A massive explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig took the life of 11 workers on April 20, 2010. The rig, owed by Transocean and leased by BP LPC, was located about 50 miles off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico.
Since the explosion in April, oil continues to pour into the Gulf at alarming rates. The event is being described as the worst environmental disaster in American history and all efforts to stop the spill have so far failed.
Watch the BP Oil Spill Live on the SpillCam
After intense pressure from President Barack Obama and U.S. lawmakers, BP finally agreed to give the public free access to its live video of the spill on the Internet. Instead of waiting for the latest update from your favorite news station, people can watch the event in real time, online.
The BP “SpillCam” offers footage via the live video feed captured from remotely operated vehicles (ROV) under the sea. While there is no sound, viewers can watch continuous underwater footage of the gushing flow of dark brown oil as it spews out of the broken pipe 5,000 feet under the sea. While the angle may change from time-to-time, the focus remains on the leak.
Satellite images and geospatial data of the spill, taken by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), are also online and updated frequently.
BP Oil Spill Flow Rate
While no one is exactly certain how much oil is in fact flowing, experts agree initial figures were seriously flawed. Experts and officials analyzing the oil have come up with various estimates. According to the latest PBS Gulf Leak Meter widget, the USGS estimates 840,000 gallons of oil are spewing into the Gulf of Mexico each day.
Efforts to Contain the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Various efforts continue to contain the Deepwater Horizon oil spill:
- The process of drilling two relief wells began in early May 2010. According to a BP press release, the first well has currently reached a depth of nearly 14,000 feet while the second well, which began two weeks after the first, has reached a depth of just over 9,000 feet. While most experts believe the two relief wells will indeed work, they are not expected to be completed until August. In the meantime, a series of ongoing efforts have been tried to contain the spill and damage.
- Thousands of feet of containment boom along with thousands of gallons of dispersant have been deployed to help contain the spill.
- In May, a container dome and a smaller “top hat” also failed.
- Several attempts to stop the gushing oil by forcing tons of mud and cement into the pipe, known as “top kill” also failed.
- A lower marine riser package containment (LMRP) cap was installed on June 3, 2010. This method is actually capturing and collecting some of the oil. Oil is collected through a pipe connected to the wellhead’s containment cap and transported to the Discoverer Enterprise drillship on the surface. By closing more vents on the cap, officials are hoping to increase the amount of captured oil. As of June 12, approximately 630,000 gallons, or 15,000 barrels, of oil is currently being collected each day by the Discoverer Enterprise. BP plans to increase its capacity to 2.1 million gallons, or 50,000 barrels, by the middle of July.
- Additional ships along with more equipment are also expected.
- According to Nick Klopsis in the June 14, 2010 New York Daily News, BP has purchased 32 “life preserver” oil separator machines from award-winning actor Kevin Costner. Costner spent 15 years on the invention which can separate 99 percent of the oil from water and recycle up to 2,000 barrels a day. Costner spent $20 million developing the device. BP is currently testing the machine.
As this tragic event continues to unfold, many people are wondering what they can do to help? A Text2Give and social media campaign is currently underway to help the wildlife impacted by the disaster. And if you would like to volunteer your services, please contact the Deepwater Horizon Response for further information. Be sure to visit the newly launched web portal, Restore the Gulf, jam-packed with user-friendly tools and up-to-the-minute news about the BP oil spill.
The BP oil spill is the worst environmental disaster America has ever seen. And sadly, the catastrophic impact on wildlife, the ecosystem, fishermen and the tourism, will not be known for years to come.
Sources:
- Update on Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Response, BP.com. June 14, 2010. Last accessed June 14, 2010.
- BP to Test Out Actor Kevin Costner's Oil Spill Clean-up Machine for Possible Use in Gulf Coast Spill, New York Daily News.com. Nick Klopsis, June 14, 2010. Last accessed June 14, 2010.
Jace Shoemaker-Galloway - +JaceShoemaker-Galloway is more than passionate about online safety awareness. She has devoted and dedicated over five years to Internet ...
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