Where Is the Spill Site?

Here is the spill site using Google maps (click any image to see a bigger, clearer version of the image):

This NOAA image gives a basic overview of the oil spill site in relation to the surrounding area:

The oil spill is occurring within the “Macondo prospect”, which is located in Mississippi Canyon Block 252 in the Gulf of Mexico.

Here is an image showing the Mississippi Canyon compared to other areas in the Gulf of Mexico:

This shows the relation of Block 252 to nearby sites:

Here is Block 252 shown in comparison with nearby sites:

And this is the definitive high-resolution map showing block 252 in comparison with other prospects in the Mississippi Canyon area and surrounding areas.

But in order to really get a feel for what’s happening underwater, we should look at detailed topographic maps. Indeed, knowing the topography and the geology at the spill site is crucial in understanding the risks involved and being able to determine the best approach for stopping the leak.

Topography of the Spill Site

Here’s a map of the Gulf of Mexico:

Here’s another map courtesy of Wired (the spill site is between the two sets of red hash marks):

Here’s an image of the Gulf of Mexico, showing the Sigsbee and Florida Escarpments (Block 252 is approximately half way in between the 2 escarpments):

Here is a satellite image of the area provided by the Minerals Management Service and NOAA’s Multipurpose Marine Cadastre:

Here is a close-up Here is a close-up (I placed a hand icon at the approximate location of the oil spill based on latitude and longitude):

Here is an image – courtesy of NOAA’s GeoPlatform service – showing the topography surrounding the leaking wellhead:

Here is a close up of the same image:

Here is the same image with the spill location indicator removed, so that you can see the slope of the area at the spill site:

(Note: the GeoPlatform service is also very useful for forecasting the near-term trajectory of the oil spill).

Here is a map giving a different view of the steep canyon in which the oil spill site is located:

Some oil industry professionals are worried that a landslide at the spill site could make the oil spill much worse by carrying away the blowout preventer, riser and all other equipment. While I have no idea how likely it is that a landslide could occur before the well is capped, it is true that:

1. The spill site is located in a steep canyon;
2. There are hundreds of feet of loose mud and muck on top of the sea floor in this area; and
3. Many deepwater, oi-rich areas within the Gulf are tectonically active.

Source:  http://www.zerohedge.com/article/where-oil-spill

http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/tue-june-15-2010-james-tabor

The pastor of a Venice, Florida church is organizing a “Blessing of the Gulf” on Sunday with the belief that if enough people get in their cars and drive to the edge of Gulf of Mexico and focus on the healing and restorative powers of prayer, God will magically stop the flow of oil.

Rev. Patricia Reiter of Unity Church of Venice expects to have 10,000 people spiritually joining hands at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 20, along the Gulf coast…not to clean or help in any way other than to think happy thoughts specifically directed towards the Gulf of Mexico:

“To whales, dolphins, manatees, pelicans, seagulls and all aquatic bird species, fishes, shellfish, planktons, corals, algae and all creatures in the Gulf of Mexico, I am sorry. Please forgive me.”

Can prayer repel oil? – The Religion World – Orlando Sentinel.

Sea Water passes through: Oil Doesn’t

A group at the University of Pittsburgh has developed a chemical that can be used to readily convert textiles (either natural or man-made) into an inexpensive and efficient water-oil separator.

This video shows how a piece of chemically treated cotton cloth is able to separate oil from Gulf of Mexico sea water.  The treated cloth allows water to path through but not oil.  Quick…someone get Costner on the phone.

You might recall last week I posted about Kevin Costner’s company, Ocean Therapy Solutions.   Well, Costner has now apparently sold 32 of his oil spill cleaning machines to BP.  The 32 machines are expected to process 6 million gallons of water each day and will extract clean water from the oil with a 99.9% success rate.

Costner testified before the House Energy and Environment subcommittee on Wednesday. Costner said “that as long as the oil industry profits from the sea, they have an obligation to protect it.”  He went on to say that the cleaning devices “should be on every ship transporting oil, they should be on every derrick, they should be in every harbor.”

Not a bad idea, Kev.

Kevin Costner sells 32 oil spill machines to BP to recycle 6 million gallons of water a day photos.

How deep is the Deepwater Horizon rig? Karl Tate from OurAmazingPlanet.com put together this handy chart that shows the relative depth of the Deepwater Horizon compared to other recognizable features of the planet…manmade and otherwise (click on the image below to see the whole chart):

“They’re everywhere”

via Pensacola oil spill: blobs of oil tar are washing ashore in Florida – OrlandoSentinel.com.

Below are 20 messages.  Some are ACTUAL responses from BP Executives and some are from the FAKE BP Global PR Twitter account.  Can you tell which is which>

1. “We regretfully admit that something has happened off the Gulf Coast. More to come.”

YouTube – GULF OIL SPILL HAPPENED BEFORE! – SEE HOW THEY RESOLVED IT!.

“We are not at liberty to fly media, journalists, photographers, or scientists,” the company said in a letter it sent on Tuesday to Sen. David Vitter (R-La.). “We strongly feel that the reason for this massive [temporary flight restriction] is that BP wants to control their exposure to the press.”

Photographers Say BP Restricts Access to Oil Spill – Newsweek.