 18,000 feet. Very deeply drilled wells involve huge amounts of pressure, which is offset by drilling mud in the column. As the depths get greater, the mud has things added to it (barium, etc.) to make it heavier, but apparently that was not enough.

As for the mating season issue - its mating/spawning season for everything. The ecological impact is likely to be huge. The impact on seafood supplies is also going to be huge, because Louisiana supplies an extremely large percentage of the seafood consumed in the US.



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[Moody Blue]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered - Oil Spill!

Environmental disaster in the making. Can't imagine 5000 barrels of oil each day being dumped into the water. Saying it could be 90 days before its under control if they have to drill another hole to relieve pressure in the original hole. Makes the Exon Valdez look small in comparison.

How can the oil companies be allowed to operate these platforms without some form of safeguards in place to prevent this type of thing from happening.

Hope things work out for the better. Great to see all the volunteer efforts being put into place.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered - Oil Spill!

While there are many questions to be answered later, I'll once again ask that we not stray into political and blame game issues. I have a few opinions about those things too, but I'm trying to keep this thread as one that is informative.



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[DJ]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered - Oil Spill!

FIRE- seems to be the only solution-at hand.

So be it-do it.

There is no question on the environmental impact. However, fire is, as has been proven, a regenerator. Fire is a regenerator of our forests, no question.

I always have had one question that NOBODY has ever answered:

Why is that oil is 5000 ft. + below the Earth's surface???? What happened to bury it????



If we all agree that there is oil there-no brainer-where did it come from? Why isn't the Earth producing more?? I think it is, based on logic.

 

[Philip_G]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered - Oil Spill!

several years ago there was a new story about a microbe discovered that would eat oil, at the time they thought it would be useful in a situation like this, anyone ever hear what happened to it?

 

[skargo]

Re: We're Gonna Get Hammered - Oil Spill!

FIRE- seems to be the only solution-at hand.

So be it-do it.

There is no question on the environmental impact. However, fire is, as has been proven, a regenerator. Fire is a regenerator of our forests, no question.

I always have had one question that NOBODY has ever answered:

Why is that oil is 5000 ft. + below the Earth's surface???? What happened to bury it????



If we all agree that there is oil there-no brainer-where did it come from? Why isn't the Earth producing more?? I think it is, based on logic.

I agree with you.