On April 24, 2010 it was determined by the U.S. Coast Guard that oil leaking from an oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico four days earlier was turning into a serious environmental concern.
The U.S. Coast Guard has deployed robotic submarines as important step in attempting to contain the leak from the sunken oil rig.
Robot Submarines Deployed in Gulf Coast Oil Rig Disaster
The Deep Horizon oil rig located 50 miles off the coast of Louisiana in Gulf Coast waters exploded unexpectedly on Tuesday April 20, 2010 causing a destructive fire. More than 100 oil rig workers were able to escape the disaster, but sadly 11 workers lost their lives.
Within two days of the explosion, the oil rig engulfed in flames and sunk beneath the ocean’s surface. The initial spill of oil during the disaster appeared to be only a slight sheen of oil on the gulf’s surface and manageable.
Several days later the oil sheen has spread to 20 miles by 20 miles, nearly 25 times larger than the initial reach of the oil spillage. Approximately 1,000 barrels (42,000 gallons) of oil is leaking per day.
The Coast Guard has determined that the leak in the submerged oil rig that must be contained. Robotic submersibles are being utilized to try to stop the flow of the oil leak. The Coast Guard crews are using the robot subs to activate valves at the well head and stop the leak. By plugging the leak, the Coast Guard hopes to stop any more potential damage to the Gulf Coast.
U.S. Coast Guard Robotic Submersible Complex Process
The robot submarine will work 5,000 feet below the ocean’s surface in an attempt to stop the oil leak. According to BP Exploration and Production, operator of the Deep Horizon oil rig, this complex underwater oil clean up process could take at least 24 to 36 hours to complete.
Robot submarines will need to shutoff device valves at the well head known as a blowout preventer. Officials say that the task, although complicated, can be accomplished. If unsuccessful the oil spill clean-up consortium is planning to drill relief wells into the damaged well underneath the ocean. Drilling is a less desirable approach because it may take several months to contain the leak with a relief well.
Environmental Concerns if Stopping Leak by Robot Submarine Unsuccessful
Officials involved in the oil spill cleanup are hopeful that repairing the link with robotic submersibles is successful. The robot submarines could put a swift end to the oil leak within days. The alternative option of drilling a relief well would take months to accomplish.
The U.S. Coast Guard, BP Exploration, Marine Spill Response Corporation and environmentalists are concerned that the oil spill may threaten the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida. The fragile ecosystem of shrimp, fish, birds and coral along the Gulf of Mexico could be damaged for years to come. Crews are working to contain the oil with Coast Guard skimmer ships and vacuum it from the surface of the water. The Coast Guard is hopeful that once the leak is complete, but robotic submarines or drilling, that the clean-up process will be expeditious and environmental impact will be minimal.
Diane Seltzer - Diane is a branding, pr and social media marketer with experience ranging from advertising to corporate marketing and consulting.
