Oil Spill

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I had read somewhere there was a large oil spill from a rig owned by a mexican organization in the 70s, and was quite large. I have done some searching trying to find more details about it, and how it effected the Gulf at that time. If anyone else has reada about this and can provide a link it would be appreciated.

Ixtoc I - Bay of Campeche

My father and I were actually talking about that the other day.  Well ran for 10 months before they could cap it.  Crazy stuff.

http://home.versatel.nl/the_sims/rig/ixtoc1.htm

[1inStripes]

Thanks SFBA.

I really don't believe there is enough people looking at that spill to get an idea of what we may be in for with this catastrophe.  I was born 2 years after this happened, but it seems as though the Gulf recovered very quickly from that accident, and I hope the same happens this time as well.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Most people don't realize it happened.  It's not exactly an advertised thing.  10 months of oil gushing out of the well.  That could well be what happens here as well.

[1inStripes]

Yes it is very possible.  The estimates are pretty rough on this one at this time too as to exactly how much oil is gushing out per day.  If the high estimates are correct, then more is getting into the Gulf per day than happened with Ixtoc.  But, if we can keep it to 5 months instead of 10 it may not end up being a huge difference.  If the lower estimates are correct, this may not end up being a bigger spill than Ixtoc.  I just hope it is taken care of soon, and our fears are worse than reality.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

My greatest fear personally is that this junk gets into the Gulf Stream. Once that happens it's over. Almost the entire eastern seaboard will get hit with oil. It will go from a disaster to an ecological nightmare for a VERY long time. I don't mean to diminish the areas already been hit by oil, but if it gets into the stream, it will become something far beyond what anybody thought possible.  When I was in college at the Rosenstiel School down here at UM, we talked about this a lot.  Some of the dye patterns that got tested to show what could happen are just sickening.

[evrgladesbasser]

Please don't let them stop drilling because of this, I like cheap gas ;D

Please tell me this was sarcasm.

Nope.

Don't mind the fact this has destroyed peoples lives. As long as you get your cheap gas. You would think a fisherman would want better for other fisherman, but no, just cheap gas for ME, ME, ME. The new American way: "It's all about me and I don't care if I screw you in the process". Hope you took plenty of pictures of the reefs down in Florida, cause if it hits there, your kids, and your kids kids will probably never see a live reef in thier lifetime. BP made how many BILLIONS of dollars in profits last year? If they wanted you to have cheap gas they could give it to you, but all they care about is thier bottom line. When your taxes get increased to help pay for the cleanup (and your crazy if you think BP is gonna foot this bill themselves) I hope you'll still be happy geting your cheap gas at the pump, cause if you haven't figured out how big business in America works yet I will enlighten you; They screw up, we pay for it....

[frogtog]

After watching this leak for the last 6 weeks and being the dummy that I am if some of the oil guru's would call me I can show them how to stop the leak. I know it's a mile deep and hard to work with, but it can be done. I would really love to know how much head pressure that well has on it. I will leave it at that for now, but if you know someone have them to get in touch with me. I know, I know I'm asking for it. :

[K_Mac]

After watching this leak for the last 6 weeks and being the dummy that I am if some of the oil guru's would call me I can show them how to stop the leak. I know it's a mile deep and hard to work with, but it can be done. I would really love to know how much head pressure that well has on it. I will leave it at that for now, but if you know someone have them to get in touch with me. I know, I know I'm asking for it. :

I can't seem to find a definitive answer. : I am not sure anyone knows for sure, but most "experts," or at least the ones who have gone on record seem to think it is 6,500-10,000 psi at the well head.

[frogtog]

That's more than I thought it would be. What do we have that can go that deep and work on the well? I'm assuming from the looks that it's and 8 to 10" pipe that I'm looking at. I also see a flange with about 10 bolts in it. And that flange is the answer, I do believe.

[K_Mac]

I think the riser pipe is 21" od.

[frogtog]

A 21" makes it that much better to work with. If I knew how to draw I would but on paper and send it to who ever is in charge. What I have on my mind is some serious hydraulic pressure and bingo no more oil leak. This stays on my mind heavy and I believe it will work, if not then we can say we tried.

[Root beer]

A 21" makes it that much better to work with. If I knew how to draw I would but on paper and send it to who ever is in charge. What I have on my mind is some serious hydraulic pressure and bingo no more oil leak. This stays on my mind heavy and I believe it will work, if not then we can say we tried.

Would the hydraulic line have to go down the ocean's depth? If so, would it freeze? Sorry, I can't quite picture what you're thinking in my head. ;D

[Glenn]

Ok guys, I'm about ready to close this thread.  Several times a day I have to come in here and remove political comments, and I'm getting sick and tired of it.

Leave the political rhetoric out or we're done!  >

[Steven Ladner]

Leave the political rhetoric out or we're done! >

I don't see this happening Glenn. The thread started as a question on how it's affecting tourism and look where it is now. Might be easier on you just to lock it at this point.

[fishinfiend]

There are a lot of tar balls washing ashore and blobs of oil all along our coastline. I may go check it out tonight.

[Joe Boss]

Please don't let them stop drilling because of this, I like cheap gas ;D

Please tell me this was sarcasm.

Nope.

Don't mind the fact this has destroyed peoples lives. As long as you get your cheap gas. You would think a fisherman would want better for other fisherman, but no, just cheap gas for ME, ME, ME. The new American way: "It's all about me and I don't care if I screw you in the process". Hope you took plenty of pictures of the reefs down in Florida, cause if it hits there, your kids, and your kids kids will probably never see a live reef in thier lifetime. BP made how many BILLIONS of dollars in profits last year? If they wanted you to have cheap gas they could give it to you, but all they care about is thier bottom line. When your taxes get increased to help pay for the cleanup (and your crazy if you think BP is gonna foot this bill themselves) I hope you'll still be happy geting your cheap gas at the pump, cause if you haven't figured out how big business in America works yet I will enlighten you; They screw up, we pay for it....

While my thoughts and prayers are with everyone effected by the oil spill I feel Americans can't afford another rise in gas prices. If gas goes over $4 a gallon again you are going to see an economic crisis that will be far worse than this ecological disaster.

[tyrius.]

BP made how many BILLIONS of dollars in profits last year? If they wanted you to have cheap gas they could give it to you, but all they care about is thier bottom line.

In 2009, BP had 16.76 billion in profits on 246.14 billion in revenue. That's a profit percent of just 6.81%. So, if BP lowered their prices 7% then they would lose money. 7% of $3 is just 21 cents. So, they can't give you cheap gas.

[SirSnookalot]

Price of gas at the pump has been coming down, several weeks a go it was in the 2.80 2.99 range, now it's 2.67 to 2.85 range. ( in south Florida).

Price of oil is based on commodity futures, supply and demand and reserves, I don't think the spill has had a negative affect at the pump...not yet.  Inflation should really have gas well over $3 a gallon over the last 30-40 years if you go back in time and check prices  on other items.  In addition to that your auto most likely gets double the mileage it did a number of years, resulting in a much lower cost per mile as compared to years ago.

I'm no expert on oil well drilling, leak stopping or any other aspect of this disaster, I have to think the best professional minds are hard at work. 

[evrgladesbasser]

BP made how many BILLIONS of dollars in profits last year? If they wanted you to have cheap gas they could give it to you, but all they care about is thier bottom line.

In 2009, BP had 16.76 billion in profits on 246.14 billion in revenue. That's a profit percent of just 6.81%. So, if BP lowered their prices 7% then they would lose money. 7% of $3 is just 21 cents. So, they can't give you cheap gas.

I don't think the calculations are quite that simple. It probably doesn't include the billions of gallons they are storing away either. They are still making billions this year, and at the same time lowballing fisherman with $5000 checks. People they have essentially put out of business are now having to work for BP just to make money. They (fisherman) are making less money than before, and I'm sure they are forced to sign "I won't sue you" contracts. Like I said before, we the tax payers will end up geting the bill, and BP will probably make record profits this year. Of course I don't want to pay $4 a gallon, but what's the difference if I pay it at the pump or in my taxes. It just makes me sick

[SirSnookalot]

BP has said the $5000 is the initial payment, but more on the way to each.  So far, more than 42,000 claims have been submitted and the company has paid $53 million on more than 20,000 requests from individuals and businesses affected by the spill., that's only 2600 per claim.

[Root beer]

BP made how many BILLIONS of dollars in profits last year? If they wanted you to have cheap gas they could give it to you, but all they care about is thier bottom line.

In 2009, BP had 16.76 billion in profits on 246.14 billion in revenue. That's a profit percent of just 6.81%. So, if BP lowered their prices 7% then they would lose money. 7% of $3 is just 21 cents. So, they can't give you cheap gas.

I don't think the calculations are quite that simple. It probably doesn't include the billions of gallons they are storing away either. They are still making billions this year, and at the same time lowballing fisherman with $5000 checks. People they have essentially put out of business are now having to work for BP just to make money. They (fisherman) are making less money than before, and I'm sure they are forced to sign "I won't sue you" contracts. Like I said before, we the tax payers will end up geting the bill, and BP will probably make record profits this year. Of course I don't want to pay $4 a gallon, but what's the difference if I pay it at the pump or in my taxes. It just makes me sick

Doubt it.

[tyrius.]

I don't think the calculations are quite that simple.

May not be, but the information is much more accurate than yours.

It probably doesn't include the billions of gallons they are storing away either.

Those are assets and not revenue nor profits so would not be included in your original post. Also, the major producers are not going to be pumping and storing. That doesn't make sense. If they aren't going to sell the oil they wouldn't even pump it. Why would they pay storage costs on oil out of the ground when they can store it for free in the ground?

BP will probably make record profits this year.

Delusion. BP won't even come CLOSE to making record profits. There is talk that they are going to suspend their dividend to free up cash to pay for the clean up.

[evrgladesbasser]

[Joe Boss]

BP's share price has plunged by as much as 49 percent losing tens of billions of dollars off its market value since the accident on April 22. Thats a 13 year low for the stock.

Doesn't sound like record profits to me.

[Root beer]

BP's share price has plunged by as much as 49 percent losing tens of billions of dollars off its market value since the accident on April 22. Thats a 13 year low for the stock.

Doesn't sound like record profits to me.

I hope the stock becomes real cheap.  ;D They will suffer a financial setback this year, but should be strong enough to survive and rebound back to normal operation.

Anyhoo.