Guard watches coast for oil slick's first wave

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I think that's a good question and that's where all of this headed. On one hand, Sunoco and Exxon can't start running ads about how much safer they are than BP in terms of drilling. That just won't fly, but they can start some internal campaigns and double down on saftey standards and let the watchdog groups and the EPA vouch for them.

As far as helping out, yeah, I would stay away from that too unless the government mandated it, which I doubt they will. Simply because I wouldn't want my company's name attached in any way, shape, or form to this incident in the smallest way. Let BP own this 100% from start to finish. I will say this though, if the other to oil giants get involved, it should be with the clean-up effort ONLY. I would ensure that oil has been stopped 100% before we start with the clean-up effort.

Not sure I agree. There certainly is the risk of being tainted with BP's foul ups. On the other hand, as CRedskin pointed out, there would be a serious financial incentive to be the team that comes up with some technological breakthrough that resolves this mess (Just a thought: A government incentive for the company that finds a way to stop the leak or expedite clean up?). There could be some serious upside to the company that stops the leak - both from a purely financial/technological stance and from a public perception basis.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Not sure I agree. There certainly is the risk of being tainted with BP's foul ups. On the other hand, as CRedskin pointed out, there would be a serious financial incentive to be the team that comes up with some technological breakthrough that resolves this mess (Just a thought: A government incentive for the company that finds a way to stop the leak or expedite clean up?). There could be some serious upside to the company that stops the leak - both from a purely financial/technological stance and from a public perception basis.

That scenario is very unlikely to happen in the next 90 days, in my opinion. Besides BP has already offered $500 million over a ten year period to study the impact on the environment and how the oil industry could respond better. So if the answer is out there, there's one helluva reward to figure it out.

I think there's more risk for a corporation to get involved with the "answer, have that fail than not getting involved at all. There's no silver bullet answer at this point. Much of this would have been avoided had the relief wells been in place along with the original pipeline to anticipate this disaster. At this point, it's a race against the clock and keeping our fingers crossed.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

That scenario is very unlikely to happen in the next 90 days, in my opinion. Besides BP has already offered $500 million over a ten year period to study the impact on the environment and how the oil industry could respond better. So if the answer is out there, there's one helluva reward to figure it out.

I think there's more risk for a corporation to get involved with the "answer, have that fail than not getting involved at all. There's no silver bullet answer at this point. Much of this would have been avoided had the relief wells been in place along with the original pipeline to anticipate this disaster. At this point, it's a race against the clock and keeping our fingers crossed.

Agreed. I also think SS33 nailed it too. I was just thinking out loud - I'll stop now as that just causes my head to hurt and irratation to those around me.

[mlmpetert]

I thought this was pretty interesting. I guess when you hear largest American oil spill with Exxon Valdez you kind of associate it with maybe being one of biggest oil spills ever, simply because America is the largest user of oil.


The Exxon Valdez, the tanker responsible for the worst oil spill in American history [...] will likely surprise you to know that the Valdez spill was actually only the 34th largest oil spill in history.
These ten oil spills, all massively larger than the Exxon Valdez, were all smaller new stories, either because the ships were offshore, or dropped their toxic loads in less developed parts of the world. The Valdez spilled 10 million gallons off the coast of Alaska, the smallest spill in the top ten was four times larger.
· Kuwait - 1991- 520 million gallons
Iraqi forces opened the valves of several oil tankers in order to slow the invasion of American troops. The oil slick was four inches thick and covered 4000 square miles of ocean.
· Mexico - 1980- 100 million gallonsAn accident in an oil well caused an explosion which then caused the well to collapse. The well remained open, spilling 30,000 gallons a day into the ocean for a full year. (This is the subject of the story above)
· Trinidad and Tobago - 1979 - 90 million gallonsDuring a tropical storm off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago, a Greek oil tanker collided with another ship, and lost nearly its entire cargo.
· Russia - 1994 - 84 million gallonsA broken pipeline in Russia leaked for eight months before it was noticed and repaired.
· Persian Gulf - 1983 - 80 million gallonsA tanker collided with a drilling platform which, eventually, collapsed into the sea. The well continued to spill oil into the ocean for seven months before it was repaired.
· South Africa - 1983 - 79 million gallonsA tanker cought fire and was abandoned before sinking 25 miles off the coast of Saldanha Bay.
· France - 1978 - 69 million gallonsA tanker's rudder was broken in a severe storm, despite several ships responding to its distress call, the ship ran aground and broke in two. It's entire payload was dumped into the English Channel.
· Angola - 1991 - more than 51 million gallonsThe tanker expolded, exact quantity of spill unknown
· Italy - 1991 - 45 million gallonsThe tanker exploded and sank off the coast of Italy and continued leaking it's oil into the ocean for 12 years.
· Odyssey Oil Spill - 1988 - 40 million gallons
700 nautical miles off the cost of Nova Scotia.