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Title: Oil Spill Threatened by Possible Tropical System this Weekend
Source:
ACCUWEATHER
URL Source: http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/ne ... spill_threatened_by_possib.asp
Published: Jul 20, 2010
Author: ACCUWEATHER
Post Date: 2010-07-20 18:44:04 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 468
Comments: 3
A tropical wave with the potential to develop into a tropical storm over Florida this weekend could also impact the oil spill site in the Gulf of Mexico. AccuWeather.com meteorologists are focused on two scenarios with this tropical system. The first depicts the storm developing, crossing over Florida early in the weekend and entering the eastern Gulf of Mexico as a weaker system. Impacts over the oil spill site in the central Gulf would be less than were caused by Hurricane Alex, which moved through the southern Gulf of Mexico in late June. The second scenario depicts the system moving through the Florida Keys late in the week, developing into a stronger tropical storm or hurricane. If this were to happen, impacts to the spill site will be enhanced. Regardless of either scenario, the spill area over the Gulf will be threatened this weekend by enhanced thunderstorms, rough seas and gusty winds. Oil containment booms are rendered useless in rough seas, and skimming vessel operations have the potential to be delayed. Cleanup operations along the coasts could be halted in coming days due to a rough surf. What will happen when a hurricane meets oil? A slick of this size and duration has never been encountered before in U.S. waters, and scientists and experts have been unable to predict exactly where the slick will end up and how the oil will react to hurricane season. What we know now: A tropical disturbance in the Gulf oil spill would act as a mixing agent for oil and water. --It's a process known as "emulsification." --It would create a mayonnaise-like mix of three or four parts water and one part oil. There are pros and cons to the emulsification process. --According to Penn State Engineering Professor Anil Kulkarni, emulsified oil has a consistency that is more challenging for man-made cleanup efforts. --Florida State Meteorology Professor Mark Bourassa suggests that the emulsification process enhances the natural cleanup process - the breakdown of the oil allows microbes to consume the oil more easily. One potential danger of a tropical disturbance in the Gulf, however, is how it could damage the wetlands on the coast. --The wetlands act as natural barrier against hurricanes. --A hurricane could push oil into the area, if the oil was emulsified it could further suffocate the marshlands. --Lasting damage to the wetlands, because of the oil and the ongoing receding of land, could mean long-term problems as the protection against future storms is diminished. Update on Cleanup Although no oil has been spewing from the ruptured well in the Gulf since Thursday, the capped well is currently undergoing "integrity" testing. According to a Monday evening release by the Deepwater Horizon Response Group, the cleanup numbers are as follows: --Approximately 40,000 personnel are currently responding to protect the shoreline and wildlife and cleanup vital coastlines. --Nearly 6,400 vessels are currently responding on site, including skimmers, tugs, barges and recovery vessels to assist in containment and cleanup efforts-in addition to dozens of aircraft, remotely operated vehicles and multiple mobile offshore drilling units. --More than 3.43 million feet of containment boom and 7.36 million feet of sorbent boom have been deployed to contain the spill-and approximately 764,000 feet of containment boom and 3.18 million feet of sorbent boom are available. --More than 34.5 million gallons of an oil-water mix have been recovered. --Approximately 1.84 million gallons of total dispersant have been applied-1.07 million on the surface and 771,000 sub-sea. Approximately 575,000 gallons are available. --409 controlled burns have been conducted, efficiently removing a total of more than 11 million gallons of oil from the open water in an effort to protect shoreline and wildlife. --Approximately 622 miles of Gulf Coast shoreline is currently oiled-approximately 355 miles in Louisiana, 111 miles in Mississippi, 69 miles in Alabama and 87 miles in Florida. These numbers reflect a daily snapshot of shoreline currently experiencing impacts from oil so that planning and field operations can more quickly respond to new impacts; they do not include cumulative impacts to date, or shoreline that has already been cleared. --Approximately 83,927 square miles of Gulf of Mexico federal waters remain closed to fishing in order to balance economic and public health concerns. More than 65 percent remains open.
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#1. To: Brian S (#0)
Can't the messiah, President Tarball, do something about it, or is he too busy vacationing again? Sneakypete, have you ever been married? Said things you later regretted?
Head's Up, Brian. Breaking. Quote Originally Posted by ExCompanyMan View Post LCM pill in kill and choke line maybe also caused false pressure readings! *Update* Coast Guard investigation: Deepwater Horizon should have stopped operations weeks before blast Feds: Seepage near BP cap is from another well The federal government's oil spill chief said Tuesday that seepage detected two miles from BP's oil cap is coming from another well. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/ bp photoshopped a control Room pic to hide the location of the gushing abandoned well.
When is the evacuation of millions going to commence, mcclown? How many millions are going to die as a direct result of Obama's oil catastrophe? How's that "peak oil" thingy working out for you? Sneakypete, have you ever been married? Said things you later regretted?
Oil Spill Threatened by Possible Tropical System this Weekend
#2. To: Brian S (#0)
#3. To: mcgowanjm, Brian S (#2)
Head's Up, Brian. Breaking.
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