Oil Spill Now Covering More Than 1,800 Square Miles

[spanone]

NEW ORLEANS — Coast Guard officials said Monday afternoon that the oil spill near Louisiana was now covering more than 1,800 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico, and they have been unable to engage a mechanism that could shut off the well thousands of feet below the ocean’s surface.

The response team was trying three tacks to address a spill caused by an explosion on an oil rig last week: one that could stop the leaks within hours, one that would take months, and one that would not stop the leaks but would capture the oil and deliver it to the surface while permanent measures were pursued.

On Sunday morning, officials began using remote-controlled vehicles to try to activate the blowout preventer, a 450-ton valve sitting at the wellhead, 5,000 feet below the ocean’s surface. The blowout preventer can seal off the well to prevent sudden pressure releases that possibly led to the explosion on the rig last Tuesday night.

If successful, engaging the blowout preventer could seal the well Monday or Tuesday.

The flow of oil from the leaks is about 42,000 gallons of oil a day. The authorities said it was still unclear what caused the explosion. Eleven crew members are missing and presumed dead.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/us/27rig.html?ref=global-home&pagewanted=print

[nc4bo]

1. OMG. I wonder which way the water/wind currents run.

This is going to be nothing short of a nightmare.

[spanone]

2. unfortunately, i believe you are correct.

[Wickerman]

3. Hey guys, looks like a good enough opportunity to jack up oil prices!

It doesn't take a lot to get into the mind of the oil company execs...

[spanone]

4. i wonder if taxpayers will pay the clean up bills?

[nc4bo]

5. Why not? We pick up the tab for everything else corps don't want to pay for, don't we? nt

[Wickerman]

6. Socialized the risk

Capitalize the profit. Amen and pass the ammunition!

[Kalun D]

16. socialize the losses

privatize the profits

[chelsea0011]

8. Teabaggers have volunteered to do it for free.

[earth mom]

7. No worries-Obama LOVES offshore drilling.

:sarcasm:

[spanone]

9. i hope this is giving him great pause.

[earth mom]

10. I doubt it-he's off hiking in the woods with Michelle. nt

[lunatica]

11. Is that crickets I hear coming from Palin/Limbaugh/GOP/teabaggers?

Yeah, lets drill off shore with all that new-fangled drilling equipment that's so much safer than those puny oil tankers that spill all over the place.

:sarcasm:

[lpbk2713]

12. Don't foget to add Lil Jebbie to that list.

He thought it was a wonderful idea. Probably still does.

It was just a matter of time before something like this had to happen.

[lunatica]

15. And they could make 10 years of outrageous profits which would be wiped out

with only one frigging spill and who knows how many decades for the environment to recover from.

[spanone]

13. video----Weather Delays Oil Cleanup at Gulf Blast Site

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ni7w4ebvpw&feature=player_embedded#!

'the depth of the well head may be a problem, it's 5,000 feet down'

[Dragonfli]

14. It is sure a good thing our president and party leaders have adopted all off the GOP's ideas

It is not at all what I voted for, but I have learned not to trust at least.

[Kalun D]

17. Thank You President Obama

For starting up more offshore drilling

we need all the 1800 sq mile oil spills we can get!!!!