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If those indeed are Methane Hydrate chunks, it means at least that the gas is separating from the oil somewhere and is finding a way up. Now gas probably wont erode large channels, but some erosion is occurring. We do not want to see the oil make its way up and hopefully it wont. Have not seen any significant oil ejections from the seafloor, but will take another look when more ROVs arrive. And I guess even with oil flowing all around and clathrate projectiles flowing around, these darn ROVs can still get some work done. Also keeping an eye out for larger clathrate chunks or actual streams of methane bubbles coming out of the sea floor. We still got chance to stop this beast.

I'm ready to hit the rack. I should have retired earlier due to tommorows work schedule. But spent about an hour at the TOD reading the latest. As you continue to stress, the clathrate problem is a real problem. It is indicative of sea floor leakage whether primarily gas or with some oil escaping.
To what extent it will guide or misguide the fed/BP in performing the top kill is yet in question. As some at TOD indicated (legal issues, etc.), the feds may have been forced into a position where BP can simply not give an opportunity to get current real flow conditions. No use going into it here. Tons of variant positions where voiced. One could side on either or middle extremes on those issues.
But it does come into play to see if a top kill would be 100% effective for a short term fix, with the understanding the well must be finally closed down completely.
I gotta hit the rack. Do have a great upcoming day. I have to work till 9PM tommorow.