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The platform was owned by Transocean and leased to BP through September 2013. In September 2009, she drilled the deepest oil well in history. Deepwater Horizon sank on April 22, 2010, as the result of an explosion two days earlier that took the lives of 11 of her crew. Read Article
The Relief Well 
From a platform in the Gulf of Mexico, John Wright, the Red Adair of relief well drilling, says in an exclusive interview that he is confident he will soon control the BP oil spill. Read Article
(August 10) - WE'RE SWINGING ON ANCHOR this afternoon as powerful bursts of wind blow down through the Makua Valley and out to sea. The gales stop and start every 15 minutes, as abruptly as if a giant on the far side of the Hawaiian island of Oahu were switching a fan on and off. We sail at the gusts' mercy, listing hard to starboard, then snapping hard against the anchor chain before recoiling to port. The intermittent tempests make our work harder and colder. We shiver during the microbursts, sweat during the interludes, then shiver again from our own sweat. Read Article
Scientists say it is 'just not true' that the vast majority of oil from the BP spill has gone. The White House was accused today of spinning a government scientific report into the amount of oil left in the Gulf of Mexico from the BP spill which had officials declaring that the vast majority of the oil had been removed. As BP workers finished pouring cement into the well as a first step to permanently sealing it today, environmental groups and scientists – including those working with government agencies to calculate the scale and effects of the spill – said White House officials had painted far too optimistic a picture of a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (Noaa) into the fate of the oil. Read Article
Since BP announced that CEO Tony Hayward would receive a multi-million dollar golden parachute and be replaced by Bob Dudley, we have witnessed an incredibly broad, and powerful, propaganda campaign. A campaign that peaked this week with the US government, clearly acting in BP’s best interests, itself announcing, via outlets willing to allow themselves to be used to transfer the propaganda, like the New York Times, this message: “The government is expected to announce on Wednesday that three-quarters of the oil from the Deepwater Horizon leak has already evaporated, dispersed, been captured or otherwise eliminated — and that much of the rest is so diluted that it does not seem to pose much additional risk of harm.” Read Article
(Aug.3) The Obama administration is facing internal dissent from its scientists for approving the use of huge quantities of chemical dispersants to tackle the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Guardian has learned. The US Environmental Protection Agency has come under attack in Congress and from independent scientists for allowing BP to spray almost 2m gallons of the dispersant Corexit on to the slick and, even more controversially, into the leak site 5,000ft below the sea. Now it emerges that EPA's own experts have been raising similar concerns within the agency. Read Article
There has been so much information (or mis-information) on the disaster it is difficult to separate the facts from the myths, let alone decide who is or are to be held responsible for the oil spill disaster. There is a need for a working geological model to integrate all the scattered pieces of information and evidence together, so that law makers can zoom into areas where data had been lacking (or withheld) and the wrongs be corrected in order for the industry to move forward. The fact that so many wells (even in deeper waters) had been drilled successfully in the past in the same Gulf region suggests that there may be more “hidden” factors that caused this blowout to be so disastrous. Read Article
Leo Lindner, a drilling fluid specialist for M-I Swaco, told the panel investigating the causes of the explosion that BP decided to mix two chemicals the company had a surplus of -- two chemicals that aren't usually mixed -- and pump them into the well to flush out the drilling mud. "It's not something we've ever done before," he said. Lindner said BP wanted to use 400 barrels of the mixture, more than twice the amount of fluid usually used, because the company had hundreds of barrels of the chemicals and wanted to get rid of them. By first flushing it into the well, the company could take advantage of an exemption in an environmental law that otherwise would have prohibited it from discharging the hazardous waste into the Gulf of Mexico, Lindner said. Read Article
Double In The Past Month (July 23) NEW ORLEANS — The number of dead birds collected on the Gulf Coast has more than doubled in the past month as oil from BP's broken deepwater well continues to wash up on islands and beaches rich in bird colonies. Officials say 2,599 dead birds had been collected on the Gulf Coast as of Thursday. A month ago, 1,046 dead birds had been collected, according to official death counts. The number of other dead animals being reported by officials has not climbed as steeply. For example, in the past month the number of dead sea turtles has grown from 411 to 483 and dead mammals from 47 to 62. Some bird conservation groups are stepping up criticism of the efforts to protect nesting areas and say government figures drastically under count the number of affected birds.
The birder volunteer coordinator tells us about seeing sick dolphins last week. Jennifer, whose momma is also a southern Louisiana birder, tells us her mother heard about the plans the Department of Fish and Wildlife drew up for BP for a recovery plan for each species affected. The “plan” for bears entailed BP buying two high-powered rifles (not tranquilizer guns) in the event that an oiled brown bear is discovered. Read Article
(July 20) - Within three days of the BP oil spill, Joe Griffit was out in the Gulf of Mexico taking water samples to begin assessing the damage. As an assistant professor of coastal sciences at the University of Southern Mississippi, Griffit says he’s been eager to assist in the restoration efforts taking shape in the region. So when lawyers representing BP came to Griffit with an offer -- help us assess the damage and find a way to restore what’s been destroyed -- Griffit says the option was “initially very attractive” to him and some of his colleagues. Read Article
El inmenso derrame de petróleo en el Golfo de México podría extenderse a lo largo de miles de kilómetros sobre la costa del Atlántico de Estados Unidos y llegar a los litorales de la península de Yucatán para este verano. Una proyección que toma en cuenta un vertido continuo de crudo al mar del 20 de abril al 20 de junio, revela que en un periodo de cuatro meses, es decir, para el 20 de agosto, la mancha de petróleo que comenzó en aguas del Golfo cubriría la totalidad de las costas de Florida, siguiendo hacia el noreste por el litoral de Georgia, Carolina del Sur, Carolina del Norte y Virgina, para luego seguir mar adentro sobre el Atlántico con dirección a Europa. Leer artículo
An enduring feature of the gulf oil spill is that, even when you think you've heard the worst-case scenario, there's always another that's even more dire. The base-line measures of the crisis have steadily worsened. The estimated flow rate keeps rising. The well is like something deranged, stronger than anyone anticipated. BP executives last month said they had a 60 to 70 percent chance of killing it with mud, but the well spit the mud out and kept blowing. The net effect is that nothing about this well seems crazy anymore. Week by week, the truth of this disaster has drifted toward the stamping ground of the alarmists. Read Article
When I flew over the Florida Keys, I saw the oil slick just north of the Keys. After two months of pictures, I know that is what I saw and photographed. I hesitated a bit before posting this, as I wanted to make sure it was not an algae bloom, but this doesn't look anything like algae bloom. It's oil. The images are way too familiar by now.See Pics & Read More
Concerns about the integrity of the sub-seabed well casing appear also to be motivating some seriously doomerish recent public statements from Matt Simmons, the energy investment banker who decided to go rogue a couple of years ago following the publication of his controversial Peak Oil book Twilight in the Desert. Simmons says, for example, that “it could be 24 years before the deepwater gusher ends,” a forecast that makes little sense if one accepts the conventional view of what’s wrong with the Deepwater Horizon well and how long it will take to plug it with relief wells.Read Article
IN PHOTOS 
BP ‘burning sea turtles alive’
North America will be facing years of toxic rain becuase of the poisonous chemical dispersants BP is using to control the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. See Info
National Weather Service Science and Operations Officer Charlie Paxton says while it's always possible a water spout could pick up some oil and carry it a short distance, the notion of black rain is just not possible. Paxton says that's because oil does not evaporate. As a result, talk of black rain is just a myth. However, Paxton does note that rain can, on occasion, mix with other particles. For example, he says in desert climates, when it's windy and it rains, it's not uncommon for precipitation to mix with sand to form what he calls "a muddy mess."
It is a dangerous game drilling into high pressure oil and gas zones because you risk having a blowout if your mud weight is not heavy enough. If you weight up your mud with barium sulfate to a very high level, you risk BLOWING OUT THE FORMATION. What does that mean? It means you crack the rock deep underground; as the mudweight is now denser than the rock, it escapes into the rock in the pore spaces and the fractures. The well empties of mud. If you have not hit high pressure oil or gas at this stage, you are lucky. But if you have, the oil and gas come flying up the well and you have a blowout, because you have no mud in the well to suppress the oil and gas. You shut down the well with the blowout preventer. If you do not have a blowout preventer, you are in trouble as we have all seen and you can only hope that the oil and gas pressure will naturally fall off with time, otherwise you have to try and put a new blowout preventer in place with oil and gas coming out as you work. The problem is that BP may not only have hit the mother of high-pressure wells, but there is also a vast amount of methane down there that could come exploding out like an underwater volcano. Read Article
Ready for the Gulf "Dead Zone" Bad news concerning the Gulf oil disaster continues to come from WMR's federal government sources in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Emergency planners are dealing with a prospective "dead zone" within a 200 mile radius from the Deepwater Horizon disaster datum in the Gulf. Read Article
Gulf oil spill causing crude rain Raining oil in Louisiana? An unsettling – and unverified – amateur video shows what appears to be the aftermath of an oily rain in Louisiana, some 45 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico. It's unclear from the video whether the oily sheen seen on the ground really fell from the sky. Crude oil normally doesn't evaporate, but some are speculating that oil mixed with Corexit 9500, the dispersant that BP is using on the ever-growing slick, could take to the air. Read Article
Every day in the media, a sort of deranged, comical footrace to figure out which worst-case scenario is really the worst, because every day comes a new stat, prediction, photo, possibility for abject horror we hadn't even conceptualized yet because, well, we've never exactly been here before, not at this scale. How bad can it all get, really? No one has a clue. Read Article
Let’s get back to the seafloor. Because the integrity of the seafloor has been, and is now being, profoundly undermined by the leaks and seeps, fissures and cracks which are currently appearing in the wake of a multi-week out-of-control oil gusher, we have an additional concern. With a piercing of the well casing, extremely hot oil (as hot as 300F) interacts with the seafloor in many different ways, which then contributes to upsetting the foundation into which this well was drilled. As this process advances, there does exist the potential for a seafloor collapse, which will immediately cause one of three outcomes. (i) The existing volcano will become a super-volcano. (ii) The resulting debris field could be Mother Earth’s way of sealing off the well permanently. (iii) The last possibility is an infinite number permutations which presents us with a still spilling oil well – large or small depends on many factors known and unknown. Read Article
Gulf Of Mexico Sea Floor Fractured Beyond Repair Video Confirms It CNN - A dire report circulating in the Kremlin today that was prepared for Prime Minister Putin by Anatoly Sagalevich of Russia's Shirshov Institute of Oceanology warns that the Gulf of Mexico sea floor has been fractured “beyond all repair” and our World should begin preparing for an ecological disaster “beyond comprehension” unless “extraordinary measures” are undertaken to stop the massive flow of oil into our Planet’s eleventh largest body of water. Read Article
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To date there have been no reportings of oil or oil contaminants on or near the Yucatan Peninsula coast. The beaches in Mexico are presently clean and oil free. AUGUST 10 UPDATE - Por Esto [Cancun print edition] reported today that approximately 5Kg of dried oil chunks washed up on a 100 meter stretch of beach in Tulum [near Esmeralda K and Aklin Beach Club]. The petróleo seco [dried oil] was collected and SEMARNAT is presently working to determine its origin and if it is related to the GOM disaster. The article published on-line in Por Esto below talks about the viscosity of the oil as "tar" and speculates that it is waste from a passing ship.
No le compete a la Zofemat
There is less than a 1% chance of oil reaching the Yucatan Peninsula.
 The "Loop Current" pushes the oil and oil contaminants away from the Yucatan Peninsula. [The Yucatan Peninsula is at the bottom of the map between 90°W and 85°W.] Cancun, Isla Holbox, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and the Mayan Riviera [Puerto Morelos to Tulum] are all located in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
NOTE: THIS PAGE WILL NOT BE UPDATED UNTIL AUGUST 29th AS OUR WEB TEAM IS ON VACATION IN YUKON, CANADA! Cleanup Actions - Get Involved With The Gulf Recovery What Happened to the Oil? - Official BP/Government explanation if you can believe it. BP August 13 Update - BP Completes MC252 Well Pressure Test, Results Being Reviewed
Crews in Gulf will go ahead with drilling of relief well
U.S.: Final kill needed as BP well not secure
August 12 Press Briefing by National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen
Adm. Allen Confused - So, Now, Everybody Else is, Too
Coast Guard admits dispersants still in use “over the wellhead”
Tests to determine if sealed BP well needs more work
Gulf leaders wary over wavering on final plug
US scientists see spike in oil-soaked Gulf turtles
Oil seepage on seabed from Ocean Intervention III ROV 2 - August 11.
Has the Oil Well Really Been Capped?
BP oil spill evidence to be collected by suspects
Tropical depression forms in Gulf of Mexico, heads for oil spill site where work is halted
The latest updates and pictures from cleanup efforts in the BP oil spill disaster
Gulf Oil Relief Well: 100 Feet To Go
Oil penetrates previously pristine Mississippi marsh, weeks after well cap
BP oil spill: Endangered species still at risk
BP August 9 Update - Update on Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
Peak Oil Theorist, Matt Simmons, Dies at 67 - Video
Final 'kill' of Gulf oil spill well set to begin this week
Gulf spill site becomes an underwater crime scene
BP August 6 Update - Clarification: Comments From BP's Doug Suttles On The Future Of MC252 Reservoir
BP Says It Might Drill Again In Gulf Reservoir
BP Keeps Drilling Relief Well After Cementing Macondo From Top
BP Fires 10,000 Cleanup Workers
BP looks to relief well to finish plugging Gulf leak
Disturbing discovery of crabs filled with black substance
BP Finishes Pumping Cement Into Broken Well
BP August 5 Update - BP Completes Cementing Procedure on MC252 Well BP August 5 Update - BP Commences Cementing Procedure on MC252 Well BP August 5 Update - BP Authorized to Begin Cementing Procedure on MC252 Well
The Crime of the Century: What BP and the US Government Don't Want You to Know, Part I
BP August 4 Update - MC252 Well Reaches Static Condition; Well Monitoring Underway
BP has backup plans for oil spill if kills fail
BP says `static kill' has overcome oil spill flow
BP August 3 Update - Static Kill Injectivity Testing Commences on MC252 Well
'Static kill' under way in effort to seal Gulf oil well
Oil spill size near upper range of earlier estimates
U.S. Puts Oil Spill Total at Nearly 5 Million Barrels
BP August 2 Update - Static Kill Injectivity Testing on MC252 Well Expected Tuesday
Oilgate! BP and All the President's Men (Except One) Seek to Contain Truth of Leak in the Gulf
BP Prepares to Finally Plug Gulf Oil Leak on Monday
Aug. 1 - NOW THEY TELL US? Static "Kill" a MISNOMER; What BP's "really doing" is conducting "test"
Nungesser: "Thad Allen went to the BP school of how to deny. He's in denial."
BP to scale back oil spill cleanup
Debris in Relief Well Sets Back Work on Gusher
Bid to seal oil well next week
First steps in permanent plug soon
Dudley To Outline BP Gulf Recovery Plans
BP's Press Releases since the 26th have been focused on its financial state of affairs. There is no mention of the "Relief Wells". The Static-Kill/Top-Kill were stated as being band-aid remedies with the Relief Wells being the "cure". The only streamed video we see from the ROVs is purely censored video meant for us to see "something". The media really has no clue what is going on down there. What is the progress on the Relief Wells?
A final fix to gulf oil leak may be at hand
Surface of Gulf of Mexico looks better, but millions of gallons of oil remain below
NOTE: The following article is an example of what to expect now that BP has their PR campaign in high-gear.
The BP Spill: Has the Damage Been Exaggerated?
Recently we stated we would no longer be posting any of Matt Simmons articles until he actually stated in detail what his theory is. We post the following two links with no malice intended towards Mr. Simmons. These articles are simply the repercussions from his previous statements.
Gulf cleanup to shift as oil slicks vanish
(July 28 TravelYucatan.com) - There has yet to be any sightings of oil or oil contaminants in Isla Holbox or Cancun. There have also been no reports or approaching oil, slicks or plumes. Asked if the Mexican Government and Media would hide or fail to disclose information pertaining to any oil sightings, our answer would be; "no-way-José". The Mexican Government, be what it may, would respond immediately in regards to protecting the Cancun coastline. The Media would be all over it as well if there was even the slightest hint of oil hitting Cancun's beaches. Hurricane Forecast July 28 - All interests are now turning towards the long range prospects of things getting very busy in the tropical Atlantic starting next week. The GFS, Canadian and European models all forecast that Colin will form sometime next week with Danielle and Earl possibly developing during the following week (Week of August 9th). The GFS model forecasts that Colin will form east of the Lesser Antilles near 50 West Longitude on Tuesday and then pass just north of the Virgin Islands next Thursday before curving out into the open Atlantic. The GFS model also forecasts that Danielle will form near the Cape Verde Islands next Thursday or Friday before that storm is pulled out into the open Atlantic. Ultimately, the GFS model forecasts that Earl and possibly Fiona will form out in the eastern Atlantic around August 12th. The Canadian model forecasts that Colin will develop in the eastern Atlantic near 35 or 40 West Longitude this weekend and be located near 50 West Longitude on Tuesday. Ultimately, the Canadian model forecasts that Colin will be pulled northward well east of the Lesser Antilles later next week. The Canadian model also forecasts that Danielle will form in the southwest Caribbean on Monday and track west-northwest and come ashore on the Yucatan Peninsula next Wednesday. The European model is pretty troubling and it's kind of hard to ignore. It forecasts that Colin will form from the tropical disturbance that is now tracking off of the coast of Africa and is located between 15 and 20 West Longitude early this morning. The Euro forecasts that Colin will develop late this weekend or early next week out near 35 or 40 West Longitude. The European model forecasts that this system will track westward and track across the Lesser Antilles (Looks like directly over Dominica and Martinique next Thursday. In 10 days or next Friday, the European model forecasts that Colin will be located in the eastern Caribbean just south of Puerto Rico. So, it seems the bottom line is that activity will remain quiet for the next few days, but then it may ramp up pretty rapidly within the next 7 to 10 days, if not sooner. Rainfall total maps from Africa show that it has been pretty wet there over the last week and this is a pretty good signal that things will pick up really soon. Crown Weather Services
Aerial View of the Gulf - Where's the Oil?
Aerial View of the Gulf - Where's the Oil?
BP working to increase its ability to contain oil even as plans for 'static kill' move forward
Oil spewing from well near Louisiana marsh
Gulf Cleanup Chief Needs to Know: 'Where Is All the Oil'?
Plaintiffs Attorneys Knock BP Fund Administrator
Twitter Report: The Evolving State of Public Sentiment Towards BP and Obama
Preparations for BP well 'kill' operation move ahead
Ships return to Gulf spill site as storm fizzles
NOTE: There are two years now that are fairly analogous to this hurricane season, 1998 and to a lesser extent 2004: In 1998, we transitioned from an El Nino to a La Nina, which is very similar to this season. One thing to point out is that in 1998, the first named storm did not occur until July 27th with the second named storm occurring on August 19th. From the period of August 19th and October 10th, there were 11 named storms, 8 of those becoming hurricanes and 2 of those hurricanes becoming major hurricanes. Also, the 1998 hurricane season ran late with a named storm in late November and early December. In all, the 1998 hurricane season produced 14 named storms, 10 of those becoming hurricanes and 3 of those hurricanes becoming major hurricanes. The 2004 hurricane season did not kick off until July 31st with the first named storm. Then between July 31st and October 11th, there were 14 named storms, 9 of those storms becoming hurricanes and 6 of those hurricanes becoming major hurricanes. The 2004 hurricane season, much like 1998, ran late with a named storm in late November and early December. In all, the 2004 hurricane season produced 15 named storms, 9 of those becoming hurricanes and 6 of those hurricanes becoming major hurricanes. Crown Weather Services
Researchers confirm subsea Gulf oil plumes are from BP well
University of South Florida Press Release Capping the Well Video - [BP] An in-depth account of how remotely operated vehicles were used to fit the sealing cap on the Macondo well. BP Response in Video - BPs attempt to sway public opinion in their favor.
There was no official BP July 22 Update [GOM Press Release] We did see more commercials on CBS and NBC describing BP as the best company ever!
Cap to remain in place if storm forces evacuation of gulf well site
Waters Reopen To Shrimping
Gathering storm halts BP operation to kill well
Matt Simmons Says Gulf Clean Up Will Cost Over $1 Trillion, Sees BP At $1, Says "We Have Now Killed The GoM"
I Think I Understand What Matt Simmons Is Talking About... July 21 (Oil Drum Thread) - BP’s Deepwater Oil Spill – the 3-ram stack – and open thread 2 There was no official BP July 21 Update [GOM Press Release] Although we did see a commercial on CBS during the CBS Evening News [$$$] proclaiming what a swell company they are.
Gulf Oil Spill: Relief Well Could Be Completed By This Weekend
There was no official BP July 20 Update [GOM Press Release]
Gulf oil spill update: Operational overview from Admiral Zukunft, Navy airship (blimp) aerial video
Feds tamp down fears leaks mean BP well unstable
There are lots of naturally occurring oil seeps in the floor of the Gulf of Mexico.
BP Considers New Plan to Permanently Seal Well
Hearings: Fewer cement-seal devices used than were available
BP Top Kill Redux. Now Called the "Static Kill"
New leaks could rupture sea floor
"There have been three general areas of anomalies that have been detected since the 17th of July. The first one was a seepage about three nautical miles from the well head itself," according to National Incident Commander Thad Allen. Read Article Natt Simmons interview with Kingsworld
Oil Cap Leaking: Seepage Detected Two Miles From Wellhead
Oil spill media blackout UPDATE for Tampa, Florida: Gulf oil spill sea floor leak now confirmed
Seepage Detected Near BP's Busted Oil Well
Allen: Seep detected at oil spill site
Allen, in a letter to BP Chief Managing Director Bob Dudley, directs BP to provide a written procedure for restarting flow from the well if oil seepage near the wellhead is confirmed. Video & Article
Report: Seep found near BP’s capped oil well
Both could be signs there are leaks in the well that's been capped off for three days. Read Article
BP July 18 Breifing
BP, feds at odds over next steps with cap?
A senior BP executive on Sunday appeared to lean towards keeping the well capped, assuming the well integrity test is declared a success, until a relief well is drilled and the well plugged with cement. Read Article
BP says it plans to keep gulf oil well cap closed
Geologist: Depletion of Oil Reservoir "Unlikely"
Recapped Gulf oil well continues to hold
BP's Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles said a variety of tests show oil and gas are not escaping. Read Article
U.S. Orders BP to Reopen Gulf Well and Capture Oil After Tests
Simmons' Take on the Oil Spill in the Gulf
Multiple oil rig leaks now threaten entire Gulf
The main oil slick has now been measured and reaches 142 miles from the wellhead. The main oil slick...other slicks have been discovered. Read Article
Three oil leaks in Gulf possible
BP July 17 Breifing
BP: No sign of leaks as capped well nears 48 hours
Giant oil skimmer 'A Whale' deemed a bust for Gulf of Mexico spill
The oil is too dispersed to take advantage of the converted Taiwanese supertanker's enormous capacity, said Bob Grantham, a spokesman for shipowner TMT. Read Article
Professor: Low pressure reading may suggest well has lost power, not that it's leaking
(CNN AC 360) reports a new Gallup poll shows that the percentage of Americans who think the Gulf Oil Spill is the top problem facing the USA has dropped from 18% in June to 7% in July.
Yes, these are dead fish. Click to see more misery.
 BP executives and the leading government official for oilspill response say they are confident the DDIII rig will successfullydrill through its target, the blown-out Macondo well, creating therelief well intended to be the ultimate solution for stopping an oilgusher in the Gulf of Mexico that has persisted for 76 days so far.Once it is complete, the relief well, which is being drilled throughthousands of feet of rock beneath the sea floor, will pump enough mudinto the Macondo well at just the right rate to overcome the flow of oil. Read Article Deepwater Oil Spill - the Last Cement Job? From The OilDrum
Oil taints food chain in Gulf of Mexico
"The hope was that yes, they'd be able to detect it and stay away. But based on a few recent observations they are well within the site of the oil and within oil, suggests that they are not seeing this is a toxic signal and that they are feeding in areas of the oil." Read Article
Gulf Disaster Fly-Over
NOTE: The currents presently flow away from the Yucatan Peninsula pushing the oil and gunk Northward. To see the Ocean Forecast Map in realtime see: Oil Spill Animations & Forecasts.
Concentrations of 0.0005 and Higher - June 18, 2010 - Google Earth version This animation, displayed using Google Earth software, provides sharpened contrast between comparatively clear ocean and areas of higher dye concentration by eliminating dye concentrations below 0.0005 (a dilution of 2,000 times relative to the source). As a result, the area covered in beige (most diluted) is reduced compared to the animations released on June 3, 2010 (see below), with some of the lowest concentrations becoming transparent. The animation shows one scenario of how oil released in the upper 65 feet of the ocean at the location of the Deepwater Horizon disaster on April 20 in the Gulf of Mexico could move. This is not a forecast, but rather, it illustrates a likely dispersal pathway of the oil for roughly four months following the spill. It assumes oil spilling continuously from April 20 to June 20. The colors represent a dilution factor ranging from red (most concentrated) to beige (most diluted). The simulations do not make any assumptions about the daily rate or total amount of oil spilled and the dilution factor does not attempt to estimate the actual barrels of oil at any spot. Instead, one unit per day of a liquid "dye tracer" is injected in the model at the spill site (injected continuously over the period April 20 through June 20). The animation shows possible scenarios of what might happen to dye released in the upper 65 feet of ocean at the spill site. The dilution factor depicts how dye released at the site of the spill will be progressively diluted as it is transported and mixed by ocean currents. For example, areas showing a dilution factor of 0.01 would have one-hundredth the concentration of oil present at the spill site.
The animation is based on a computer model simulation, using a virtual dye, that assumes weather and current conditions similar to those that occur in a typical year. It is one of a set of six scenarios (view these below) that simulate possible pathways the oil might take under a variety of oceanic conditions. Each of the six scenarios shows the same overall movement of oil through the Gulf to the Atlantic and up the East Coast. However, the timing and fine-scale details differ, depending on the details of the ocean currents in the Gulf. (Visualization by Michael Burek, NCAR; based on model simulations.)
This animation shows one scenario of how oil released at the location of the Deepwater Horizon disaster on April 20 in the Gulf of Mexico may move in the upper 65 feet of the ocean. This is not a forecast, but rather, it illustrates a likely dispersal pathway of the oil for roughly four months following the spill. It assumes oil spilling continuously from April 20 to June 20. The colors represent a dilution factor ranging from red (most concentrated) to beige (most diluted). The simulations do not make any assumptions about the daily rate or total amount of oil spilled and the dilution factor does not attempt to estimate the actual barrels of oil at any spot. Instead, one unit per day of a liquid "dye tracer" is injected in the model at the spill site (injected continuously over the period April 20 through June 20). The animation shows possible scenarios of what might happen to dye released in the upper 65 feet of ocean at the spill site. The dilution factor depicts how dye released at the site of the spill will be progressively diluted as it is transported and mixed by ocean currents. For example, areas showing a dilution factor of 0.01 would have one-hundredth the concentration of oil present at the spill site.
The animation is based on a computer model simulation, using a virtual dye, that assumes weather and current conditions similar to those that occur in a typical year. It is one of a set of six scenarios released today (animations and still images) that simulate possible pathways the oil might take under a variety of oceanic conditions. Each of the six scenarios shows the same overall movement of oil through the Gulf to the Atlantic and up the East Coast. However, the timing and fine-scale details differ, depending on the details of the ocean currents in the Gulf. (Visualization by Tim Scheitlin and Mary Haley, NCAR; based on model simulations.)
Cleanup Actions •Mobile Baykeeper, an affiliate of Waterkeeper Alliance, is dedicating resources to educate potential volunteers on how to help and address the long-term environmental change needed in the Gulf region. Make a donation to these efforts. •The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has dedicated their resources to aiding the environment, wildlife and citizens of the Gulf region. Through August 5, for every dollar you donate to EDF, supporters Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham will donate two dollars, until they reach their $100,000 goal. The EDF proposes to encourage Congress to finish all restoration projects for which money has been set aside. •The Sierra Club is gathering volunteers to help with the cleanup efforts. Sign up online to volunteer and the Sierra Club will help you find the right opportunities for you. •The Coalition To Restore Coastal Louisiana is also helping to coordinate volunteers. You can register online to volunteer or make a donation. •CrisisCamp's April 30 conference call compiled information about potential relief efforts -- review the meeting notes, containing volunteer information with nonprofits and information from government organizations. You can also continue to follow the CrisisCamp oil spill Twitter list for updates. Wildlife Actions •The National Wildlife Federation has set up mobile giving services to support their work in the Gulf Coast. Donors can send a text message with the code "WILDLIFE" to 20222 to automatically give a $10 donation to help wildlife affected by the oil spill. •The National Audubon Society is asking concerned citizens to donate or volunteer. Sign up to get trained and volunteer to help local birds. •The Oiled Wildlife Care Network is recruiting volunteers on a state-by-state basis, information for which can be found on Deepwater Horizon's Facebook page. •The International Bird Rescue Research Center has deployed a professional rescue team to the Gulf Coast to help birds covered in oil. Though they are not accepting volunteers at this time, you can help by making a donation to support their ongoing wildfowl rehabilitation efforts or by adopting a bird through their website. Support For Gulf Citizens •The Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) has set up a fund to benefit Gulf fishermen and their families in the parishes of Plaquemines, St. Bernard, lower Jefferson, Terrebonne, and Lafourche. GNOF funds also support equipment and training for volunteers and the Louisiana SPCA to take care of pets that many families can no longer afford to care for. •Oxfam America is working to help affected communities with financial assistance, as well as protect local wetlands and marshes. Make a tax-deductible donation to Oxfam America. •Go to the Gulf! Businesses from Louisiana to Florida are hurting due to a lack of tourism. Put money back into the local economy -- SouthCoastUSA has resources from all Gulf states to help plan a trip to the region. Political Actions •In addition to their volunteer opportunities, the Sierra Club is offering a chance to contact President Obama to call for an end to all offshore drilling proposals. •Oceana's goal is to reach 500,000 names on a petition to stop offshore drilling permanently. A map on their website displays how much the oil has spread across the Gulf as well as the location of wildlife in relation to the spill. •Petition sites are packed with letters to politicians that you can sign on to. Care2's The Petition Site, aiming to encourage President Obama to reconsider his plan to expand offshore drilling and instead invest in clean energy resources, has surpassed their goal of 10,000 signatures, but is still encouraging citizens to add their voice to the cause. A similar petition can be found on TrueMajority.org. •Join the Facebook group 1 Million Strong Against Offshore Drilling. Check out the action page for more suggestions of how to lend your voice to the anti-drilling movement, and invite 100 of your friends to join as well. •If you want to do more after writing to your representatives, you can always boycott BP products. The main ones you use? Arco and ampm. If Americans stopped buying gas and products from these places, they'd feel it. Saw something here and don't see it now? Anything that has appeared on this page, but is now missing, has been moved to:
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 Monitoring Operation as well as "Response and Preparedness" for the Yucatan Peninsula coastline, which includes Cancun and the islands of Isla Holbox, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, is under the supervision of the Mexican Navy Department, SEMARNAT, PROFEPA, ECOSUR and CINVESTAV.
NOAA has launched a federal website meant to provide data and information with clarity and transparency – GeoPlatform.gov a one-stop shop for detailed near-real-time information about the response to the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill. It's the largest environmental disaster in U.S. - and possibly world - history. But do you know exactly where it is? Could you point to a map and show where the oil rig sank?
  
Bird species at risk along the fragile gulf coast include Louisiana's state bird, the Brown Pelican, Royal Terns, Caspian Terns, Beach-nesting shorebirds: American Oystercatcher, Wilson’s Plover, Snowy Plover; Marsh birds: Mottled Duck, Clapper Rail, Black Rail, Seaside Sparrow.
Map of Oil Spill in Relation to Important Bird Areas
(July 14) - Oil Hits Louisiana's Largest Seabird Nesting Area
National Geographic News (July 6) - Standing on a white-sand beach at Florida's Gulf Islands National Seashore Thursday, blotchy stains from the Gulf oil spill could be seen creeping past the red-lettered "keep out" signs meant to protect nesting shorebirds. And, according to conservationists, some well-meaning cleanup crews who unknowingly walk into nesting habitat may be doing more harm than the oil itself, experts say. Read Article
Effort of Florida's Manatees
"We do know that the oil is toxic and depending on how weathered it is, it can have a lot of harmful effects if manatees come in contact with it," said Patrick Rose, executive director of Save the Manatee Club. Article & Video
Ecologically Critical Fish Vanishes
Ever heard of menhaden? Probably not, although perhaps you're familiar with the fish’s other names: bunker, pogies, mossbacks, bugmouths, alewifes, and fat-backs. You may be surprised to learn they’re the most important fish in the Atlantic and Gulf waters. Article & Video
Millions of small dead fish have washed ashore just east of Jones Park. The fish are believed to be Menhaden. Low oxygen levels in the water are typically to blame when large numbers of the tiny fish wash up dead, experts said. Harrison County leaders said it's too soon to tell if the fish-kill is related to the oil spill. “If it’s oil-related, the BP contractors will have to pick it up,” Harrison County Sand Beach Director Bobby Weaver said. “If not, we’ll dispatch a county crew to come down here and get it." By early Monday afternoon, sand beach crews started scooping up the dead fish and raking the sand. They were loaded on a dump truck and taken to the landfill.
(July 15) GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle lay belly-up on the metal autopsy table, as pallid as split-pea soup but for the bright orange X spray-painted on its shell, proof that it had been counted as part of the Gulf of Mexico’s continuing “unusual mortality event.” Under the practiced knife of Dr. Brian Stacy, a veterinary pathologist who estimates that he has dissected close to 1,000 turtles over the course of his career, the specimen began to reveal its secrets: First, as the breastplate was lifted away, a mass of shriveled organs in the puddle of stinking red liquid that is produced as decomposition advances. Next, the fat reserves indicating good health. Then, as Dr. Stacy sliced open the esophagus, the most revealing clue: a morsel of shrimp, the last thing the turtle ate. “You don’t see shrimp consumed as part of the normal diet” of Kemp’s ridleys, Dr. Stacy said. This turtle, found floating in the Mississippi Sound on June 18, is one of hundreds of dead creatures collected along the Gulf Coast since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded. Swabbed for oil, tagged and wrapped in plastic “body bags” sealed with evidence tape, the carcasses — many times the number normally found at this time of year — are piling up in freezer trucks stationed along the coast, waiting for scientists like Dr. Stacy, who works for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to begin the process of determining what killed them. Read Article
By Messy Cleanup Operation
Hordes of helicopters, bulldozers, Army trucks, ATVs, barges, dredges, airboats, workboats, cleanup crews, media, scientists and volunteers have descended on the beaches, blue waters and golden marshes of the Gulf Coast. That's a lot of propellers, anchors, tires, and feet for a fragile ecosystem to take, and a tough truth is emerging: In many places, the oil cleanup itself is causing environmental damage. Read Article
(July 21 NY Times) - In late April, just days into what has turned out to be the largest oil spill in American history, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, with the support of local parish officials, ordered the opening of giant valves on the Mississippi River, releasing torrents of freshwater that they hoped would push oil back out to sea. Now, reports indicate that the freshwater diversions have had a catastrophic impact on southeastern Louisiana’s oyster beds that is far in excess of the damage done by oil from the spill. Read Article
Oil Spill Capture A graphical look at the methods being used to combat the spread of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Full Article
From The OilDrum
MEXICO CITY — Mexican officials fear the Gulf oil spill could reach their coasts if the leak is not stopped by August, when seasonal currents start to reverse and flow south. They also worry about the impact of the upcoming hurricane season. So far prevailing currents have carried at least 4 million gallons of spilled oil from a damaged BP well toward the north and east, away from Mexico and toward U.S. shores. But those currents start to shift by August, and by October the prevailing currents have reversed toward Mexico. Carlos Morales, the head of exploration and production for the state-owned Petroleos Mexicanos oil company, said Wednesday that if efforts to quickly block the leak with new valves or other devices fail, it could take four to five more months to drill another well that would relieve the pressure fueling the leak. "That is the range we are talking about, from a week or two to four to five months," Morales said at a news conference. He added that Mexico has sent several thousand meters (yards) of containment booms to the United States to help fight the spill. He said Mexico has about 120 official vessels in the Gulf that could participate in containment efforts if needed. Environment Secretary Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada also told local media that officials are concerned the hurricane season – which begins in the Atlantic on June 1 – could potentially stir up or spread the oil slick farther. Mexico's government is particularly worried about the potential impact on coastal lagoons along Mexico's northern Gulf coast. At least two species of sea turtles could be severely affected, including the endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtle, said the head of Mexico's governmental biodiversity council, Jose Sarukhan. "This is potentially a big problem ... because of the size of the (turtle) populations and their susceptibility to damage," he said. Mexico's Defense and Environment departments and the state oil company are carrying out a three-day drill of oil spill contingency procedures that concludes Thursday. The drills include containing and collecting simulated spills and helping affected wildlife. An April 20 explosion on BP's deepwater oil rig killed 11 men and unleashed a powerful gusher. On Tuesday, Elvira Quesada said that BP must be held responsible for the spill and that his staff is researching international environmental law to see what legal actions it might take. "It is important and necessary that such errors, omissions, accidents, do not go unpunished," he said. "The biodiversity that is affected is a biodiversity that is common to all beings on the planet."
Photos from the Atlantic Bluefin research expedition in the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current Preliminary Sampling for Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Research Needs to Assess Oil-Related Impacts on Whale Sharks in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Audio Reports from R/V Tommy Munro in the Gulf Loop Current
Prompt deployment of Nalco COREXIT® oil spill dispersants is one very effective and proven method of minimizing the impact of a spill on the environment. When the COREXIT dispersants are deployed on the spilled oil, the oil is broken up into tiny bio-degradable droplets that immediately sink below the surface where they continue to disperse and bio-degrade. This quickly removes the spilled oil from surface drift…reducing direct exposure to birds, fish and sea animals in the spill environment. By keeping the oil from adhering to wildlife COREXIT dispersants effectively protect the environment. Nalco also offers a COREXIT technology designed for shoreline protection and cleaning. It has been specifically designed to remove a wide range of crude oil and petroleum products from contaminated shoreline surfaces, including certain vegetation. Major test programs at both Louisiana State University and the University of Miami clearly showed that COREXIT EC9580A can save mangroves and marsh grass if applied early after oiling.
The senior policy analyst at the EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response - and former the EPA ombudsman's chief investigator - agrees, telling Democracy Now today: Corexit is one of a number of dispersants, that are toxic, that are used to atomize the oil and force it down the water column so that it’s invisible to the eye. In this case, these dispersants were used in massive quantities, almost two million gallons so far, to hide the magnitude of the spill and save BP money. And the government—both EPA, NOAA, etc.—have been sock puppets for BP in this cover-up. Now, by hiding the amount of spill, BP is saving hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars in fines, and so, from day one, there was tremendous economic incentive to use these dispersants to hide the magnitude of the gusher that’s been going on for almost three months.
Watch video of interview:
In Defiance of EPA Orders, BP Pumps Over 1 Million Gallons of Corexit, a Neurotoxin Pesticide, into the Gulf of Mexico. The main ingredient of Corexit is 2-Butoxyethanol which can make up to 60% of the dispersant and is known to be toxic to blood, kidneys, liver, and the central nervous system (CNS). 2-Butoxyethanol is also known to cause cancer, birth defects and has been found to cause genetic mutations and is a delayed chronic health hazard as well as an environmental hazardous material. Want facts? Check out the Material Safety Data Sheet for 2-Butoxyethanol at: http://www.sciencelab.com/xMSDS-2_Butoxyethanol-9923187 Even the Dept of Transportation classifies 2-Butoxyethanol as “CLASS 6.1: Poisonous material” for transportation purposes. While the main ingredient, 2-Butoxyethanol, which makes up to 60% of Corexit is reason enough to cause concern, the other components of COREXIT 9500 and 9527 are: CAS Registry Number Chemical Name
57-55-6
The Monsanto - Nalco (Corexit) Connection
Benzene And Hydrogen Sulfide: The Real Dangers From The Gulf Of Mexico Oil Spill?
BP is testing a non-naturally occurring bacteria in the Gulf which, has the ability to eat oil. The bacteria is reported to be called "Consortium". We do not know if this is the official name as the technique is also known as a "consortium of bacteria". The important role that layers of cianobacteria (photosynthetic microorganisms) play in the process of degradation in oil spillages at sea or along the coat is widely known. However recent research undertaken by the Environmental Microbiology Group at the UAB has shown that these cianobacteria, specifically Microcoleus chthonoplastes coming from the Ebro Delta, cannot do this alone but need to create a consortium with three bacteria.
The Alabama Coastal Foundation is collecting contact information from volunteers for cleanup efforts along the Alabama coast should the oil spill reach the state's shores. Call 251-990-6002 The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program is looking for volunteers to help reduce the potential impact of the oil spill in Mobile Bay. Call 251-431-6409. The Mobile Baykeeper is collecting contact information for volunteers to respond anywhere along the Gulf Coast, if needed. Call 251-433-4229. Save Our Seabirds is a Florida bird rescue group that is looking for support as its response team prepares to help oiled wildlife. Call 941-388-3010. The National Wildlife Federation is looking for volunteers and support to help spot distressed or oiled wildlife, and to assist in the cleanup and restoration efforts along the coast of Louisiana. You can text the word "NWF" to 20222. That'll donate $10 to the National Wildlife Federation through your phone bill. In addition to the wildlife specific organizations, others are also looking to assist with the effects of the oil spill. The Greater New Orleans Foundation, which serves the 13 parishes that comprise New Orleans, has opened the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund, which will offer emergency grants to nonprofit organizations helping the victims of the oil spill, and address the long-term economic, environmental, and cultural effects of the disaster. The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana's mission is to help restore and protect a sustainable coastal Louisiana. They are accepting volunteers and support to assist with spill recovery efforts. The Gulf Coast states likely to be affected have also set up sites where information about volunteering can be found: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. United Way has launched the Gulf Recovery Fund, which is providing emergency assistance and long term recovery support for the communities devastated by this oil spill. Those who need help or want to volunteer to help can dial 2-1-1. You can donate to this fund by going to liveunited.org/gulfrecovery, or text the word "United" to 50555 to donate $10 from your mobile phone. The Nature Conservancy has committed to the long-term restoration work needed in the Gulf and states along its coast, and has launched their Fund for Gulf Coast Restoration to support this effort. The Fund was set up to aid in re-establishing critical habitats such as marshes, seagrass beds, oyster reefs, and coastal wetlands. You can text the word "coast" to 50555. That'll donate $10 through your mobile phone. The Gulf Coast Fund has created special emergency grants in response to the oil disaster. The organization is distributing these grants to registered non-profit groups engaged in community-lead responses to this crisis. Call 212-812-4361. Save Our Gulf is a campaign by the Waterkeeper Alliance to support and coordinate efforts to protect the Gulf Coast. Their fund supports Waterkeepers from Texas to Florida who are working to hold back this oil spill from their waterways and communities. The First Response Team of America is working with the National Guard in Southern Louisiana to build dams to hold back the oil from the fragile coastal habitats. (July 8) - Scroll through Craigslist in cities along the Florida Panhandle and in Alabama, and dozens of ads appear with offers for expensive training guaranteed to net jobs cleaning up oil. Not all the jobs are real. Not all the training is legitimate. Neither are claims by at least two publicly traded companies that say they were involved in cleanup operations from the Gulf oil spill. Just as the earthquake in Haiti, Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters prompted an outpouring of financial help, people looking for a quick profit have surfaced since oil began gushing after the Deepwater Horizon explosion in April, preying on people who are unemployed, looking to make fast cash in the stock market or donate to the needy. Read Article
petróleo afecte costas de QR
The oldest of these wells were abandoned in the late 1940s, raising the prospect that many deteriorating sealing jobs are already failing. The AP investigation uncovered particular concern with 3,500 of the neglected wells - those characterized in federal government records as "temporarily abandoned." Article & Video
(July 22 BBC) - The head of the American Association of Professors has accused BP of trying to "buy" the best scientists and academics to help its defence against litigation after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Read Article Copy of a contract offered to scientists by BP
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Deepwater Horizon was a semi-submersible drilling rig built in 2001 to withstand the worst of natures elements. The DEEPWATER HORIZON was a Reading & Bates Falcon RBS8D design semi-submersible drilling unit capable of operating in harsh environments and water depths up to 8,000 ft.
We are in daily contact with people "on the ground" connecting with fishermen, tour operators and any other persons boating in the gulf off the coast of the Mexican states of Yucatan and Quintanna Roo [Progresso - Isla Holbox - Cancun - Isla Mujeres - Cozumel - Playa del Carmen - Mayan Riviera].
(July 20 WDSU) - GULFPORT, Miss. -- Something besides oil washed ashore along a section of beach in Gulfport this week.
(July 21 Huffingtonpost) FOURCHON BEACH, La. — The 5,600 vessels taking part in the oil spill operation on the Gulf of Mexico make up the largest fleet assembled since the Allied invasion of Normandy, according to the Coast Guard.
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 Cancun
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