Spill Containment

In what is one of the most catastrophic oil spills in history, and now the largest oil spill in US history, the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico continues, and as word of BP’s “top kill” strategy failure permeates to those most affected in the Gulf region, anger and melancholy persist. Hopes for plugging the leak in the near-term are fading, but this shouldn’t deter authorities in seeking to provide sound strategies for spill containment.

We are now on Plan C in attempting to permanently secure the oil leak, as previous attempts by BP have proved to be unsuccessful. Desperation is now taking over, and this feeling is most likely being shared by those at the highest levels of management at both BP and within the US government. Alternative strategies for plugging the leak are being considered, and one strategy which is now gaining media attention is that of detonating a small nuclear weapon within the well in order to seal the area completely. Needless to say, these are dire times which are now provoking dire solutions, but as efforts to stop the massive flow of oil continue, perhaps even greater efforts and resources in containing the spread of the oil should be considered.

On a daily basis, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) releases a map which includes the forecast showing the amoeba-like Gulf oil slick whose growth continues to shock and enrage many. Without a doubt, it is critical that this oil slick be contained as much as possible, which means that sound strategies for oil spill containment need to be explored, and as soon as possible. Stewart Technology Associates, aside from providing expert marine and engineering consultancy in the areas of Jack-Up analysis, pipe lay analysis, and more, has the large scale oil containment solutions which can mitigate this disaster which continues to unfold in the Gulf. If these solutions are deployed without haste, then the immensely negative effects of the spill could be reduced significantly.

As new efforts to plug the catastrophic Gulf oil leak carry on, concern over the existing oil already spreading in the Gulf will continue, and although it seems that containment efforts are not effective enough at the moment, there can be solutions put in place which can have an important impact on the amount of damage that this enormous oil slick can have on both the environment and on the lives of the perhaps millions of people who call the Gulf of Mexico “home”. For more information regarding effective oil spill containment and cleanup solutions, please contact Stewart Technology Associates directly.