'Not for public': the oil spill may be getting much worse

[thurnundtaxis]

Yeah, Ninakat.

Ure doesn't have too good of a track record other than for scare-mongering. But, sometimes I like to entertain these worst-case scenarios
if only be prepared for the worst and relieved by anything that later proves such speculations wrong.

Matt over at LATOC is a world-class doomer, but he's certainly not usually gullible when it comes to Ure's prognostications.

But, there it is...

[Hugo Farnsworth]

If the well does not "bridge over" and plug itself, a relief well is the only way to stop it. That will take, at minimum, two months.

[nathan28]

Actually, considering that George Ure just called End of the World again, this is probably the peak opportunity to buy some Louisiana waterfront real estate.

Also, what barracuda said.

[freemason9]

I'm willing to entertain anything, but who would benefit over this?

At first blush, my guess is anyone who is a proponent of nationalizing the oil industry.

Monumental catastrophes are great backdrops for Government takeovers.

Right. And why would anyone want that when corporate control works so well?

[2012 Countdown]

The bad news is that it is bad, an environmental catastrophe.

The good news is that, at this rate of flow, the well will probably collapse on itself ("bridge over"). The other good news is that out of all the places in the world to spill oil, the Gulf of Mexico's ecology is probably better suited to deal with this toxic crap than any other.

What is really killing the GoM's ecology faster than the oil industry is the agricultural runoff in the central USA that ends up in the Mississippi, and then into the Gulf. There are now "dead zones" in the GoM that are devoid of dissolved oxygen (hypoxia). http://lab.visual-logic.com/?p=331

Economic interests in the US have long treated Louisiana like a red-headed stepchild, the same mentality that now strip-mines Appalachia and blows off the tops of mountains in that region. The coast of Louisiana is disappearing because of the intense canal dredging that took place during the 20th century to extract the oil. Oyster beds and estuaries are disappearing so fast that it defies the imagination. That's just one eco-disaster among so many others. So much in that state has been lost forever--I will give you one example: Up until the early 20th century, there were stands of cypress trees so huge and tall (some of them nearly as large as the Sequoia in California) that, had they not fallen to the axes of lumber companies, would be national parks today. Try to imagine paddling down a bayou or in Atchafalaya Bay and seeing a tree the size of a small skyscraper.

Ever since 'they' shot Huey P. Long, the oil interests have run this state.

As a La. native and life-long New Orleanian, I thank you for expanding on the problem and speaking on it. After Katrina, the state reps fought to finally get our rightful share of oil lease revenues to do coastal restoration. With the budget cuts, those promised funds are now being threatened to be taken away without the first dime being seen. But you are also correct in mentioning the dead zones. And lets not forget about the effect on people. You probably know that from lower Arkansas down is known as 'cancer alley'. If you live along the river, we get everyone else run off and retreated water. Bottled or filtered water is prudent here.

[DrVolin]

And another parallel: No claim of responsibility.

[2012 Countdown]

And another parallel: No claim of responsibility.

But BP has claimed responsibility, no?

[Sepka]

If the well does not "bridge over" and plug itself

How often does that occur?

[Iamwhomiam]

The first report I had heard on this disaster was on the day or day after it occurred and it related tha 47,000 gal per day were being released. Later that same day I was surprised to hear only 1,000 gpd was leaking.

As I see it, this could be a so called false flag created disaster for two reasons - 1) that it would completely submerge the sure to pass climate bill and/or 2) to harden our resolve, a least in the minds of the public, that we must continue our resource wars in the middle east in order to liberate their, er, people. Sounds a bit radical tho, imo.

It could have been caused by nothing more than a static spark igniting the escaping natural gas. Regardless of its cause, it is an extreme environmental catastrophe.

[nathan28]

And another parallel: No claim of responsibility.

Okay, you have officially gone into total paranoia land. Can I offer you some KWH brochures? It's our hottest product.


It is very, very clear who the parties involved in this incident are. Completely. BP. The contractors who installed the rig and the blow-out whatever-it's-called. Possibly the engineering contractor, if a firm, who chose the site. Deep pocket rules dictate that BP will face maximum exposure. This isn't force majeur, "Act of God," because they had every reason to understand and prepare for the possibility of a blow-out--in fact, they had that intention with installing the blow-out device and likewise had engineering data on the relative size of the oil pocket. To the extent that BP avoids paying damages in the $$$ quadrabillions, it fits perfectly with the logic of externalization--externalization being one of the ONLY ways to remain profitable, and likewise being increasingly impossible. I don't know how well equipped Obama DOJ is in the intestinal fortitude dep't, but if the SEC charging Goldman, considered alongside the sweeping "More Bush Than Bush" legal arguments it makes, if those are any indication, then BP is going to spend a long-ass time in court--maybe. OTOH Obama's fondness for machine politics almost dictates that he'll find another way to handle this so that everyone can sit down at the table while the future of the gulf course turns into their meal. If you can't see that you've been befuddled by the corporatist nonsense upthread, like worries of a "Government Takeover"--newsflash, the gov't is already taking over the clean-up, exactly like you'd expect them to. Unless you want to see just how much charity BP will extend, which is probably bad news if you're an oyster or a crawdad, two "heritage" foods about to disappear from America, where we specialize in amnesia.

[DrVolin]

Okay, you have officially gone into total paranoia land.

You're reading entirely too much into my very simple statements.

[82_28]

It is very, very clear who the parties involved in this incident are.

It has been brought up, but Halliburton is in there too. Didn't BP farm out, sub contract it's operations to them for this particular rig?

Hate to say it, but this is looking more and more like the mother of all DOUBLE BINDS given the "political", economic and moreover, moreover, the environmental raamifications.

[2012 Countdown]

The first report I had heard on this disaster was on the day or day after it occurred and it related tha 47,000 gal per day were being released. Later that same day I was surprised to hear only 1,000 gpd was leaking.

As I see it, this could be a so called false flag created disaster for two reasons - 1) that it would completely submerge the sure to pass climate bill and/or 2) to harden our resolve, a least in the minds of the public, that we must continue our resource wars in the middle east in order to liberate their, er, people. Sounds a bit radical tho, imo.

It could have been caused by nothing more than a static spark igniting the escaping natural gas. Regardless of its cause, it is an extreme environmental catastrophe.

The first proposals are in my opinion, very weak. I'm going with answer 3.


And yes, Halliburtion subcontracting figures prominently in this as well. You know them though. They go from electrocuting soldiers w/faulty electrical work, to blowing up the Gulf in shoddy offshore work.

[norton ash]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellfighters_(film)

Dammit, where's Red Adair? Oh, right, he's as dead as John Wayne.

Drill, baby, drill.

[DoYouEverWonder]

Exclusive Interview with a Survivor from the Oil Rig Explosion

http://www.marklevinshow.com/Article.asp?id=1790422&spid=32364

Supposedly they verified the survivors identity. If his story is true, Gaia is to blame for this one.