May 28, 2010

The Whole Deep Sea Drilling Dilemma

I've been thinking a lot about this massive "environmental disaster" that BP/Transocean/Halliburton have created (amongst others) and I think the most disturbing issue about the whole mess is that they really don't and didn't have any idea how to fix a problem this deep in the ocean. I mean its sort of like reaching into a hole in the wall 'cause you think there is treasure in there and not worrying about any consequences to your appendage as you are sticking it in the unknown blackness of a hole.  Did they just rationalize the possible problems they might run into and say "well we will cross that bridge if it raises its head"? Now I'm not trying to be an ass but, they keep saying, "well these methods have never been tried at these depths" over and over and I say well maybe you should have experimented a little before shoving your arm into that black hole. I know its expensive, very expensive to do preliminary testing but most other industries do because the worst case scenario is unthinkable and even more expensive than the testing. I think this is just an example of big oil getting lax regulation, as they seem to everywhere, so we can have more oil.  If these government agencies are not going to do their job, then close them down and save our tax money. As it is right now, we pay all these oil regulatory agencies salaries and still get the worst oil spill in history.

The other issue I am furious about is that these dispersants, which are basically oil detergents, are almost as poisonous to the fish and wildlife as the oil. BP refuses to stop using them because it makes the oil sink below the surface and is not as visible to the public. Videos of these giant underwater plumes of oil is just horrific! It is very disturbing to me that they would do these heinous deeds just so the public doesn't see the oil on their beaches and on top of the sea. At least if it is floating on the surface you can see where it is and have a chance to collect it.  And I have to say that BP is probably no worse than any other large oil company. Put on the concerned face for the public but then do ANYTHING to the sea to keep the oil off the beaches and out of sight. Despicable.

A related stories:
Enormous, “Shocking” Oil Plumes Underwater in the Gulf
22-mile oil plume found under Gulf surface