BP: Gulf Oil Sheen Not From Well

October 21, 2012

A newly reported sheen of oil on the Gulf of Mexico is likely coming from a piece of equipment that was used to contain the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill, and is definitely not from the Macondo well, BP said in a statement.

The company said Thursday that it has confirmed the integrity of the Macondo well and its associated relief wells following an underseat survey to try to identify potential sources of the new surface sheen.

“The latest survey marks the third time since the Macondo well was permanently sealed in September 2010 that it has been visually inspected at the sea floor and confirmed not to be leaking,” the company said in a release. “The nearly three-day-long inspection was also successful in identifying the cofferdam, a piece of containment equipment used during the Deepwater Horizon response, as the probable source of the surface sheen.”

The cofferdam is an 86-ton steel container that was lowered over the leading drill pipe during the 2010 disaster. The Coast Guard says the sheen doesn’t pose a risk to Gulf shorelines, and isn’t feasible to remove.

Comments

2 Responses to “BP: Gulf Oil Sheen Not From Well”

  1. David Huie Green on October 23rd, 2012 1:19 pm

    There are animals whic evolved to eat the oil which naturally seeps into the Gulf of Mexico. This implies there has been oil seeping into the Gulf of Mexico for millions of years.

    Admittedly, the dispersants are questionable. The idea was once you had an uncontrolled blowout that they mix with the water and not kill birds and other likable creatures.

    Far better to simply not have an uncontrolled blowout in the first place, but I’m not sure how you’re going to do away with the natural seeps. (Besides which it would destroy the endangered animals which eat it.)

  2. Jane on October 21st, 2012 7:14 pm

    Any oil in the Gulf is too much oil! No disperants….please!

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