Ample Blame To Go The Rounds
"We don't know why it failed yet in this contracted rig", (BP's chairman, Lamar McKey) a not very subtle nudge, reminding the world that it was not entirely the fault of British Petroleum that the leased Deepwater Horizon rig collapsed, then failed to correct itself with an automatic shut-off once oil began gushing from beneath the ocean floor. The loss of a $1-billion investment by Transocean, owners of the rig, a due penalty for an awful malfunction.Rest assured, America, BP is seriously on track, "throwing every resource", at the piffling cost of $5-million per day, to mount a well shut-down. It may, however take some while yet. Although the prospect of capping the runaway oil with a funnel-shaped iron dome may spell some modicum of success. A week or two may tell that bit of the story. Or, on the other hand, a month or two or three hence may see success in drilling alternative, relief wells.
No mean feat at a 1,500-metre depth. Think of the pressure, the weight of the water; unrelenting, distinctly unhelpful to the matter at hand. But these consummate experts with their technologically-advanced machinery will get around to solving the problem. Patience may be a virtue, but it is not a commodity in great abundance given the potential, let alone the real and current environmental degradation ensuing from this debacle.
U.S. administration officials have been on B.P.'s case for wasting time by placing their initial focus on mounting an ultimately unsuccessful rescue mission, in an attempt to save the lives of eleven oil rig workers. Or to find their bodies. Overlooking the very real possibility that events would overtake them, to produce the very scenario that everyone stands in shocked awe at, today.
President Obama, in his sober, cadenced, lecturing way, informs the public of what is abundantly obvious, particularly to those looking on with disbelief and dismay, witnessing the complete wreckage of their livelihoods and the economy of coastal U.S. states. "The oil that is still leaking from the well could seriously damage the economy and the environment of our Gulf states and it could extend for a long time."
Well, yes. However, never fear. U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar assures the nation that the Obama administration has every intention "to keep the boot on the neck" of BP officials who are quite obviously anxiously and desperately searching for ways to cap the damaged well. And rest assured, British Petroleum will be forced to pick up all damage-associated costs.
Good thing that fact has been well established.
Is this the administration that is intent on seeing that they are self-sufficient in energy resources for the future? The one that has just recently signed onto its agreement to extend offshore oil exploration in other, environmentally sensitive areas within its jurisdiction? Oh, my.
Labels: Economy, Environment, Technology, United States
posted by Pieface @ Monday, May 03, 2010
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