Oil sheen spreading from Gulf platform explosion

The platform owned by Mariner Energy is in about 2,500 feet of water, the Coast Guard said, and was not currently producing.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_gulf_rig_explosion

Melissa Schwartz, spokeswoman for Bureau of Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement, said the platform was authorized to produce oil and gas at this water depth but had not been recently in active production.

"There were ongoing maintenance activities underway," she said, adding it was in approximately 340 feet of water.

From this article.

At least there isn't a leak... yet...

Spoke too soon Andy. Coast Guard just found an oil slick!

Here we go again.

Did any conservatives see Obama fleeing the scene? cause you know they are gonna blame this on him

Sarah Palin is probably scratching her head at about this time.

Tweet... tweet...

How many Republicans and Oil Execs did y'all hear say, "This never happens. The oil industry has a great track record. Don't regulate industry."

And yet here we go again. Puts Obama's "moratorium on drilling" in perspective now don't it?

Insurance Claim?

Yes, regulations and safety standards are anti-business, so we shouldn't do it. Corporations are perfectly capable, and willing, to regulate themselves. /sarc

well I can here Palin saying "well just cause two airplnes crash you don't shut down the whole airline industry" or even better yet Rand Paul saying "we don't need regulations, accidents happend...why cant we just accept that it was just two accidents".

Doesn't this sound a little to coincidental to any of you intelligent progressives out there? Ooops! Probably not...just one more thing to blame on Bush and the oil industry. Really plays right into the hands of all this "cap and trade", don't you think?

Great here we go again. Actually this is the 3rd incident near Louisiana. While the BP rig was still spewing oil a tug boat hit a well and it was spewing oil into the air for days.

Now we have this one. The seafood near Louisiana isn't seafood anymore. It has gotten to the point that the water in the gulf is explosive from oil, gas and Corexit.

Drill Baby Palin and her mindless drones will complain about further moratoriums. It shows the lack of Republican concern for the environment.

How many millions need to spill before the entire Gulf is uninhabitable by marine life? I guess we will see.

Yeah here's how it plays out:

Halliburton ghostwrites the laws

BP runs open loop

Trans Ocean is there to blame.

Time to ban Gulf oil drilling. They deserve it at this point.

How many millions need to spill before the entire Gulf is uninhabitable by marine life? I guess we will see.

We already have seen. I guess you don't want to eat a mutated sea organism with traces of toxicity?

Drill baby Drill.

Spoke too soon Andy

Yet!! I said yet!!! :)

What is one more spill to the GOBP, Party of No or the Baggers?

Drill, Baby, Drill!

It is nothing to the tea baggers or republicans. They don't care.

$3.9 billion, including the assumption of about $1.2 billion of Mariner's debt. That deal is pending.

This oil company is hurting big time.. and they had been talking deals with another company to assume debt.. 1.2 billion in debt.. If I was a betting man .. I would bet something funky was going on... not saying there is.. just curious.

It blows me away now many people will just blow off these scenarios, as if to say we're crazy if we think there are toxic waters across our nation, "dead zones" in our gulfs and bays and even mutated organisms out in the marine sanctuaries. These people won't even look up the information themselves and they have no problem with disregarding claims right from the onset. There's lot's of information and even documentaries available, but many people will simply discount the evidence as if you are a lunatic to even suggest it. They not only can't accept the reality, but refuse to even acknowledge that it exists.

For instance, see this Frontline special report Poisoned Waters; as it doesn't even matter if the information is reported by leading journalists or advocate with world class credentials and recognition, such as a Pulitzer Prize or so on.

Hedrick Smith has reported years ago about several stories even beyond water, but apparently some people still don't want to believe it. Even if they have remote hints of his work, they want to forget about it.

Noam Chomsky has been connecting the dots for decades and yet people still want to dismiss him as crazy, even if he is one of he most prominent intellectuals in the world today.

Of course, we are now living in the time in which Martin Luther King is even being co-opted by the likes of idiots like Glenn Beck and his campaign for "Restoring Honor."

You can see other popular and awarded documentaries like Fuel and Flow, but that still does not create enough impact for some people.

Just look up Superfund Sites to see how peachy the world is and how our big corporations are taking care of us and the land we need for simple things like food, water, a place to live...crap like that.

that's right, Cassidy!

And Noam Chomsky rules. Read, think, question, and then read some more.

OMG - Obama and the Eco-terrorists have blown up ANOTHER rig!!!!!

...with feeling.

Thanks for the memories!

Well oil slick found from rig. Hope just died on this one.

Give me a break! What could possibly cause this explosion? It's still an oil well rig, even when it's dormant. Do we assume that when the oil procurement operations are ceased that this thing is nothing more than some fascinating "Erector Set" toy sitting out over the Gulf water? There are hundreds of abandoned wells across the nation and around the world that remain just a s problematic.

What could possibly cause this explosion?

Very good question David. What did cause this explosion? Perhaps a better question would be, who caused this explosion and was it an accident? A very careful investigation with all of the evidence made public would seem to be indicated. One oil well explosion in a year could indicate poor safety procedures or just bad luck. Two starts straining credulity a bit.

OR two means that the regulations are just really overlooked.

You didn't read the article apparently. The platform was producing 58,800 gallons (222,000 liters) of oil and 900,000 cubic feet of gas per day. The platform can store 4,200 gallons (15,900 liters) of oil.

OR two means that the regulations are just really overlooked

Not likely. After what just happened to BP and what it's costing them, nobody's stupid enough to take that kind of chance again.

..... That platform wouldn't be there if there was no drilling.......

Just reported - mile long oil slick spotted.

Guess we are not dodging a bullet.

Is it not possible, Midwestlady, that the spill is from what was stocked on the platform? Just saying.....we don't -know- that there is a leaking well... just that there is a spill.

Wait and see until it is how big?

Lets hope you are right and that it is just from stock and not an actual leak.

There is still oil in the water - again.

There is still oil in the water - again.

Well..... It it wasn't in the water, it would be transformed into fumes in the air, and we wouldn't have nearly so much of either if we leashed our consumption.....

This was a shut in production platform - NO DRILLING RIG! - so your "Ban Baby Ban" cries don't make any sense at all.

Why don't you look up "oil platform":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_platform

Is it you that doesn't know what you're talking about?

A platform doesn't need to be actively drilling in order to still be a risk. Even the Deepwater Horizon had times when it was shut down. In fact, they had stopped operations there just before they resumed and then the well exploded. Also, why do you think it took so long to close off the well? Activity still occurs and risks sill remain, even when we are not actively operating the well well.

Chances of what? Is it a conspiricy? Did the oil companies put hurricanes off the east coast so we would be looking the other way?

chances of...

yet another offshore oil disaster

yet another string of hurricanes

lack of planning and response

...It all adds up.

The chances of another oil disaster certainly exist, but the probabilities are quite low. The chances of hurricanes, well they have been marching across the Atlantic through the warm months since time began and they will continue till the end of time, not much in the way of chance there. Planning and response are at the opposite ends of their spectrums, politicians get no credit only disdain for planning and they get credit for a good response. Where do you think they will hang their hats?

The chances of another oil disaster certainly exist, but the probabilities are quite low.

Excuse me, but the Gulf is by no means a clean harbor. These problems have been occurring for a long time. This "disaster" was long in the coming. I think it's absurd that people like you try to minimalize these situations, as if it's just a limited circumstance that just suddenly happened. Indeed, it doesn't "just happen" at all. There is a long string of events that leads to disasters like these. This disaster is a culmination of many illegitimate practices and blatant disregard. Not only that, it will continue to have long lasting effect of enormous and far-flung consequences.

These disasters are also effected by the hurricanes, other weather patterns and the water currents in the Gulf and outlying oceans. All this petro-chemical waste is carried in the confluence. It's created a toxic brine in the waters and dead-zones that have been present for several years. It's in the Great Lakes, in the Mississippi River and its connected bodies, in the Gulf Harbor and out in the Oceans. In fact, the entire landscape of our nation is has been made sick with this waste in our lakes, rivers, streams and bays. It's not getting better.

Gee, I have sailed the Gulf of mexico for a lot of years and I have not noticed it to be the cesspool you paint it. You are kind of far from it are'nt you? Do we need to do better? Always! You want to take the high ground and point to all the industries as villians yet I bet you have a car and it don't run on love, I bet you have an air conditioner, Wind generator out back....nope. Live what you preach, walk wherever you want to go' eschew electricty in your completely zero impact home and then you get rant to your hearts content. I sir am for environmentally responsibile industry althought he realist in me says there will never be a completely accident free world. Such perfection does not exist.

Keep on living in denial. Keep on gambling on high risks. Keep on procrastinating. Pretend that the issues don't exist. Pretend that the economy in New Orleans and its neighboring environs is healthy and abundant and that the oil and fishing industries are the best of companions. Pretend that it's a sustainable "way of life" that needs to be protected. Eat that contaminated, mutated seafood. Believe all the lies and propaganda. Why would you want anything else, right?

While I am a lot closer to the oil disaster than you, I have not heard of the mutant seafood.I was not aware that the pollution was in fact radioactive. I expect that I am actually more, not less environmentally active and aware than you. I do not procrastinate nor ignore the world around me. I have travelled far with nothing but the wind for power, can you say the same? You never did answer a single direct question and sir, that says a great deal.

Then I don't know where you are looking or what you are reading. Nor did I say "radioactive." I said toxic.

You expect me to believe that you are environmentally active and aware, when you won't even acknowledge the toxic brine that's been pouring out of the Mississippi and into the Gulf for several years. You won't even acknowledge the Dead Zones.

You claim that I have not answered a single direct question, but that is not true. I've addressed most, if not all, of what you have said. I simply don't agree with you or your premise and that seems to disturb you.

I believe that was TransOcean. But frankly, they all sound the same to me. They appear to all operate the same, too, and carry the same s#!tty track record for safety...

I am curious, how many exploding oil wells or platforms have occured in your lifetime? Is it now two? Hmmmm coincidence I guess.

There have been other oil platform explosions. I think China had a bad one around the same time we were dealing with the BP disaster.

There used to be a website online that gave you a timeline of oil rig/platform disasters by year.

I am curious, how many exploding oil wells or platforms have occured in your lifetime? Is it now two? Hmmmm coincidence I guess.

That is a ridiculous question. There are hundreds petroleum related disasters around the world. We shouldn't just limit it to the wells, but the entire industry and it's effect on society as a whole. If you cannot understand that, then you probably don't fathom the grasp of the petro-chemical industry and its far reaching consequences.

Indeed, I'm not about to even begin naming specific oil-rig explosions or indidents in my own lifetime, when there is already several lists of countless and astounding industrial disasters that are readily available. There are also several documentaries.

To call this a "coincidence" is not at all funny or amusing. We have known about several petroleum industry disasters and other like scenarios. Every year, over the last several years and decades, the industry has been criticized and warned. Yet, it refuses to change or make accommodations. Indeed, we were all outraged when we realized that none of the super-major oil companies, even beyond BP, had an effective and well thought out disaster response plan. Do you remember that? Do you even fathom the implications of that reality? Considering your arguement and then to think that you don't recognize these facts makes me question your affiliations.

Also, even if I were just born yesterday, not even one oil well explosion is acceptable. Yes there are tragedies in life, but your attitude that this is just a normal state of affairs is more than just disgusting. If we keep thinking like that, we will never create a better world and people will simply gamble and continue to take ever larger risks and stakes against our well being.

Question away, my only affiliation as you put it is to deal with a real world and not some made up one. I presume by your screen that you live in San Jose How do you justify living in a place that is commonly inundated with so many potential environmental and ecological issues. How far does the average person there commute to work or school? Any idea where the energy to move all those people around comes from? You live by means of an unsustainable water supply and sit on the precipace of an enormous earthquake, yet there you remain for a number of rationalized or justified reasons. The oil companies did not have a plan in place for the BP disaster for a number of reasons, one of which was that it was unprecidented and mostly unimagined.The other reasons are not even remotely acceptable and need prosecution. We live with and use technology, you as well as all the rest of us benefit from the science of chemistry. How's your Iphone working out, or your IPOD? Have you decided not to have any product that is not organic and renewable, doubt it. We have great responsibilities to this planet and to all the creatures great and small, but I for one am not willing to return to a medieval world so no technology can be a threat.

explorerdog, you seem so observant, but not really.

Of course, I live in Silicon Valley. So, do you presume that you know more about the history of this valley than myself? Do you presume that I don't recall what this valley was like before the technology boom? Do you presume that I am not aware of trends in technology, green initiatives and so on? Do you presume what I do for a living? Do you presume my education and worldview?

San Jose/Silicon Valley has just as many sides to its outlook and culture as many other cities. Indeed, I have reservations about many of the companies and the culture of much of the industry that's developed in this area. However, life here is broader than all that which you seem to assume.

By the way, although I am from San Jose, my own worldview and outlook is broader than just that.

But, you have turned the limelight away from yourself and projected it on me.

And you ignored not only the questions, but the intent of their framing. I could really not care less of your background and history as that was not the subject. The energy consumption of the average Californian compared to people elsewhere that live significantly closer to their work and in places that do not demand resources supplied from afar on a scale that most others would not even dream of.Got a Swimming pool in an arid land or high desert? That was the subject, we all need energy and it must come from somewhere. How much we need greatly impacts how much we need to get.

You seem delusional, as I don't know what you are talking about and I don't know what it has to do with me.

You say that I "ignored not only the questions, but the intent of their framing," but you are not even clear about that to which you are referring. What questions are not answered? Who are they? What framing? Who's framing who?

My guess is that you are trying to frame this conversation to your own point of view. But, that's not going to happen.

You claim that "I could really not care less of your background and history as that was not the subject." But, it was you that interjected this in the first place. You were the one that mentioned that I am from Silicon Valley and then you continue to do just that, as if it has any relevance.

Indeed, we could debate the economy of the entire nation, all it's cities, its trade and so on. So what? Let's go there... it doesn't help you're point, no matter what level of social organization you want to regard and criticize. Problems are everywhere and its how you address them. But, for you, it seem that you want to ignore them.

I use to think that being a Republican meant that you were reactionary, as compared to the more progressive "liberal." But, talking to you, it seems that's not true at all. You don't seem reactionary at all. In fact, you won't even acknowledge facts in the first place, so how could you be reactionary to what you don't even recognize in the first place?

The rest of your tirade is just gobbling and nonsense. It has not substantial reality to me or even to what we're talking about. It doesn't even apply to the whole of Californians. I could just use the past Enron controversy as one example. But, if you think most Californians are just sitting here usurping the planets resources, then you are only telling half of the story. I would like to see what your life would be like without the economy and production that comes out from this state. Indeed, the entire world would be a different place, for both better and for worse. You cannot even discuss the national economy without considering California, as it's one of the largest economies in the world, as I believe most people already know.

Of course, but when a large number of people in this country have been sold a bill of goods about how any government regulation at all is the same thing as Communism, it's a lost cause to try to explain that to them. If you want to know what a really small, weak central government looks like, look at Mexico, where the narco-gangs effectively run the country and have the government and the police forces totally cowed. That's what Grover Norquist's dream of small government would look like here, too.

Right, just like the SEC, or oil rig inspectors. You all pray for the great inspectors to fly in and be superhumans ridding the earth of those nasty villians. Except they start looking the other way at this and that and then you can take all your precious regulations and throw them out the window.

The government is not the answer to everything.

The government is not the answer to everything.

Clearly, self-regulation is not either...

The government is not the answer to everything.

The government is not the answer to anything, beyond those least-of-all-evils jobs assigned to it by the Constitution. Politicians are as crooked, self-serving and power-hungry as anyone (more so, if the truth be told). And once the government seizes power by "regulating" something, it never relinquishes it.

And once the government seizes power by "regulating" something, it never relinquishes it.

Bulls#!t. Ever hear of a little thing called the airline industry?

You think that the government isn't regulating the airline industry Arthur? Granted that they're not doing it very well but then the government never does anything very well.

OK, well I guess we should just let oil rigs keep blowing up and spilling oil into the water because that's the better alternative. I see.

< /sc>

Better than the starvation of our children through the collapse of whatever economy we have left? YES.

OK dude, whatever. Your children can eat the oil soaked seafood, I for one will have none of it. Remember, it 'smells like Windex'.

Better than nothing. The choices do not include a clean world where the water is all distilled and the air is a pure 5:1 Oxygen:Nitrogen mix. That's never going to happen. Without petroleum, we can't even feed a third of the people we now have. Have you ever seen a child starve to death? It's not going to happen to my children or grandchildren no matter what has to be done to the planet.

I have pity for the people who live their lives out of fear and who are reticent and reluctant to change.

The fact of the matter is that we are already sick and dying. Just look at the sickness, epidemics, malnutrition, polluted water systems, urban cancer clusters, failing economies and so on. Do you really think this is getting better?

It's nonsense to argue that we are destroying a working economy, when in fact we know that it's not working at all. The economy has never been so depressed, the infrastructure has been neglected for years and the ecology is in a sad state of affairs.

If you think you are giving your family sustenance, then you are not simply pathetic, but wretch.

It's nonsense to argue that we are destroying a working economy, when in fact we know that it's not working at all

It's not working because we've already started destroying it in order to achieve the ideal, perfect world. Despite all the rhetoric you can apply, the choices remain the same; an imperfect, polluted world or death. There is not and never will be, a third choice.

Oh, no.... No joke at all....

Meanwhile, the top tags in Newsvine World news are holding steady with sex, gay, video, nude, and free...... I took a screenshot several days ago showing the same listing of priorities. As long as we are all staying on top of things, I suppose....

>:)

Meanwhile, the top tags in Newsvine World news are holding steady with sex, gay, video, nude, and free

So does this mean that all of us are interested in free nude gay sex videos?? I'd hope there'd be some other interests in there too somewhere.

Those are the first five listed, although I think I have -free- and -nude- misplaced. Following those I see Iraq, War, Middle-East, Europe, and Asia.

I have no interest in free nude gay sex videos, personally. I can't determine for sure if the tags are a direct reflection on my friend list, or on Newsvine as a whole, but that's been the list for more than a few days now.

>:(

If it makes you feel better on the US section Girls, Sex, Videos and Bikinis are also listed as top tags. I guess that means that we're also interested in girls in bikinis having sex and making videos that I guess you have to pay for. While I personally have no interest in either video type it does suggest that we all like a diversion from the more serious day to day matters.

it does suggest that we all like a diversion from the more serious day to day matters.

Some need it, I reckon. It's a distraction for me, and a bit disappointing, but I am going to keep my focus and be particular about the links I choose. I come here to study, research, get smarter, and help others do the same. Sex education just isn't a topic I should be working with.

>:)

but I am going to keep my focus and be particular about the links I choose. I come here to study, research, get smarter, and help others do the same.

That is the appeal of this site isn't it. There is a little something for everyone here whether their purpose is education and enlightenment or diversion and entertainment.

Have a wonderful day!

That platform was attached to 7 active wells, from what I am understanding. Nothing is for certain just yet, however....

link

Fantasy.

If you look closely at the footage, you can see Barack swimming away giggling maniacally and twisting a rather sinister looking moustache.

Minister Farrakhan has been quoted as saying, "I saw President Obama blow up the levees, er, um, I mean to say, uh, the oil rig with my very own eyes..."

See Luke, that's why I like you. You may be conservative, but at least you've got a sense of humor.

See Luke, that's why I like you. You may be conservative, but at least you've got a sense of humor.

Thanks S2digital! Laughter really is the best medicine.