BP's 100 Ton Box is on the Way to the Spill

A 100 ton experiment will be unfolding in the Gulf over the next two days as BP tries to control the gushing oil in the Gulf by placing a concrete "building" over one of the sources of the spillage. Though it has never been done before BP chief operating officer Doug Suttles is hopeful that the steel and concrete box will capture the escaping oil. The box will be lowered by the Discoverer Enterprise, a drill ship owned by Transocean, the same company that owned the Deepwater Horizon which exploded on April 20^th.

A described in the Mobile Press Register, oil, gas and water would flow up through a long pipe to a ship above where gas would be burned off and water filtered out. The oil would be taken to refineries in Louisiana and Texas. There is a concern that pressure and cold temperatures will cause a blockage in the pipe and they hope to combat that by pumping warmer water from the surface and methanol into the system. And additional leak would still remain uncovered but it is felt to a much smaller leak the one they will attempt to cover.

Confederate War strategy used to protect Mobile Bay

The Governor of Alabama and Coast Guard officials have been concerned about protecting Mobile Bay. Since Mobile is one of the most active ports in the country it is not possible to close off the mouth of the bay with booms because ships must still enter. Up until now they have been required to go around the oil slick and tugs have been in place to wash the ships before they enter the bay area. A plan has been improvised called the 'swinging gate'. It calls for the construction of a lock and dam across the mouth of the bay and a pair of gates that would allow ships to transit the Mobile channel. As of today the oil remains about 30 miles from the mouth of Mobile Bay. The gates are being engineer from barges that could be opened and shut with tug boats.

A similar strategy was used during the Civil War by the Confederacy to protect Mobile Bay from invasion by Union ships. Rebel troops blocked the mouth of the bay and fired upon ships from the southernmost forts on the water. Union Admiral David Farragut ultimately broke the blockade in August of 1864.

Volunteers Continue to Arrive

Mobile is experiencing an increase in commerce as hotels and motels, car rental agencies and restaurant benefit from the thousands who have flocked to the area to volunteer. Since there currently is no oil to clean they have been assigned to clean the refuse off the beaches so that, in the event the oil reaches the beaches they will be easier to clean. As a result all the refuse, cigarette butts and other garbage has been cleaned away and the shore area in Alabama has never been cleaner.