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New Oil Spill in Gulf ... 100-Mile Slick

Submitted by George Washington on 03/21/2011 18:33 -0400

A new 100-mile slick has been spotted in the Gulf, only 30 miles from the site of the Deepwater Horizon. See this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this and this and this:

DI mayor told there is minor leak in gulf: fox10tv.com

The Coast Guard says that it is probably "silt" instead of oil. While definitive chemical tests have not yet been conducted, and so silt can't be ruled out, many witnesses said that the substance had an oily smell.

Moreover, it is hard to place too much confidence in the Coast Guard's opinion since, as I wrote last year:

Instead of admitting that there is a problem, BP and the Coast Guard's spin doctors have come up with code words for oil: instead of “oil sheen”, they call it “fish oil”; instead of "oil mousse", they call it “algae”

Whether the slick is silt or oil, the important point - as I noted last year - is that big oil spills will keep happening if we keep on drilling in hard to get to locations without demanding that the rigs be operated safely.

Indeed, the oil spills in the Gulf and the existence of unsafe nuclear power plants follow the exact same pattern as the financial crisis: As long as big companies know the government will bail them out if there's a "meltdown" and will help them cover up the scale of the accidents, as well as the fraud and corner-cutting which led to the disaster, they'll keep doing dangerous things which put our economy, our environment and our health at risk.

The Japanese government is deferring to Tepco, just like the American government deferred to BP.

As long as there is corporate socialism for the too big to fails and "tough love" for the rest of us, the big boys will continue to get into trouble.

As long as the government uses claims of "national security" to protect the big energy companies and big banks, there won't be the transparency needed to ensure a free market and reasonable public accountability.

Oh, and by the way, the effects of the Deepwater Horizon spill did not magically disappear. Here is a roundup of some of the news from the Gulf of Mexico from the first couple of weeks of March:

100,000?s having symptoms from oil disaster — Could be just the tip of the iceberg says physician (VIDEO)

Secret Study: Radioactive material dumped into Gulf of Mexico — “Most toxic substances known to man” (During fracking)

“It’s not stopping” — “The levels we are seeing are not dropping, and we’re seeing NEW chemicals now”

Scientist predicts martial law to be imposed: “Beaches will eventually be closed to everyone besides clean-up vessels” — “Air quality will sharply decline”

LSU professor: “There’s nothing there” — Fishermen “telling us that the reefs are just dead”

NOAA Study: Massive plumes of aerosolized oil “likely posed a health threat” — Problems range from aggravated asthma to premature death

Physician says “this may be a brand new illness” — Swimmer covered in oily substance diagnosed with “rare” bacteria similar to oil-eating microbes (VIDEO)

“A Huge Number”: Shrimp tests show 4,000+ ppm petroleum hydrocarbons — Caught last week off Alabama coast (LAB REPORT)

Taco Bell told to buy Gulf shrimp, troubled fast food chain touts “Pacific Coast” shrimp instead

“Most Concerning”: Chrysene found in waters off Perdido Key, Florida — Effects include “increased risk of cancer, chromosomal aberrations, genetic damage”

LSU Scientist: “You go out to the marshes and they are silent — We’re in danger of becoming a Silent Spring”

New report from NASA finds that nearly 50 percent of the population along the Gulf Coast is experiencing sickness indicative of chemical poisoning related to the BP oil spill

NASA oil spill scientist: “I know there were clouds filled with hydrocarbons” — Discusses “Gulf Coast Health Syndrome”

Pensacola Beach: “1,000?s of dead animals” & discolored sand as far as the eye can see (PHOTOS)

Mississippi man’s blood tests show extremely high Xylene, Ethylbenzene — Now passing out for an hour at a time (LAB RESULTS)

New York Times article shows why public might want to think twice before trusting the E.P.A.

"Red Flag”: Oil spill study finds almost HALF of residents suffering “unusual spike” in health symptoms

27-inch thick layer of oil-contaminated sand found — Researcher hypothesizes they are digging holes and burying it (VIDEO)

Dispersed oil “everywhere” on Pensacola Beach — Not where is the oil… BUT WHERE IS IT NOT (VIDEO)

Woman reports troubling symptoms after swimming in Gulf — Burning lesions all over body & face, “I keep finding more and more of them”

FOX: Woman suffering paralysis in face “induced by heavy metals” — Tests show high levels of benzene, xylene and other chemicals (VIDEO)

Ex BP cleanup worker speaks: people are sick and dying in the Gulf

Gulf oil spill researcher finds dead sea life and plenty of oil ...

Gulf of Mexico Still Choked by BP Oil, Research Shows

Al Jazeera 8-part investigative series of the Gulf Oil Disaster aftermath

Evaporating oil from BP spill likely posed a health threat, study says

Gulf of Mexico bottom still coated in oil, recovery long way off

BP Gulf oil spill: Shocking images that prove the seabed is STILL dead and coated in oil - despite BP claims all will be well

The BP Oil Spill: Could the Damage Have Been Prevented

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Tue, 03/22/2011 - 13:59 | 1086594 avonaltendorf

HOUSTON, March 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- W&T Offshore, Inc. (NYSE: WTI) announced that it responded to reports of an oil sheen in the Gulf of Mexico that was said to be near a W&T operated platform in Mississippi Canyon block 243 ("Matterhorn"). Following an onsite and aerial investigation by the Company, it was determined that the source of a reported oil sheen was not the Matterhorn platform or any other nearby W&T operated facilities, as speculated in several media reports.

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 06:33 | 1085209 cranky-old-geezer

Lots of supporting info here GW, good research, well done.

But its like spending hours digging up and reporting ugly details of the ponzi financial system. Nothing is going to get fixed in the Gulf just like nothing is going to get fixed in the ponzi.

If you're doing all this research and reporting thinking / hoping someone might be motivated to fix anything, its futile.

If you're doing all this research and reporting thinking / hoping someone might be motivated to alter their investment strategy to capitalize on destruction of the Gulf or the financial system, then it might be worthwhile ...and consistent with the culture of ZH.

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 07:50 | 1085262 gasmiinder

Lots of supporting info here GW, good research, well done

Uhm - did you actually click through to all those links? They are nothing more than an echo chamber around the original discovery and the resulting Coast Guard comments. The "research" you describe probably took all of 5 minutes - and most of that was making sure to include some conspiracy sites for "balance" (dedicated to providing the truth about about the BP oil spill - might have a dog in the hunt there hmmmmmmmm).

And further not one of those stories suggests in any way that this oil is related to BP - in fact:

Testing on Sunday revealed the patch, an estimated 100 miles long and six miles wide, contained only trace amounts of petroleum that were well below the state of Louisiana's standard for clean water.

Sounds indeed like the large patch isn't even oil at all. But of course to GW's followers it's a "cover-up". What I can't figure is why you folks think the government that apparently lies reflexively is also the people you want in charge of everything.

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 06:14 | 1085194 Sudden Debt

See this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this and this and this:

Do you have some evidence to back up your claim?

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 05:25 | 1085174 Bitch Tits

Meet the new oil spill, same as the old oil spill.

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 03:23 | 1085106 MSimon

You are aware that the Gulf naturally seeps oil?

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 02:37 | 1085073 bastardchildofmary

I knew someone once that ate gulf seafood after an oil spill, and they were raped!! let that be a lesson to you all!

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 02:30 | 1085068 bastardchildofmary

Its not silt or oil, its a bullshit spillover from washington dc.Even more deadly then oil to marine life!

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 02:28 | 1085066 DollarMenu

Thanks DW - you have a unique ability to persist in spite of it all.

I am grateful for your diligent reporting.

This BP play isn't even out of the first act.

I'd like to walk out, but they locked the theatre doors.

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 01:41 | 1084991 StychoKiller

I believe it's time for an avatar change. If you don't like it you can suck my coke!

http://www.humor-day.com/pictureviewer.php?id=1412

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 00:32 | 1084845 NvrGivUp

Time will reveal the truth, it always does. Maybe we'll be alive to learn it.

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 23:21 | 1084696 Augustus

Geo Wash,

You do not really want to bring up what you wrote last year and use that to demonstrate that you had better information than the Coast Guard.

To list only a few:

You supported the idea of using a nuclear device to "seal the well" with a nuclear explosion.

You claimed that the wellhead shown in the videos was actually located miles away from the leaking Macondo well.

You claimed that the Macondo well had drilled into a hollow "cave" larger than the chain on mountains and would result in the entire GoM sinking into the hole.

You claimed that the Macondo well had intercepted a fault that extended across the Atlantic, Africa, and into the Red Sea. The Macondo well was going to unleas a zipper effect that would result in the earth's surface being dislodged from the mantle.

Entire population of the US Gulf coast would be dead before fall of 2010. The hydrocarbons in the air would result in explosions wiping out cities along the GoM.

Now you present yourself as a neutral observer qualified to evaluate whether there is a well leaking in the GoM.

The factual accounts reveal that a well service operation may have allowed some oil to leak for a few hours. Followed up with reports that the heavy runoff from the long winter and recent rains have increased the silt dumped into the GoM.

Geo Wash, don't swallow so much of that Sigsby Salt. You have gone past the safe limit and the effects are evident.

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 02:40 | 1085028 d_senti

dupe, router issue

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 02:41 | 1085027 d_senti

dupe, router issue

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 02:41 | 1085026 d_senti

dupe, router issue

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 02:41 | 1085025 d_senti

dupe, router issue

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 02:40 | 1085024 d_senti

dupe, router issue

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 02:40 | 1085023 d_senti

dupe, router issue

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 02:42 | 1085022 d_senti

dupe, router issue

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 02:43 | 1085021 d_senti

dupe, router issue

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 02:41 | 1085019 d_senti

dupe, router issue

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 02:41 | 1085017 d_senti

Care to source where you saw each of those claims? I'm not saying they're not true; just would like to check them myself. Honestly curious. Thanks.

Edit: I apologize for the tons of dupes below. Had a bit of a problem obviously.

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 00:13 | 1084814 UninterestedObserver

A leak for a few hours would equal a spill 10x100 miles? You're either a lying moron or that's one hell of a leak.

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 03:26 | 1085108 MSimon

Kinda depends on the thickness don't it?

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 23:17 | 1084685 Eternal Student

Superb work, GW. I daresay the reference for what's going on. I certainly don't see anything else to compare it to.

Gotta wonder about the Coast Guard minions though. Those folks are on the front lines of the health effects, and they are trying to cover it up?

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 23:06 | 1084649 franzpick

The coast guard has a long history of spinning and lying: for decades they maintained a clandestine policy of dumping their discarded batteries into the ocean, while landlubber civilians faced $500 - $1000 fines for littering.

Dont'ya just love big gov't. and the lame print / broadcast media ???

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 23:01 | 1084629 RichardENixon

Everybody down here in New Orleans is busy showing what good Catholics they are, sacrificing by scarfing down huge platters of fried seafood rather than meat during Lent, a New Orleans tradition. No sign of any anxiety about toxic slop in the Gulf down here.

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 23:10 | 1084670 Bear

I think that I might give up oil for Lent

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 23:11 | 1084669 reader2010

Better than the GeeEmmed farm animals?

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 22:35 | 1084541 sellstop

This is really getting upsetting! I have been standing on this street corner all day with my "The End is Near!" sign and everybody just goes about their business!

Don't they care?

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 02:33 | 1085070 bastardchildofmary

They just know its true, and have given up!

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 22:27 | 1084507 tahoebumsmith

They must have had a failure in one of the corexit lines that they have been using on the bottom to cover up the continued release from the cracks in the subfloor. Go ahead and junk me bitchez but there is nothing I love more then a conspiracy and I'm not done with this one yet. Honestly you don't think there is leakage around the damaged well head and in the subfloor? Hahahaha that's funny because actually its been leaking all along but they have been covering it up with a series of corexit pipes shaped like a big pitch fork. There is absolutly no way for them to cap these because the oil is coming through the cracks Matt Simmons described. And for those oil eating microbes that ate all the oil...BAWAHAHA That was too funny. If you want my esimate, there is still 80% or more of that Mocondo/Corexit brew still festering on the bottom. Add with the release that has been happening since they capped the well, Matt Simmons was corect in saying that 1/2 the bottom of the GOM is covered in oil. So keep the secret from everybody but next time one of the corexit pipes blows a seal make sure you get to it before people start to suspect there still is something going on down there.

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 23:09 | 1084662 reader2010

Matt Simmons got muted and you're the next.

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 21:55 | 1084382 Obaminator

Maybe its not a "new" slick, maybe this is some of that Oil turning up that was mixed with millions of gallons of disperant.

or maybe the sea floor cracked and the oil is leaking 250 feet away from the Horizon Deepwater well. Or maybe the well start leaking again.

Or maybe a fishing boat with a hole in its diesle tank is 250 miles out to sea wondering why the F@%& they are running low on fuel....

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 21:23 | 1084233 GottaBKiddn

And it's only beginning.

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 21:20 | 1084221 ShankyS

LOL - GW the captain of "See this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this and this and this:" That was a classic "this" string.

Thanks for all you do.

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 20:50 | 1084110 red_pill_rash

Eugenicists SUCK!

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 20:44 | 1084086 Judge Judy Scheinlok

You are a good guy GW. I like and appreciate your work. TY.

I always wonder how the genetically engineered bacteria that they put into the well to build pressure and thin the oil is going to stop building pressure and further thinning the oil?

Do you have any material on this process?

~Judge Judy

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 21:42 | 1084290 jomama

Apparently there are some microbes found in the digestive tracts of fish that can metabolise hydrocarbons. The extensive research around the effectiveness of subjugating a large scale oil spill is not thoroughly understood.

Here is a paper from a while back about these bugs:

http://www.ekoi.lt/info/azl/2002/AZL%2012_333-340.pdf

Additionally, this article: http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17230&ch=biotech&a=f

cites the successful mapping of the genome for Alcanivorax borkumensis, Yet the nutrient requirements for propagation of this bug are not fully understood.

With my limited knowledge of bacteria, I am aware that many soil bacteria possess the enzyme Urease, which catalyses the conversion of the urea molecule to two ammonia molecules and one carbon dioxide molecule as the basic metabolic process. The specific makeup of crude oil is roughly summarized in this table:

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/gulfoilspill2010/pdf/chemical_constituents_table.pdf

the fact that mixing oil with other compounds in the water with temperature and chemical gradients makes optimizing growth conditions challenging, to say the least. Thus, trying to determine the alleviation of pressure on a leaking well, or the metabolization of the oil by these generations of bacteria would be difficult to measure in absolute terms.

Mon, 03/21/2011 - 22:24 | 1084417 Judge Judy Scheinlok

Woops, sorry jomama. I should have been more clear.

I was talking about the micro-organisms/bacteria that BP put into the well to break the oil down. They spiked the well with a bioengineering bacteria that eats the oil and spits out a lighter oil and gas as a part of the digestive process.

The byproduct of their metabolism is CO2 and I think methane. Anyhow, the buildup of CO2 in the well produces huge pressure increases in the well which makes it easier to pump out and refine once it's brought home.

It's why BP couldn't cap the well for months, they had to let the well reduce it's pressure that their bacteria produced.

New Oil Spill in Gulf ... 100-Mile Slick

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