Oil Containment Box Arrives at Leak Site

[n2doc]

u May 6, 2010 10:40 AM ET
Content provided by Harry R. Weber and Cain Burdeau, Associated Press

With success uncertain, a boat carrying a 100-ton concrete-and-steel contraption designed to siphon off the oil fouling the Gulf of Mexico arrived at the scene Thursday in an unprecedented attempt to cap a blown-out well spewing hundreds of thousands of gallons a day.

Another boat with a crane would start lowering the box to the seafloor later in the day. Engineers hope it will be the best short-term solution to controlling the leak that has only worsened since it began two weeks ago.

The waters at the spill site Thursday morning were calm with some clouds in the sky, though visibility was good. Roughly a dozen other ships either surrounded the spill site or could be seen in the distance.

Thick, tar-like oil surrounded the boat for as far as the eye could see. The pungent scent of oil could be smelled even in the bridge of the boat.

more

http://news.discovery.com/earth/oil-spill-giant-domes.html

[Ron Green]

1. I wonder why such a device wasn't already fabricated and ready for shipment

to the site a leak. Couldn't these geniuses anticipate such an event?

[kirby]

2. Two reasons...

One, they were not prepared and were exempted by the government (MMS) from coming up with a plan in case of a oil gusher. This fact boggles my mind!

Two, the device appears to have been already used during Katrina and was available. However, it needed to be reinforced to handle the 5000ft water depth.

[Statistical]

3. Companies will always take shortcuts.

Congress job is to mandate the minimum standard.
BP met the minimum standard not a penny more.

In hindsight obviously congress should mandate things like standby containment domes (rated to the depth drilling), backup BOP, acoustic activated switch, etc.

In the absence of regulations companies will cut their own throat (this will cost BP $5B+) in order to make an extra nickle today.