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BP Oil Spill 2010 Update: Containment Cap, Oil Covered Wildlife
In Day 46 of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill BP Has Placed a Containment Cap Over the Gushing Well
Executives at BP have said they are 'encouraged' by the containment cap that is now in place over the leak in the sunken Deepwater Horizon rig, but said it is too early to declare anything a success. This steel containment cap has been in place for about 12 hours and BP have said they intend to update the public on the progress every 24 hours.
According to NOLA.com, U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said in a June 4 news conference that about 1,000 barrels of oil have been pumped through the containment cap to the drill ship Discover Enterprise above. You can view the oil spill live feed link yourself and see oil still gushing out, but that is because the pressure is not correct yet according to BP.
BP Senior Vice President Kent Wells said:
the obvious goal is "to capture the most oil that we can," but he noted that "I do think it will take us a few days to get up to peak efficiency."
BP wants to eventually close the vents on the containment cap and collect all the oil up through the pipe to the surface. They face obstacles however because the combination of natural gas and seawater will cause a frozen slush known as hydrates to form and that could plug the containment cap. The hydrates are what caused the first containment dome to fail.
Pictures of Wildlife Covered in Oil Surface
Thad Allen seems to be cautiously optimistic, but with images of oil covered wildlife and previously untouched beaches seeing signs of oil contamination, the public are not sharing his sentiments.
Some of the pictures of dead birds, or birds so covered in oil they cannot move are heartbreaking to see and once again prove that the animal kingdom can pay heavily for human mistakes.
Volunteers and animal organizations are working hard to collect these animals and birds and clean them but for some it is already too late. Wildlife officials fear the situation is only going to get worse before it gets better.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (19)
at 12:46 on June 4th, 2010
Bp can suck them
at 12:47 on June 4th, 2010
They can use dawn dish soap to clean them that gets oil off
at 13:25 on June 4th, 2010
why don't we drown all members of the BP board in oil.
at 13:35 on June 4th, 2010
why don't we drown all member of the BP board in oil. post this !!!!
at 13:37 on June 4th, 2010
i wonder if BP directors/board/workers the whole gang of them, sleep at night.
at 15:56 on June 4th, 2010
This is sickening. I hope someone, somewhere is held responsible for these poor animals.
at 19:14 on June 4th, 2010
I think the most upsetting thing about this oil spill is seeing the pictures of all the birds covered in oil and struggling to breathe. It is so sad that these poor, innocent birds are covered in this goo that they can do nothing about and don't understand what is going on. So many of these animals are going to die because of the stupidity of humans.
at 19:59 on June 4th, 2010
BP will capture the oil, sell it and make money, and give themselves big fat bonuses.
at 12:32 on June 5th, 2010
Next time all of us are out and about, do not buy an BP gasoline. That will teach them and it will be a warning to other oil companies. However, even if BP has to pay the cleanup, guess what?? It's passed on in the price of gasoline so we end up paying anyway.
at 15:42 on June 5th, 2010
Immediate and Urgent Plan of Action for the Gulf Coast Oil Disaster It is our responsibility to face up to the worst case scenario that this on-going oil gusher could bring, namely, toxins entering the water table, food shortages, and massive unemployment. Simple Plan of Action: Immediately set up incentives to create or transform businesses that provide rainwater collection systems, installation and maintenance, with double distillation capabilities for processing of drinking water. Do this now before the toxins enter the water table, which in many places is just 4 feet below the soil surface. Immediately set up incentives to create or transform businesses that install small, medium or large aquaculture systems for the raising of fish, shellfish, crabs, etc. Immediately begin a collection of clean specimens all over the Gulf coast. Establish an Extension Agency to advise, and to provide clean specimens to small farmers. Foster the smaller more resilient operations by providing maximum support and assistance to these rather than to large operations whose failures are catastrophic. Recruit scientists and researchers world-wide to assist. Other types of farms such as vegetable farms, poultry and small livestock operations will be included in this program. Do this now before the price of food rises. The same system should include provision of land and equipment for those who have the expertise but not the start-up capital. Advertise world-wide for ideas, solutions and warnings from other places that have experienced oil spills. Create a public forum with a public rating mechanism for review of ideas submitted from experts and amateurs alike. Also establish a review committee with such notables as Dr. Ivor van Heerden (formerly of LSU). In order to eliminate conflicts of interest, funding from major corporate donors and foundations should go into a Public Trustee account first, and then distributed with an up-front agreement to fund whatever solutions the people of the Gulf Coast agree to.
at 12:24 on June 6th, 2010
I'm sorry, but Ivor van Heerden is working for BP and doing Press Tours on NPR. This from yesterday, 06-05-10: n.pr/9ZPdJT
In that interview he said: "The damage from the oil coming ashore is overstated", "The oil has impacted only tens of miles".
What? Say it ain't sore, Ivor!
It was brilliant for BP to hire such a renowned coastal wetlands scientist. Now his mouth is under contract. Furthermore, Van Heerden is going to court again to get his job back at LSU (who receives copious funding from BP and the oil industry).
I am truly sorry for this latest development. You can check the Ladder for my take on this.
Thank you.
at 15:51 on June 5th, 2010
I have read somewhere that BP has the contract to provide our military with oil and gas, though I can't find it now. Anyone out there can find please post. They don't have to sell to us individuals, our tax dollars are doing the purchasing without us. They have more power over us than we have over them, apparently: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37338000/ns/business-oil_and_energy//
at 17:38 on June 6th, 2010
Ivor Van Heerden has stood up against big power before. He definitely has been contracted by BP as a consultant. That does not make him a sellout. He is a voice for Louisiana. If BP thinks they've purchased his integrity, then I hope that they are mistaken. He hasn't sold out yet. If you are trying to discredit him then you are either working for BP yourself or you simply have not informed yourself of the facts.
at 00:45 on June 7th, 2010
Hello there is a great company called planet resource to fix the problem there is a frrat animation of correcting thiswww.youtube.com/watch?v=60bdQQQ3iVw
at 20:22 on June 7th, 2010
I am so so saddened by this. I love birds and animals and consider all life to be sacred. What are we doing ? We need to DEMAND from our leaders safer and renewable sources of energy. I am just so so sad by these pictures. I cried so hard when I saw all the dolphins washed up on the shore. Sad... very very sad. :-(
at 22:49 on June 9th, 2010
Planetresource.net has a Eco friendly solution to clean up the tragedy British Petroleum has created, please watch the video animation: www.youtube.com/watch?v=60bdQQQ3iVw and pass this along to as many people as you know. One person can still make a difference in this world, is that simple interactions have a rippling effect. Each time this gets pass along, the hope in cleaning our planet is passed on.
at 09:29 on June 11th, 2010
Hope the so called developed countries now understand the hazards of polluting the environment. The event of Bhopal Gas Leak did not raise an eyebrow in 1984 but Gas Spill issue is ceating furore in the so called Developed countries. Is it called as hippocracy? Why do we have such double standards?
at 15:50 on June 11th, 2010
IF THAT WELL IS LEAKING ALL OUT OF BOP, I CAN MAKE IT STOP. THIS IS NO JOKE ! CONTACT ME
at 21:43 on July 3rd, 2010
BP more like BIG PENIS