Scoop Sea's Oil Spill Thread
Posted: June 5th, 2010, 8:08 pm
Alright, it's really late in the game (actually it's probably only half way through at best) for me to start a thread on this response, but some of you fellas asked that I start a thread and I am now able to breathe a little and can do so. In turn, here's my thoughts for today.
I am sure by now you all have seen that it has been officially reported that 6,000 barrels of oil has been recovered via the top hat system. That's a 24 hour average that will most likely be reported daily. That number should increase a pretty good click over the next 24-48 hours. If you figure 20,000 barrels of oil a day (this is not official, you've seen the guesses) and then add 20% for opening up the line fully to get the cap on, you would have been up to 24,000 barrels of oil flowing a day. Doing the math, you would see that the 6,000 barrels recovered represents a 25% decrease in oil hitting the Gulf. Is anybody in the press jumping up and down screaming, hey, good news, we are making progress????
Now let's just say hypothetically, that number doubles here over the next day or two, we would be up to 50% (assuming the 20,000 barrels estimate is correct). That would be really good news. Let's watch the press over the next 48 hours and see what the tone is. I am cautiously optimistic that we will see numbers that indicate a recovery rate that shows we are heading in the right direction. There were challenges encountered over the last 24 hours that I think have been fully worked out and in turn we should see more and more progress. What's the total recovery rate going to be, I can't say. I do know it won't be 100% until we get the relief wells completed.
We had a pretty rough day with the weather. In turn, that means you will probably see/hear about more tar/oil substances hitting the beach. Most of what we have seen has been tarballs that are less than a quarter in size.(yes there has been some "mousse" and splatter, but not too much at this point). It's a shame that the term "tarball" is used when the size is more like a marble or walnut. I guess tar-nut just doesn't sound right.
There is an army of cleanup folks out there working hard to make sure they can get the tarballs cleaned up as soon as possible. Furthermore, there is a whole regatta out there doing surveillance trying to spot the tarmats off-shore so they don't break into tar patties and then eventually tar balls. This is the new "Gulf War". We have planes, helicopters, boats, troops on the ground, satellites in play, etc. etc. etc. to try and beat back this oil.
On a side note, a buddy of mine whose family sells boats (yeah ya'll know him) down in our neck of the woods called me today and said that his potential customers are really worried about being able to boat, fish, etc. due to the oil spill. That is a darn shame. Not a drop of oil has hit the coast in our neck of the woods, but as far as people know the whole Gulf is filled with oil. Thanks a million press corp. and politicians. When are they going to change their focus from "a catastrophe" to a "response". Let's get real, this has been going on for 46 days and we have had minimal impact on our coast but maximum impact on our local businesses. Saying the spill is killing us out of one side of your mouth, while saying come to our beaches out of the other really sends a mixed message. Potential tourists are going to listen to the negative, the news is going to concentrate on the negative, and the locals will suffer. Time will tell what the impact of the oil/dispersants will be on the Gulf, but right now we are killing our locals with all of the skewed news.
Here's the deal, folks over here are working hard to minimize the environmental and economic impact. That message is not being adequately conveyed across the masses. I have shot you fellas straight all along and will continue to do so while I am here. In turn, I'd like to request ya'll help spread the truth about this response so that we can beat back all of the negative press that's killing our neighbors and start concentrating on the positive steps being taken and the fact that our beaches are open and the fresh from Florida seafood is still available. Alright, gotta run to a meeting. Take Care.
I am sure by now you all have seen that it has been officially reported that 6,000 barrels of oil has been recovered via the top hat system. That's a 24 hour average that will most likely be reported daily. That number should increase a pretty good click over the next 24-48 hours. If you figure 20,000 barrels of oil a day (this is not official, you've seen the guesses) and then add 20% for opening up the line fully to get the cap on, you would have been up to 24,000 barrels of oil flowing a day. Doing the math, you would see that the 6,000 barrels recovered represents a 25% decrease in oil hitting the Gulf. Is anybody in the press jumping up and down screaming, hey, good news, we are making progress????
Now let's just say hypothetically, that number doubles here over the next day or two, we would be up to 50% (assuming the 20,000 barrels estimate is correct). That would be really good news. Let's watch the press over the next 48 hours and see what the tone is. I am cautiously optimistic that we will see numbers that indicate a recovery rate that shows we are heading in the right direction. There were challenges encountered over the last 24 hours that I think have been fully worked out and in turn we should see more and more progress. What's the total recovery rate going to be, I can't say. I do know it won't be 100% until we get the relief wells completed.
We had a pretty rough day with the weather. In turn, that means you will probably see/hear about more tar/oil substances hitting the beach. Most of what we have seen has been tarballs that are less than a quarter in size.(yes there has been some "mousse" and splatter, but not too much at this point). It's a shame that the term "tarball" is used when the size is more like a marble or walnut. I guess tar-nut just doesn't sound right.
There is an army of cleanup folks out there working hard to make sure they can get the tarballs cleaned up as soon as possible. Furthermore, there is a whole regatta out there doing surveillance trying to spot the tarmats off-shore so they don't break into tar patties and then eventually tar balls. This is the new "Gulf War". We have planes, helicopters, boats, troops on the ground, satellites in play, etc. etc. etc. to try and beat back this oil.
On a side note, a buddy of mine whose family sells boats (yeah ya'll know him) down in our neck of the woods called me today and said that his potential customers are really worried about being able to boat, fish, etc. due to the oil spill. That is a darn shame. Not a drop of oil has hit the coast in our neck of the woods, but as far as people know the whole Gulf is filled with oil. Thanks a million press corp. and politicians. When are they going to change their focus from "a catastrophe" to a "response". Let's get real, this has been going on for 46 days and we have had minimal impact on our coast but maximum impact on our local businesses. Saying the spill is killing us out of one side of your mouth, while saying come to our beaches out of the other really sends a mixed message. Potential tourists are going to listen to the negative, the news is going to concentrate on the negative, and the locals will suffer. Time will tell what the impact of the oil/dispersants will be on the Gulf, but right now we are killing our locals with all of the skewed news.
Here's the deal, folks over here are working hard to minimize the environmental and economic impact. That message is not being adequately conveyed across the masses. I have shot you fellas straight all along and will continue to do so while I am here. In turn, I'd like to request ya'll help spread the truth about this response so that we can beat back all of the negative press that's killing our neighbors and start concentrating on the positive steps being taken and the fact that our beaches are open and the fresh from Florida seafood is still available. Alright, gotta run to a meeting. Take Care.