Just when there seems to be no end in sight for the US oil disaster, BP is currently preparing its latest attempt to stem the flow of oil from the gushing wellhead by employing robotic submarines to place a cap over it.
In a process that BP says could take up to three days, many including the President, oil industry heavyweights, environmentalists and citizens the world over, are collectively holding their breath as the biggest oil spill in US history threatens to turn global disaster.
Since an explosion ravaged the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig killing 11 workers on 20 April 2010, it is estimated 795 000 litres of oil a day have been spewing into the Gulf of Mexico.
There are widespread reports that the oil is beginning to significantly affect wildlife, including birds and marine life as well as the environmentally sensitive marshes and fishery disasters have been declared in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland President Simon Baltais said the Gulf of Mexico spill has the potential to affect ecosystems over hundreds of kilometres of coastline for decades.
“Oil reaching the coastal wetlands will mean an effective clean-up will be almost impossible”, he said.
The wetlands at risk are recognised as significant nursery grounds; where they suffer, future recruitment to the fishery and ultimately catches will inevitably suffer”, he said.
Mr Baltais firmly believes that approvals for oil rigs should be associated with risk management action plans that identify how the company will deal with a major event like an oil spill as well as provide evidence that they have the capability and capacity to implement it.
“When an event occurs we seem to be ill prepared and under resourced to deal with it quickly”, he said.
Useful links:
ABC News Online: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/05/2919065.htm?section=world
