Remote Controlled Submarines Fight the Oil Spill in the Gulf

Engineers continue to desperately try to stop the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which has been polluting the waters at a rate of 210,000 gallons of oil daily since April 20. As a box the size of a four story building is being constructed to place over the leakage - which is now coming from three openings - a fleet of remote controlled submarines is in the water at the source of the leak attempting to cap the spill while also spraying chemicals on the oil to cause it to disperse and form hard balls which can be easily removed when onshore. As reported by the Associated Press, these vehicles are trying to turn valves to close broken equipment, activate the blowout preventer, spray chemicals, and provide eyes to the site for those controlling the robots. This is the first time this chemical is being applied under the sea. Historically it has been used to address slicks atop the water.

BP hopes to begin lowering the containment domes on Thursday or Friday. At that point the robots will no longer be able to reach the gushing oil.

The robots are made by a company called Perry Slingsby Systems and its president Lou Dennis has told the Coast Guard that his robots have such extraordinary sensitivity that they can pick up an egg without breaking it.

None of the oil balls have come to shore thus far and mother nature seems to be helping to keep the spill about 30 mile offshore. Experts say that they are not expecting a black tide from the spill to reach the shoreline because of the chemicals being dispersed. Ed Overton, a professor from Louisiana State University and a person analyzing the oil for the federal response team said he expected the emulsified oil - or tar balls- would be washing ashore for months but would be easily removed from the land.

Source

The Mobile Press Register

The Associated Press