Updates on Gulf Coast Oil Spill & Transocean Rig Accident
(1) Latest photograph showing growing oil spill approaching Mississippi Delta and Louisiana Coastline: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=43846 (4/29)
(2) CBS: Oil Spill Could Equal Damage from Exxon Valdez
Environmental experts say the damage caused by the oil spill unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico may equal or even eclipse the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill off the southern coast of Alaska, the worst oil spill in U.S. history and one of the worst environmental disasters in decades.
Federal officials said Thursday that oil is gushing into the Gulf of Mexico five times faster than previously thought, after a deep-water rig exploded and sank there -- and the massive slick is expected hit ecologically fragile shores at any time.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/29/national/main6445490.shtml
(3) BP To Try Novel Approach
Starting later tonight (4.29.2010), BP will attempt to use a series of chemicals that are intended to break up the oil underwater. While never tried at these depths before, the research suggests that this might be a helpful strategy as crews work to stave off an environmental catastrophe.
http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/04/26/daily48.html
(4) Efforts to Cap and Contain Gulf Coast Oil Spill Welcomed But Maritime Worker Safety Also Important
Workers trying to seal a blown-out oil well spewing thousands of gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico face serious risk of injury because of the challenging work environment and complexity of the task, Houston maritime attorney Kurt Arnold said.
“Oil rig workers have proven time and again that they can accomplish amazing things,” Arnold said. “But these are complex operations and there are no dress rehearsals for capping a well nearly a mile underwater. As the companies work to clean up oil from the leaks, it’s imperative that they observe proper safety precautions to avoid putting workers in harm’s way and magnifying the injuries and deaths from the original explosion of the Deepwater Horizon.”
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/04/prweb3940554.htm
