Gulf Coast Oil Spill Monster Contained?

Mama gnome's pointy hat is all rumpled and wrinkled from the nervous wringing it has gone through because Mama gnome has been anxiously waiting for this moment.

But can this really be true?

Has the Gulf Coast Oil Monster been conquered or "contained"?

The answer is a qualified yes...for now.

According to this post on Huffington Post:

"The stoppage came 85 days, 16 hours and 25 minutes after the first report April 20 of an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that killed 11 workers and triggered the spill."

Between 93.5 million and 184.3 million have already spilled into the Gulf, according to federal estimates."

Here is a picture of the Gulf Coast Oil Monster taken by NASA on Wednesday,July 14,2010.


photo by NASA

The containment cap (Top Hat Number 10), currently keeping the Gulf Coast Monster from spewing oil, was placed on July 10, 2010 and the flow of oil was finally "stopped" on Thursday, July 15,2010.

Could NASA's picture be the picture of the last day of the Monster's unabated power?

The answer sadly is no.

Since April 20, 2010, the Gulf Coast Oil Monster has spewed out a volume of 100,000 barrels or 4,200,000 gallons of oil per day. And oil has spread over 2,500 to 9,100 square miles or 6,500 to 24,000 km. And it has done this for over 85 days.

The Gulf Coast Oil Monster will be around for a while.

Mama gnome urges you to help fight Oil Monsters and Go Green.

(c) 2010, Jenaelha, Friendly gnome's Blog

Gulf Coast Oil Spill Monster Catastrophe Continues

No, Mama gnome didn't really want to even think about the Gulf Coast Oil Monster...

But it's like trying to ignore a monster chomping down on your neck. It's not possible.



Here is a horrific photo of the Gulf Coast Oil Monster by NASA on July 4, 2010.

According to this: The Gulf Coast Oil Monster spews out 35,000 to 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

"For comparison, this is an amount equal to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill every one to two weeks."

Mama gnome asks, "Pardon me. Did you just say an Exxon Valdez oil spill every ONE to two weeks?"

Mama gnome cannot even wrap her brain around that information.

That much oil is spewing out of that monster every week?

Is there any hope of stopping the Gulf Coast Oil Monster?

So far Mama gnome has written about this terrible tale:

on May 2, "Gulf Coast Oil Spill Monster"

on May 10, "Gulf Coast Oil Spill Monster Mayhem"

on May 19, " Gulf Coast Oil Spill Monster Mayhem Continues"

on May 24, "Mystery Animal of the Day" is an animal tragically affected by the Monster

on May 29, "Gulf Coast Oil Spill Monster Catastrophe"

and now today Mama gnome reports about the ongoing horrific tale of the Gulf Coast Oil Monster.

So far all attempts to fight the Oil Monster were... Mama gnome will just come out and say it...puny attempts and clearly the Oil Monster lives.

When can Mama gnome write a happy ending about this story?

She is dismayed to tell you she doesn't know.

Today, Mama gnome read this report and it states almost unbelievably and Mama gnome says, "I'll believe it when I see it," forecast: that it's possible by Monday July 12, 2010, "a new containment cap and an additional ship collecting oil could effectively contain the spill..."

National Incident Commander Thad Allen wanted to point out he used the word "contained" and not stop because, "'Stop' is when we put the plug in down below."

Contain or Stop...Mama gnome hopes something works...and the Oil Monster will be vanquished.

How about vanquishing environmental monsters everyday? Be an ecowarrior and Go Green!

(c) 2010, Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Gulf Coast Oil Spill Monster Catastrophe

The horrific Gulf Coast Oil Monster lives.

It's been over a month since this Oil Monster came to life on April 20, 2010 by way of the Frankenstein company, oil company BP plc.

Just like in the novel and films, BP plc tries to hide and cover its monster, Gulf Coast Oil Monster either by lying, hiding, or worse...incompetently calculating the volume of oil spewing out of this Monster. I think young gnomelet could've done better math than that...

Way beyond what BP estimates at 5,000 barrels of crude oil spewing out..."scientists studying video of the gushing oil well have tentatively calculated that it could be flowing at a rate of 25,000 to 80,000 barrels of oil a day."

Here is NASA's photo of the ugly Gulf Coast Oil Monster taken May 24, 2010


photo by NASA


So far, attempts to stop the Gulf Coast Oil Monster have failed.

Operation 125-tonne (280,000 lb) container dome
result: Fail

Operation: ROV's, BP sent out six remotely operated vehicles to activate the blowout preventer valves
results: Fail, Fail, Fail, Fail, Fail, Fail

Operation: "Top Hat" which is a smaller cointainment dome
result: lowered into water but postponed because of the failure of the larger containment dome

Operation riser insertion tube
result: collected some oil, but ultimately not enough. It was removed for operation Top Kill

Operation Top Kill
result: Fail

What's Next?
Operation LMRP or the lower-marine-riser-package (LMRP) cap containment system. "It involves an underwater robot using a saw to hack off the leaking pipe and place a cap over it."

They expect this operation will "last four days," and it'll be the first attempt at 5,000 feet.

Now Mama gnome would like to point out the key words in the quote above, "hack off the leaking pipe."

Um, if someone is bleeding, do you hack off the arm so you can cover it up?

Mama gnome is not an engineer but this operation doesn't sound good to this old gnome. Does it to you?

In addition to what Mama gnome listed, they're also using up til now:
Operation controlled burns and Operation chemical dispersants.

Mama gnome is a strict environmentalist and she would like to give all these a big F for "For crying out loud, fire and more toxic chemicals into the ocean? Give me a break."

And the booms...uh, did anyone notice the massive oil plumes under the surface.

The Gulf Coast Oil Monster is spewing oil underwater.

What in the world are we going to do?

Uh...how about an oil rig in the Arctic Ocean...

Can you just see it? The black and white panoramic view of massive oil spill off Alaska's coast? Unbelievable...
"Shell Oil was poised to begin exploratory drilling this summer on Arctic leases as far as 140 miles offshore."

It makes Mama gnome's blood boil.

Please see this post by the NY Times. Mama gnome's blood pressure shot up some more.

"The federal Minerals Management Service gave permission to BP and dozens of other oil companies to drill in the Gulf of Mexico without first getting required permits from another agency that assesses threats to endangered species — and despite strong warnings from that agency about the impact the drilling was likely to have on the gulf."

"The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, is partly responsible for protecting endangered species and marine mammals. It has said on repeated occasions that drilling in the gulf affects these animals, but the minerals agency since January 2009 has approved at least three huge lease sales, 103 seismic blasting projects and 346 drilling plans. Agency records also show that permission for those projects and plans was granted without getting the permits required under federal law."

The Minerals Management Service Director Elizabeth Birnbaum stepped down because of pressure. No kidding.

Mama gnome is anxiously waiting for the announcement of a moratorium on offshore drilling.

And Mama gnome paces in front of the aga stove, cookies burning, waiting for the Gulf Coast Oil Monster to be defeated somehow...

Please help fight Oil Monsters and Go Green..

(c) 2010 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Gulf Coast Oil Spill Monster Mayhem Continues

And like a relentless horror movie series, the story of the Gulf Coast Oil Monster seems to have no end in sight.

On April 20, 2010, a deadly fiery explosion on the offshore oil rig Deepwater Horizon, courtesy of the petroleum company, BP plc, gave a fiery start to the Gulf Coast Oil Monster.

On that day, the Gulf Coast Oil Monster killed 11 and injured 17 people.

Five days later, the Monster grew in size, Here is a picture taken April 25, 2010 by NASA.


photo from NASA April 25, 2010


And now to this...

Just today, May 19,2010, a photo taken by NASA reveals the Oil Monster has grown even more.


photo from: NASA


The Gulf Coast Oil Monster spreads its tentacles above the water and underneath. According to this report by NY Times, May 15, 2010:

"Scientists are finding enormous oil plumes in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, including one as large as 10 miles long, 3 miles wide and 300 feet thick in spots."

"Scientists studying video of the gushing oil well have tentatively calculated that it could be flowing at a rate of 25,000 to 80,000 barrels of oil a day. The latter figure would be 3.4 million gallons a day."

Underwater oil plumes that are 10 miles long, 3 miles wide, 300 feet thick. Can you imagine if you're diving and you swim and are engulfed by this plume?

Up to 80,000 barrels of oil...PER DAY! 3.4 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY!

BP plc has not been forthcoming with sharing footage of the Gulf Coast Oil Monster spewing out oil.

Why the censorship? Why the delay?

Mama gnome likens this to when Dr. Frankenstein tries to hide the monster he created.

But much much worse.

The Gulf Coast Oil Monster is real and has truly killed humans, animals, habitat, lives and livelihood.

It's sickening.

According to this post:
Louisiana's state bird, the Brown Pelican is in danger.

It was just recently taken off the endangered list and now to have to face the Gulf Coast Oil Monster when they're quite vulnerable.

What chance do they have?

They've also mentioned 12 other endangered or threatened Gulf species in peril including sea turtles, sperm whales and birds.





video from: DiscoveryNetworks


What can we do to prevent spawning new Oil Monsters?
Please log on to 350.org's action page to ban OffShore Drilling

Please be aware of your dependency on oil. Limit driving and dependency on oil as much as you possibly hurting can.

And Mama gnome's previously listed BP plc's products which she will list again if you're NOT interested in them:

• BP petroleum and derived products
• BP service stations
• Air BP Aviation Fuels
• Castrol motor oil
• ARCO gas stations
• am/pm convenience stores
• Aral service stations solar panels

Please help fight Gulf Coast Oil Monsters and Go Green!

(c) 2010 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Gulf Coast Oil Spill Monster Mayhem

Mama gnome continues the terrible tale of the Gulf Coast Oil Monster...

This Oil Monster, born out of explosion and fire on April 20, 2010, continues on its path of mayhem and destruction.

photo from: NASA April 25,2010

Five days later, this is what the Gulf Coast Oil Monster looked like May 1, 2010

photo from: NASA

The Gulf Coast Oil Monster's creator is the company BP plc (formerly known British Petroleum plc)

Mama gnome has written about this company's involvement in creating other environmental disasters.

But their latest spawn, the Gulf Coast Oil Monster is predicted to take down the Exxon Valdez monster.

Actually, this monster is predicted to be "the worst US oil disaster in history."

How's that for monstrosity?

This is not a fantastical story. It is horrifically True.

Mama gnome would like to say BP plc wins an award for doing a tremendous-I-can't-believe-they-even-started-this-rig-and-bloody-can't-deal-with-this--tear-my-hair-out-mess-awful job in trying to control their monster.

Please pardon Mama gnome. She's terribly upset. Well, aren't you?

Okay, Mama gnome would like to narrate BP plc's pathetic attempts in a somewhat cohesive manner.

First, they sent an ROV (remotely operated underwater vehicle) to try to close the rig's blow-out preventer. As of May 2,2010, they've sent out six, not two, not three, not even five, but six ROVs to close the valve. And as you can tell. They've all failed.
Here is a video of an ROV trying to close that valve. You can see the Gulf Coast Oil Monster belching and spewing oil.


video from ecoversity


Second, they've tried placing a humongous dome over the gushing oil pipe. Here's a picture of the plan.

photo from: Wikid77

And the result was a resounding failure.

Next they're drilling a relief well.

Mama gnome asked they can do that? Well, guess what? It's only going to take them oh I don't know...two to three months!

So Mama gnome would like to give them a big failing F grade and off blog Mama gnome would like to say the F stands for something else.

BP plc, as they rightfully should, continues to come up with ideas to try and control the Gulf Coast Oil monster according to this report by Robert L. Cavnar on Huffington Post

Mama gnome would like to list them here for you:

• "top hat"
• "junk shot"
• "top kill" also known as "bullheading"

What?

You think Mama gnome's been putting something into her morning elixir drink (so vital for life)?

No, please read Mr. Cavnar's post. And here is a small bit of what Robert Cavnar said:

"One very strong impression I have is just how unprepared BP was for an incident of this magnitude. They have had to manufacture all of these devices on the fly, including the manifold they are currently setting next to the wellhead. They are taking suggestions from anyone and everyone who wants to call, and seem willing to try almost anything."

For anyone interested here is a list of BP plc's products.

Anyone NOT interested is what Mama gnome means.

• BP petroleum and derived products
• BP service stations
• Air BP Aviation Fuels
• Castrol motor oil
• ARCO gas stations
• am/pm convenience stores
• Aral service stations solar panels

I mean, you don't have to go that am/pm store now do you? You can get your gas NOT from Arco?

Mama gnome would like to call on an eco-super hero to defeat this monster.

And that mild-mannered, even-keeled super hero is YOU!

Please go green and help save planet Earth.

(c) 2010, Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Gulf Coast Oil Spill Monster

Mama gnome doesn't like horror movies. She doesn't like scary stories. But here is a horrible story that is real.

The story of the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Monster...

On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig caught on fire from an explosion and sank two days later. 11 workers are still missing and presumed dead.

The Deepwater Oil Rig was hired by BP plc, formerly British Petroleum Company plc.

Cue the scary music because Mama gnome found out this is not the first time BP plc has been involved in environmental disasters.

BP plc was also responsible for:

• October 2007, a toxic spill nearly 2,000 gallons of mostly methanol onto Prudhoe Bay
• "In August, 2006, BP shut down oil operations in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, due to corrosion in pipelines leading up to the Alaska Pipeline. BP had spilled over one million litres of oil in Alaska's North Slope."
• "On March 2005, the Texas City Refinery, one of BP's largest refineries in the USA exploded in 2005 causing 15 deaths." BP plc was fined $87 million by the US OSHA(Occupational Safety and Health Administration).BP plc's "cost-saving measures" cut out maintenance and safety measures thus neglecting to correct safety hazards all in the name of saving money.
  

And now BP plc is involved with this ongoing environmental disaster off the coast of Louisiana that Mama gnome calls the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Monster.


photo from: NASA

It truly is a terrible monster for they estimate over 5,000 barrels of oil is spewing into the ocean every day. But that number may be much higher if the structure continues to deteriorate.

This Oil Spill Monster may be responsible for the 20 sea turtles found dead along the Mississippi beaches this weekend.

This Oil Spill Monster is so terrible it...
"will have eclipsed the Exxon Valdez in terms of total gallons of oil before the weekend is over -- making it the largest oil spill in U.S. history -- according to calculations made by oceanographer Ian MacDonald after studying aerial Coast Guard photos taken earlier in the week."

Mama gnome's hair is standing on end at the thought that
"...the spill could surpass the Exxon Valdez disaster that poured 260,000 barrels of crude into waters off Alaska in 1989."

This Oil Spill Monster is poised to destroy precious habitat: marshes, wetlands, beaches.

This Oil Spill Monster is poised to destroy the livelihoods of Gulf Coast fishermen.


video from timesofearth

Mama gnome wishes she had super gnome powers to defeat the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Monster.

Mama gnome dreads the thought that offshore drilling will continue and expand into "once protected areas "and more Oil Spill Monsters will spawn.

How can we have a happy ending to this horror story?

Mama gnome is afraid there is no happy ending.

But we can help prevent the spawning of new Oil Spill Monsters.

Log on to 350.org's action page to ban offshore drilling.

Please do not throw away discarded car oil down the driveway, dripping onto streets and finally into storm drains. They all end up in the ocean.

Discard them responsibly, because if you don't you will be creating your own oil spill monster.

Please help save our oceans and Go Green...

(c)2010 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog