The Explosion of the Deepwater Horizon Continues to Spill Oil into the Gulf of Mexico
Gushes of Black Oil Still Emanating from 5000 Feet Below
As the rig burned and sank into the sea it became apparent that the automatic blowout preventer - a mechanism designed to prevent a major oil spill in the event of a drilling accident - had failed. Tens of thousands of gallons of oil have been flowing from the site since the explosion causing one of the most significant oil spills in US history. Now the Coast Guard and BP - the owner if the rig - are trying to choke the gush of oil emanating from 5000 feet below the surface.
George Crozier, the director of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab expressed concern for the ecology of the area. He believes the eggs and larvae of everything that swims in the Gulf by the spill which is now covering a 2200 square mile area.
Ed Cake, a Mississippi biologist said "spill related problems would affect oysters and every other creature that lives in the thousands of acres of marsh likely to be affected in the coming days."
Currently the spill seems to be heading for the marshes of Louisiana's St. Bernard Parish, according to Gregory William Stone, director of the Coastal Studies Institute at Louisiana State University. Masses of oil are expected to wash ashore in Alabama and Mississippi in the next few days also. Fishermen in Alabama fear for the oyster, fish and shrimp industries.
According to the Mobile Press Register the Coast Guard is preparing to begin burning the surface oil where the oil is the thickest. That area is adjacent to where the spill occurred, about 100 miles due south of Mobile. Officials predict a massive black cloud to rise from the burn causing large amounts of soot and smoke. They are prepared to extinguish the flames if it becomes a hazard to the health of people on shore.
Source
The Mobile Press Register
Published by Mona Loeser
A social worker with 25 years of experience in mental health, corrections, substance abuse, community relations, private practice and divorce mediation, as a community liaison,working with military families... View profile
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1 Comments
Post a CommentSuch a tragic event. Your article is well written and informative.