There’s Pain-But NO GAIN!
We are NOW in day number 41, of the worst oil spill in U.S.History.
I live in Washington State. We are currently supplying shrimp, for a lot of the restaurants down in the Gulf Coast region, at this time. While, it is good for us, economically speaking, the beaches, tourism and wildlife, AND entire way of life, for generations to come, are being effected, in the entire Gulf Coast region.
This, whole episode makes me want to cry. The eco-systems, in the Gulf of Mexico, are special and fragile, in themselves. It’s a sin, that they (BP), are just acting like there is a million tomorrows, to get this mess fixed, and cleaned up! Never-mind, the fact that, 11 people died!
Congressman Charlie Melancon (D), teared up, during a recent congressional hearing, regarding the impact of the gulf oil spill on Louisiana’s wetlands. Here is a clip of that meeting.
As of yesterday, May 29,2010, yet another serious setback occurred, in the effort to stem the flow of oil gushing, from a well, a mile beneath the Gulf of Mexico. BP, engineers stated Saturday, that the “top kill” technique had FAILED and, after consultation with government officials, they had decided to move on to another strategy.
“After three full days of attempting “top kill”, we now believe it is time to move on to the next of our options,” Mr. Suttles said.
The abandonment of the “top kill” technique, was the most ambitious effort yet, to plug the well. However, it was the latest in a series of FAILURES. First, BP FAILED, in efforts to repair a blowout preventer, with submarine robots. Then, their efforts to cap the well with a containment dome FAILED, when it became clogged with a frothy mix of frigid water and gas. Efforts to use a hose, to gather escaping oil, have only managed to catch a fraction of the spill, to date.
BP, has started work on two relief wells, but officials have said, that they will not be completed until August — further contributing to what is already the worst oil spill in United States history. Forty-one days, and COUNTING!
This latest FAILURE, will undoubtedly put more pressure, both politically and from the public, on the Obama Administration. Both politicians, and the general public, are requiring that some sort of action be taken, SOONER than LATER, on the devastating effect this is having on the entire way of life, for the Gulf Coast region. Perhaps, taking control of the repair effort completely from BP, should be the the course of action. But BP, SHOULD have to shoulder the ENTIRE cost of the effort.
President Obama, who is spending the Memorial Day weekend in Chicago, issued a statement Saturday evening, on the decision to abandon the “top kill.”
“While we initially received optimistic reports about the procedure, it is now clear, that it has not worked,” Mr. Obama said.
He said, that Rear Adm. Mary E. Landry, of the Coast Guard had “directed BP, to launch a new procedure whereby the riser pipe will be cut, and a containment structure fitted over the leak.”
“This approach is not without risk, and has never been attempted before at this depth,” Mr. Obama said. “That is why, it was not activated until other methods had been exhausted.”
The president continued, “We will continue to pursue, any and all responsible means of stopping this leak, until the completion of the two relief wells currently being drilled.”
For BP, the besieged British company, the failure could mean billions of dollars of additional liabilities, as the spill potentially worsens in the weeks and months ahead. Gee DARN!
“I am disappointed that this operation did not work,” Tony Hayward, chief executive of BP, said in a statement. “We remain committed to doing everything we can to make this situation right.” IT MIGHT, just TAKE FOREVER!
A technician, who has been working on the project to stem the oil leak said Saturday, that neither the “top kill”, nor the “junk shot,” came close to succeeding, because the pressure of oil and gas escaping from the well was simply too powerful to overcome. He added, that engineers, never had a complete enough understanding of the inner workings of drill pipe casing, or blowout preventer mechanisms, to make the efforts work.
“Simply too much of what we pumped in was escaping,” said the technician. He spoke on condition of remaining unnamed, because he is not authorized to speak publicly for the company.
“The engineers are disappointed, and management is upset,” said the technician. “Nothing is good, nothing is good.” AIN’T THAT THE TRUTH!
The spill began, after the Deepwater Horizon, drilling rig exploded on April 20, killing 11 people. Since then, it has dumped an estimated 18 million to 40 million gallons of oil, into the gulf.
After the announcement Saturday, the disappointment was palpable along the Louisiana shoreline, where the oil has increasingly washed up in sticky, rusty globs.
NOW, that the “top kill” technique has FAILED and, after consultation with government officials, it has been decided to move on to another strategy. The one mentioned above.
The White House, has been silent on some issues during the past year, and until recently, even this one. Commenters favorable to the Obama administration, have been virtually unanimous in his defense, stating: he’s got a full plate, give him some time.
Well, this just in: the President’s plate doesn’t get any LESS FULL, as time goes on. Today, we are looking at an environmental catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, and a slow-motion, federal response, to say the least. It is threatening, to leave this administration looking pretty pathetic. What is clear, is a thoughtful, energetic response to the remaining problems dogging the rebuilding of the “hurricane risk reduction system” in New Orleans, is still lacking. It might have given the Obama Administration, the aura of caring about the area. In turn, such a response, might have spared the administration, against the charges from opponents, that this is Obama’s Katrina moment, or should I say political NIGHTMARE. At any rate, a much quicker response, was hoped for, and NOT received.
Last year’s opportunity has slipped by, having been beguiled by the willful blindness of his automatic-pilot supporters. Today, the administration stands un-inoculated politically, against the impression that it’s impotent, in the face of BP’s mendacity, and lack of any credible plan, to get the job done, and the mess cleaned up!
So, How’s Mr. Obama’s plate looking now? He has come forward, to take on the responsibility, for whatever actions take place from here on out, with this mess. It appears to be TOO Little- TOO Late!
We are all left to wonder several things though, since this tragedy has begun. Why were they allowed to drill so deep, and only 40 some miles off shore? Why NO, rules and regulations in place? Why NO backup, or disaster plan? My list is longer, but you get the idea. I’m sure, you can add your own thoughts to it.
Did you also hear, where there are 7 major storms forecasted, for this hurricane season? What a horrific mess, if the oil isn’t sopped up, before a major storm hits. Then, have you noticed once again, all the miss communication? Who said what, and when they said or did it? Or better yet, when they did or didn’t respond at all! UNBELIEVABLE!
If you enjoyed this post, make your voice heard!
Here is the simply linked code for the Sunday gulf post oil chain.
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