Gulf of Mexico oil spill grows

A growing fleet of air and sea craft is fighting a rapidly expanding oil spill emanating from a well at the bottom of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, as communities around the Gulf Coast brace for its likely impact on commerce and the environment.

Seen from a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flying at 2,500 feet, the slick—which looks like a thin skin laid on top of the ocean—seems to extend beyond the horizon. Aircraft can be seen spraying dispersant over some denser, rainbow-colored spots, hoping to break down the molecules of crude to enable it to evaporate into thin air; and ships dragging boom lines attempt to contain the slick's expansion. As of late yesterday, the sheen, which was 36 miles offshore, measured about 80 miles by 42 miles.

The crude spill, coming from a broken drilling infrastructure 5,000 feet below the surface at a rate of 1,000 barrels per day, was caused by the explosion and sinking last week of the Transocean Ltd. Deepwater Horizon, which was drilling an exploration well for BP PLC. At the site where the rig once floated, large pockets of reddish-brown crude rise from the deep, and the air above reeks of oil.

Yesterday afternoon, at least five ships—the core of the BP-funded armada—endeavored feverishly to collect crude while crews attempted to shut down the well via remotely operated vehicles. The efforts to remotely activate the well's blowout prevention mechanism, which began Sunday, were expected to take 24 to 36 hours. The company also envisages drilling relief wells to block the flow of oil into the existing well, which could take months and cost about $100 million per well. BP, which liable for the clean-up since it owns the oil, is also considering placing a dome over the spill to contain it, something that hasn't been successfully attempted in deep water.

Despite these efforts, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration official told The Wall Street Journal late Monday that oil is expected to hit shore Saturday. If that occurs, it could create an environmental disaster, harming local businesses and further incensing opponents to the Obama administration's plan to let the oil industry drill in new offshore areas.

(Via WSJ)