The estimated volume in BP’s oil calamity in the Gulf of Mexico has again been increased, this time to 95,000 barrels or almost 4 million gallons per day of oil and methane. This new projection comes after an analysis of the smaller of the two was completed by the professor who last week determined the estimate on the larger pipe opening.
According to Steven Wereley, this estimate does include both oil and methane, although it appears most of the ejected material is oil. While this means that in the end, amount of oil will lower than this, according to NPR, Dr. Wereley stated, “From what I see in the videos, I don't see the numbers coming down that significantly.”
If the 4 million gallons of oil ejected per day is correct, over 120 million gallons have been spilled thus far since the explosion on board Deepwater Horizon oil rig on April 20 and its subsequent sinking. Eleven workers died in the incident.
Last week Dr. Wereley, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University and an expert on fluid flow research, announced that the larger of the two leaks was expelling approximately 70,000 barrels or almost 3 million gallons per day, plus or minus 14,000 barrels.
This smaller highly pressurized leak from a 1.2 inch fissure, according to Wereley, is sending out about 25,000 barrels, or over one million gallons per day.
Professor Wereley testified in Capitol Hill in front of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Wednesday that the total for the two leaks is around 95,000 barrels, with a 20% margin of error which places the leak at anywhere from 76,000 barrels per day to 114,000 barrels per day.
BP (British Petroleum) maintains that the larger leak is only leaking 5,000 barrels per day, and has continually fought against any independent analysis of the volumes issuing from the pipe, though they have supplied Congress with video of the site.
In their attempt to hide the damage of the catastrophe, BP has also threatened journalists from CBS with arrest for taking photographs and video of the oil contaminated areas of the gulf as well as the shore.
BP has sent a small tube down to siphon oil from the large leak; however, at a rate of 3,000 barrels per day, it is only capturing a fraction of the oil which is being erupted into the ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico.
Comments
..."BP has also threatened journalists from CBS with arrest for taking photographs and video of the oil contaminated areas of the Gulf as well as the shore. "
WHAT? They don't own the shoreline, or the ocean. The shoreline is owned by the states and Federal government (parks) and private owners (waterfront)... not by BP. Further--I'd say that Feds and State government need to force the issue on allowing the measurements and photographs.
BP should be charged with contempt. They have no right to push convictions on either individuals, or a FREE PRESS that has a RIGHT to gather information that the American public has a RIGHT to know!
What happens on our shores is our business. In fact, what happens out to the limit of US territorial waters is our business. Let them try to prosecute--it would have to go by our policy--and there isn't a judge in this country that would consider the charges.
When it hits FL, I'll test them.
I'm highly dubious of the content of this article, especially the claim about arrest ....
Where is Obama? Sitting on his thumbs.
As an engineer, I don't understand why the leaks have not been fixed. There must be at least a thousand engineers in this country that could have fixed all of the leaks by now. Probably a thousand officers in the Navy as well. Considering the size of this disaster, all solutions should have been implemented starting within the first week. Why not now? Tomorrow? BP's solutions, only involve what they can recover now for profit. I see no long term concern for the outcome of the spill. What does the public not know?
The current live feed is showing the second smaller leak, if you look on BP's website. Why isn't the camera now angled at the first leak? Is it so bad, they don't want people to see it?
Charles - You have hit the nail squarely on the head. This is criminal!
Google "Quadri-Track ZCT"
BP is only stalling while their attorneys move all the assets of the company to a new company. BP will be a hollow shell and go bankrupt while all the cash and assets will be safely moved to a new company called something else like PB.
The goverment need to freeze their assets now!!!
Read this comment (following the article) by Avl Dao here www.ritholtz.com/blog/2010/05/senasational-claims-by-matt-simmons-about-the-bp-leak/
..We fail to grasp the scientific hurdles we now face.
You’d think after 40 days someone would report that the pressure down there would destroy most machines, and that our private-sector deep-sea robotic technology is not sophisticated enough to do all the things a skilled human could do at normal surface, in a dry environment and under well-lit conditions. Few even know that our military sub fleets do not operate at that depth or anything remotely approaching that depth.
Our expectations of success at plugging this deep sea oil leak are wildly unwarranted and undeserved.
And yes, this criticism of ‘us’ transcends the fact that BP has been lying to us.
Our ignorance should not be so great and wide-spread that we fall for each, every and any false hope, false promise and lie from BP, no matter how simple or boldface it is.
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