Spill Update:
Now over 3.5 million gallons of oil have been released from BP's failed oil exploration well in the Gulf of Mexico. BP attempted to lower a cofferdam or 'funnel' over the broken well piping and capture the majority of the leaking oil. However, during the lowering of the cofferdam, engineers noticed that ice or more specifically gas hydrates have formed in the piping of the cofferdam stopping it up. BP officials have moved the cofferdam some distance from the oil leak, where it is currently resting on the sea floor until engineers can come up with a solution that will allow it to work as intended or another solution that might work better.
Other options have been developed to stop up the leaking well piping and potentially the blow out preventer such as by plugging the piping with shredded tires, golf balls and other objects. Additionally it has been speculated that a smaller or different shaped cofferdam may be able to cap of some of the oil leak without having the gas hydrate issues that the larger one suffered. (news articles BBC, AP, Reuters)
Gas Hydrates:
Gas hydrates are found abundantly around the world on the sea floor and in the subsurface. These hydrates are naturally occurring in area like the sea floor due to the cold temperatures and high pressures that occur in these environments of the world. “Gas hydrates are clathrate compounds. A clathrate is simply a structure in which water molecules under certain conditions bond to form an ice-like cage that encapsulates a gas molecule, known as a guest molecule. When that guest is a methane molecule, you have methane hydrate.” (link) Gas hydrates are very flammable, and unstable which is what is causing concern for the BP engineers.
Gas hydrates are likely formed by microbial reduction of CO2 in the oceans, and these hydrates can form relatively quickly as we have seen with the cofferdam in this oil spill crisis. Methane is a hot topic as far as energy security issues go being that is the main ingredient in natural gas, which is widely used for domestic heating, and cooking needs. However, do to the unstable nature of these hydrates and the role that methane plays as a greenhouse gas have givin rise to concerns regarding climate impacts due to its release into the atmosphere. Methane/natural gas is much more efficient energy source that oil or coal, yet it is 25 times more destructive to our atmosphere than CO2. For more information on methane refer to this link. (link)
Surprising Turn of Events:Now over 3.5 million gallons of oil have been released from BP's failed oil exploration well in the Gulf of Mexico. BP attempted to lower a cofferdam or 'funnel' over the broken well piping and capture the majority of the leaking oil. However, during the lowering of the cofferdam, engineers noticed that ice or more specifically gas hydrates have formed in the piping of the cofferdam stopping it up. BP officials have moved the cofferdam some distance from the oil leak, where it is currently resting on the sea floor until engineers can come up with a solution that will allow it to work as intended or another solution that might work better.
Other options have been developed to stop up the leaking well piping and potentially the blow out preventer such as by plugging the piping with shredded tires, golf balls and other objects. Additionally it has been speculated that a smaller or different shaped cofferdam may be able to cap of some of the oil leak without having the gas hydrate issues that the larger one suffered. (news articles BBC, AP, Reuters)
Gas Hydrates:
Gas hydrates are found abundantly around the world on the sea floor and in the subsurface. These hydrates are naturally occurring in area like the sea floor due to the cold temperatures and high pressures that occur in these environments of the world. “Gas hydrates are clathrate compounds. A clathrate is simply a structure in which water molecules under certain conditions bond to form an ice-like cage that encapsulates a gas molecule, known as a guest molecule. When that guest is a methane molecule, you have methane hydrate.” (link) Gas hydrates are very flammable, and unstable which is what is causing concern for the BP engineers.
Gas hydrates are likely formed by microbial reduction of CO2 in the oceans, and these hydrates can form relatively quickly as we have seen with the cofferdam in this oil spill crisis. Methane is a hot topic as far as energy security issues go being that is the main ingredient in natural gas, which is widely used for domestic heating, and cooking needs. However, do to the unstable nature of these hydrates and the role that methane plays as a greenhouse gas have givin rise to concerns regarding climate impacts due to its release into the atmosphere. Methane/natural gas is much more efficient energy source that oil or coal, yet it is 25 times more destructive to our atmosphere than CO2. For more information on methane refer to this link. (link)
In the days following the this unfortunate turn of events, all news agencies reported that the Obama administration had put a ban on further oil drilling offshore, due to the inherent risks involved in the industry and the potential for additional releases and spills, until a full review had been conducted of the incident. However, this account was rather misleading I have come to find out. The Guardian has reported that, similar to the BP exploration well, environmental reviews have been waived on additional new offshore drilling projects. This is striking being as though we have seen that equipment can fail, rigs can sink, and that it is very difficult to control what is going on at great depths in the ocean. Check out the article.
Conclusions:
Conclusions:
After 19 days still no progress has been made to contain this oil spill, and coast lines throughout the Gulf are beginning to see the effects first hand, arriving on their beaches. Shore birds, and sea life are being impacted and the extent of the damage has yet to be assessed. So far all mitigation strategies have failed and 5,000 barrels of oil are still being released into the Gulf. To make matters worse, in an era of government where the environment and its stewardship were large issues, we are seeing a blind eye being turned to big oil in America. I guess money is still the big motivator as far as governmental policies are concerned. Yes we can...doesn't mean we will.
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