Posted on 05/20/2010 10:57:33 PM PDT by FTJM
Could there be a happy Hollywood ending to the Gulf oil spill?
Enter "Waterworld" star Kevin Costner, who has spent years and millions of dollars perfecting a device that cleans oil from seawater.
British Petroleum - desperate for ideas - gave the okay to test six of Costner's gizmos this week, said BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles.
Costner's high-speed centrifuge machine has a Los Angeles-perfect name: "Ocean Therapy."
Placed on a barge, it sucks in large quantities of polluted water, separates out the oil and spits back 97% clean water.
"It's like a big vacuum cleaner," said Costner's business partner, Louisiana trial lawyer John Houghtaling.
"The machines are basically sophisticated centrifuge devices that can handle a huge volume of water," he said.
The "Field of Dreams" star first got a team together to create the device in the wake of the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska.
His scientist brother, Dan Costner, helped develop the device, and together, the brothers formed Costner Industries Nevada Corp. to pursue various energy projects, including a non-chemical battery that could last 15 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
I hope it works, no matter who invented it.
You have to give it to Kevin. At least he puts his money where his mouth is.
It would be really, really cool if that actually worked.
“It’s like a big vacuum cleaner”
Since Cosner sucks, he ought to know something about this.
Agreed. Good for him. Backing his brother, investing in the firm, landing this big trial.
I am happy to see that someone offers a solution to a problem. It sounds lilke a good idea and I hope it works.
Wow...it sounds like something that could work!
Good for Kevin Costner. I'm glad to see that he is finally doing something to apologize to the world for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Private sector capitalistic individualism at work. Beats the gov’t every time!
To say nothing of Waterworld.
whatever Costner's politics, and despite his sometimes spotty acting performances, he should be applauded for his efforts and I am thankful his machines are available. It sounds like a simple idea that has taken years to perfect. Let us all hope that the testing trial is a success and that he can tame this monster leak.
I have read comments elsewhere poo-pooing the fact that the largest device can only handle 200 gallons a minute and that it would take too long to tackle this beast. Well, if shown to work, then I guess Kevin will be hiring some more folks to crank out more of these sea vacuums.
Good going Mr. Costner. I thank you for your foresight in inventing such a device and I hope it works. If it does work as proposed, then the nation will owe you its gratitude.
200 gpm. The average fire hydrant’s about 800, and that water column the oil’s diluted in is a mile deep. Maybe in a confined area he can provide some help. Mostly, though, he’ll be only marginally more useful than Sean Penn during Katrina.
” At least he puts his money where his mouth is.”
Unlike, say, Al Gore or Barak Obama, who puts our money where their mouths are.
very cool, i wish him and his project lots of success.
At least Robin Hood gave us the great Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham. I forgive Kevin on account of that. Now, Waterworld...
But it’s nice to see one of these Hollywood people actually doing something instead of lecturing us then climbing back into their limos.
Some guys were on one of the Fox News Business channels tonite giving a demonstration of oil cleanup using hay to sop up the oil (not feed hay, junk hay). Seemed to work in the demo. They say they could do it on large scale basis. I love American ingenuity.
Whoops, Fox News Business channels = FNB programs above (a program, not a channel)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.