Double the Oil, Double the Problems
It's a doubly bad day for news regarding the oil blowout in the Gulf of Mexico: Scientists have doubled their estimate of the amount of oil gushing into the Gulf every day, and BP announced it will not have the leak sealed before August.
It’s a doubly bad day for news regarding the oil blowout in the Gulf of Mexico: Scientists have doubled their estimate of the amount of oil gushing into the Gulf every day, and BP announced it will not have the leak sealed before August.
New estimates put the daily flow at 40,000 barrels, meaning that as much as 84 million barrels of oil have leaked into the Gulf since a blast destroyed the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig on April 20. –JCL
Dig, Root, GrowLos Angeles Times:
Government scientists said Thursday that as many as 40,000 barrels of oil have been flowing daily from the blown-out BP well, doubling earlier estimates and greatly expanding the scope of what is already the largest spill in U.S. history.
The new figures could mean 42 million to 84 million gallons of oil have leaked into the Gulf of Mexico since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on the night of April 20 — with the lowest estimate nearly four times the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill.
The flow estimates were released by Marcia McNutt, director of the U.S. Geological Survey, and do not count any increases that may have occurred since the cutting of the well’s riser pipe, a step that was expected to boost the flow.
This year, we’re all on shaky ground, and the need for independent journalism has never been greater. A new administration is openly attacking free press — and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Your support is more than a donation. It helps us dig deeper into hidden truths, root out corruption and misinformation, and grow an informed, resilient community.
Independent journalism like Truthdig doesn't just report the news — it helps cultivate a better future.
Your tax-deductible gift powers fearless reporting and uncompromising analysis. Together, we can protect democracy and expose the stories that must be told.
This spring, stand with our journalists.
Dig. Root. Grow. Cultivate a better future.
Donate today.
With his reelection at stake, Barack Obama made a series of decisions to control the disaster. It's clear now just how calamitous they were.
A new probe finds Louisiana has failed to pursue millions in remediation for spills—money environmental groups say they desperately need.
A batch of corporate boards filled with sociopaths are knowingly killing us all. But one thing could end their murderous streak.
In a congressional district where voters rely on fossil-fuel jobs, it’s not easy, but it's absolutely essential.
A new investigation finds a range of industries were able to successfully mask their sponsorship of political ads on the social network.
It’s been going on since 2004, with no end in sight.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.