Weather and blame

Just when it seems bad...

We have multiple weather lines running across the Gulf Coast. The grey skies decided to open. Whether or not the run off will push the slick away from the shoreline or the slick will just ride on top of the run off driven by the prevailing south winds, I don't know. It is an agonizing watch. At least a storm has a cone of death.

Federal authorities closed the majority of the fishing grounds from LA to FLA today.

So now we have cries for compensation. The unemployment starts today.

If BP is financially responsible, and as Ryan hasn't made an opinion known we'll just move ahead and say "Yes," then when can these people expect compensation? BP spokespeople have been on the horn all day today citing their safety record and a failed piece of equipment, a blow-out preventer at the well head 5000 ft down, as the cause of the explosion and spill. (Lost in this mess? 11 people dead and not one body recovered.) The construction of a box, a containment box made of concrete is a couple of days from completion. If they are able to place the box over the gusher and seal it successfully the spill could be channeled up a pipe to a container ship.

Of course, if the line, the pipe that goes from the damaged well head into the ground, fails, the gusher is unrestrained and attempts at containment by a box will be pointless. The reserve the well dips into is an oil strata containing tens of millions of barrels. If the line fails AFTER the box is placed no one is certain if the box will hold. The entire mess depends on one of two things.

1) The blow out preventer can be activated.
2) The box can be placed and a second well drilled to relieve the pressure on the failed well head.

Drilling the second well is a six week operation minimum, and the drilling depends on equipment and weather.

In four weeks the official start of hurricane season rolls around.