BP oil leak: Fallen Deepwater Horizon was tapping second largest oil deposit in the world

Examiner.com/Miami ^ | 5/23/2010 | Maryann Tobin

[mojitojoe]

BP oil leak: Fallen Deepwater Horizon was tapping second largest oil deposit in the world

If there is a single aspect to the dangers of the BP oil leak, it lies in the question CEO Tony Hayward and other BP executives have been avoiding since the first drop of oil went rogue: How much oil is leaking?

The real answer is - more than anyone wants to admit, because the well holds enough oil to make Saudi Arabian drillers jealous.

The oil field the Deepwater Horizon had tapped is said to be the second largest deposit in the world. Viewzone.com reports, “The site covers an estimated 25,000 square miles, extending from the inlands of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas. “

The oil deposit is so large, it could produce 500,000 barrels of a day for more than a decade.

[Liberty Valance]

[mojitojoe]

I know, what is that thing? I can’t find anything explaining what it is. I know that something happened yesterday and the flow has increased ever since then. It also splattered the camera and they had to take it up. I watched as they lowered the new or cleaned one and they were looking all around at gauges, valves, pipes and other stuff. Very stressful to watch, especially if you live on one the coasts that would be affected, and I do.

[GOPJ]

Looks like I’ll be “boycotting” the Gulf of Mexico this year. Guess I’ll stay right here in Arizona. We may not have an ocean but we’ve got some awesome sun tea!

You've also got some kick ass people running the state. Never thought it would be cool to be from Arizona - but it is - lucky you. I'm in Florida - on the coast with with BP oil leak... not so cool here...

[Red_Devil 232]

Rock particles, gas and oil escaping under pressure are pushing against the capstone on the sea floor that surrounds the actual well. If it collapses, the canyon of oil will escape with a vengeance.

That is a bunch of Krap!

[mojitojoe]

I guess it’s a little easier to have some peace of mind when you live in Illinois. I would venture to guess if the ocean was 100’ out your back door you might be a little more concerned. :)

[mojitojoe]

The odds of the Kenyan letting that do that... what do you think? I think he would sh*t himself at the very thought of it. Way too scary for him.

[Travis McGee]

Don’t get hysterical. The deposit is 17,000’ below the sea floor. The small tactical nuke is set off just above the BOP. The 5,000 feet of sea water tamps the explosion very effectively. The blast crushes and fuses the sea floor only to a depth of a few 100 feet, forever sealing off the leaking drilled hole. That leaves about 16,500 feet or so of sea bed between the blast zone and the deposit. The idea is to definitively pinch off the thin drilled hole, at the top of the sea floor.

Or, we can fart around with rube goldberg devices for a few months, and THEN do it. A billion barrels of oil later.

[FlingWingFlyer]

I’ll admit, I had my doubts when Governor Brewer was trying to make up her mind about whether or not she wanted the job. Now! Yikes! One of those “unexpected” things we hear about so much these days. She is kicking some serious butt here right now. Her poll numbers are starting to reflect that. She’s got my vote.

[The Cajun]

I kind of doubt the size (25,000 square miles) of the production zone. This smells of "We are all going to die" BS.
There should be 3-D seismic logs that would give a hint as to the actual reservoir size.

[Dallas59]

Does this look like blood?



Revelation 8:8

[FReepaholic]

...the well holds enough oil to make Saudi Arabian drillers jealous...

So, did our Saudi "friends" sabotage the thing?

[Cicero]

Well, all I can say is that the BP oil executives were incredibly stupid to cut corners in order to save a few days and a few million dollars putting the collar on the well. Instead of becoming one of the biggest and richest oil companies in the world, they are likely to go belly up—in spite of having Obama as their bosom buddy.

[Travis McGee]

I agree, he won’t do it. Not for a few months and a billion barrels on our beaches.

[ArrogantBustard]

Wow.

I suppose it had to happen some time ...

But you finally said something I totally disagree with.

That’s a good way to make sure the thing is NEVER plugged.

[virgil]

It appears to be a deposit that spans a lot of miles. I would be afraid of the shock damaging the sea floor and ripping that deposit wide open. But, I'm not a geophysicist. Anyhow, this is just awful.

Anyhow, I'm sure dear leader is not dithering over the politics of this terrible situation and is going to take direct and deliberate action...after his press conference on Thursday I think it is, and it's only been 30 days anyway. /sarc

[mojitojoe]

I won’t rule that out, and there is some evidence but you can bet if it was we will never hear about it. I won’t rule out homegrown tree huggers either.

[Dinah Lord]

Geez. Thanks for the links.

This is getting downright scary.

[griswold3]

If it collapses, the canyon of oil will escape with a vengeance.

That’s why many experts are calling this a ‘gusher’ rather than a ‘spill’ or leak. Be very concerned.

[mojitojoe]

I’m in Florida too and I’m on the ocean. It’s right out my back door.

[mojitojoe]

Thanks Travis. Now that you explained it, why didn’t they do it a month ago. It doesn’t sound like it would hurt to try.