Have you been following the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico over the last couple of weeks? The oil rig that blew up? Well, they have decided to avoid further environmental issues it would be best to burn the oil. Yes, that’s right. Instead of salvaging the crude oil they’re going to waste it. Right, the point is to stop the spread of the oil slick before it reaches the sandy beaches of Alabama and the mouth of the Mississippi River. That would be a disaster worse than burning it.
What have they tried so far?
Submersible robots have been trying to activate a shut-off device that would halt the flow of oil on the sea bottom 5,000 feet below. Good idea, no luck.
BP, the rig operator said it would begin work on Friday to drill a relief well to relieve pressure at the blowout site, but that could take months. I assume this would lessen the flow, but this is not a great short term option to say the least.
The best option was to place a dome-like device to cover the oil rising to the surface and pump it to container vessels. Why not! Sounds like a great idea. But. BP says it will take at least two weeks to put in place.
The accident happened on April 21. Why shouldn’t have the best option been put into place immediately? If accidents of this nature are to be contained, why shouldn’t methods of oil recovery be kept in ready preparedness? To me this shows severe incompetence and poor management. Why is one of our most in demand natural resources being mismanaged?
Granted, because the winds and ocean currents can change quickly, burning the oil on the surface of the ocean is the best short term solution. The oil burns down to what looks to be hardened tar balls that float on the surface which can be skimmed and removed – this will save animals from being coated with the oil and clean up the 100 by 45 mile slick that is already on the surface – but the spill needs to be shut down. I’m waiting to hear a solution….
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