The Gulf Oil Spill Tracker

WKRG.com News


If you put your cursor over the spill tracker you can switch between the 2 estimates.  One for the higher estimated spill rate and one for the lower estimated rate.

The Gulf Spill: No End In Sight

Update:

So its been over 2 months now since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and sunk resulting in 11 casualties and a massive oil spill.  Every since oil has continued to gush from approximately a mile below the ocean surface.  So far all containment efforts have either failed or not met projected recovery estimates.  At best BP has been able to recover maybe half of the oil spilling from their well, using the latest containment cap solution, and not the 90% that they had forcasted that they would be able to by this point. This is also exacerbated by continual blunders on BPs part to keep the containment cap in place, or to get one in place to begin with.  The other little tid bit is that there is great uncertainty at the amount of oil being released into the Gulf.  Estimates range from 30-60,000 barrels a day or approximately 1.25 to 2.5 million gallons a day.  The oil will continue to leak into the Gulf until relief wells are drilled in August, more than a month away.  Already, an estimated 40-110 million gallons have been spilled into the Gulf. This spill will likely take the place as the worse oil spill in history that was not deliberately set into motion, however based on the court hearings and as evidence comes to light we may find that it was somewhat deliberate due to gross negligence on behalf of BP. (BBC, NYT)

Oil has now washed ashore on the coast of every state in the Gulf.  Birds, turtles, fish, sharks, marshes, developing and young animals, and all the little organisms in the ocean that these creatures ultimately feed on to survive are being affected, poisoned, killed by the impacts from the millions upon millions of gallons of crude oil spewing from the ocean floor.(CSM)  This link will explain more than you ever wanted to know.

To top it off, as if the above news was not good enough, well guess what....It Hurricane Season! So what this means is that BP will be unable to capture any oil or make progress drilling their relief wells during times when tropical storms threaten the area.  So, expect oil to be spilling, lots of it, unmitigated, for days and days on end. You know, seems to me to be pretty much the same news that we have been hearing for the last 2 months. All I have to say is pretty awesome, thanks BP, my hat's off to you! (Wall Street Journal)

Mend it

When I was young, there was nothing more thrilling than getting something new.  Now I feel like there's just too much stuff in the world.

This month's illustration is about maintaining the belongings we already own (mending a shirt, re-soling shoes) so they serve us well.

Not all items accept maintenance.  When a new purchase is necessary - when you can't do without, borrow, or buy from eBay or the Goodwill - it's a good idea to choose higher-quality things that can be fixed and enjoyed for a long time.

Thank you for all of the great ideas you emailed to me last time!  Keep them coming, and I hope July is beautiful and frugal for all.
Morgan