Topic: Research Flights Take NASA Scientists Over Gulf Oil Spill

[sam]

A team from NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA, made research flights over the Gulf of Mexico this week to help investigate potential uses of satellites for monitoring the thickness and dispersal of oil spills and the oil¹s impact on marine life.

http://www.physorg.com/news193059492.html

[Simon]

I kind of lost interest in this, so may have missed some of what's happened, but I can't believe this is still going on.  Are they still arguing about who's going to pay for the clean up, rather than just getting on with it?  Have they actually plugged the leak yet?

[Clive]

Still arguing over it Simon.  Even Obama is reading the riot act to BP now but I expect he knows who's boss by now!     Further attempts have been made to seal the leak but all have failed so far.  There is a further attempt planned for today.  BP are now dismissing the leak as insignificant.   

[Simon]

[sam]

they did controlled burns too didn't they?

The only solution really appeals to be start a second pump next to it... I hear they are doing that but still I'd have thought this to have been sorted by now.

I can't understand how they got it so wrong - probably American labour - we dont have issues with offshore do we? Actually or is our offshore just gas? The environment is probably still going to be better than the Alberta Oil stands projects - a scare on the side of Canada :-( 

[Clive]

Our offshore was both oil and gas Sam.  We were also responsible for extracting the Norwegian North Sea oil and gas.  The biggest North Sea disaster was the Piper Alpha oil platform event when over 160 workers died in a fire.  If you sail up the North Sea you will see dozens and dozens of oil platforms dotted arround. 

[Clive]

Latest on BP's efforts HERE

[Simon]

At least they're trying to do something.

[Rik]

Only because it would hurt their bottom line not to.

[Reno]

American labor??