USA: Tropical storm Alex slows spill clean-up and pushes oil towards Mississippi shore

Record ID: 345087

  • Title: USA: Tropical storm Alex slows spill clean-up and pushes oil towards Mississippi shore
  • Date: 2nd July 2010
  • Summary: AT SEA, OFF THE COAST OF MISSISSIPPI, UNITED STATES (JULY 1, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EMULSIFIED OIL SLUDGE FLOATING ON THE GULF SURFACE PERSON SCOOPING UP SLUDGE WITH A STICK OIL ON STICK SHIP ISLAND, OFF THE COAST OF MISSISSIPPI, UNITED STATES (JULY 1, 2010) (REUTERS) OIL SHEEN OIL RESIDUE ON COAST OF ISLAND WITH 'KEEP OUT' SIGN OILED PELICAN TRYING TO FLY BOAT CAPTAIN WITH BOOM IN BACKGROUND OILED PELICAN ON SHORE OILED PELICAN OILED PELICAN WITH BOAT IN DISTANCE OILED PELICAN ATTEMPTING TO SHAKE OFF OIL TAR PATTIES ON BEACH VARIOUS OF OILED BIRD 'AREA CLOSED' SIGN BIRDS ON BEACH OILED BIRD ON BEACH
  • Embargoed: 17th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVABVCWE4CFGZFOQ91JZFQJHWK22
  • Story Text: Tropical storm Alex slowed oil clean-up and containment efforts in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday (July 1) and pushed large amounts of oil towards the Mississippi shore.
    Several large patches of the oil sludge were spotted just off the coast. The patches, ranging from five to 25 feet in diameter, floated on the water heading in the direction of the Mississippi shore as strong rains and wind pushed them forward.
    On Ship Island, a federally protected barrier island and nature preserve, patches of oil sheen loomed just off the coast. A pelican coated in oil attempted to fly but could not.
    NOAA projections show more oil making its way to Mississippi beaches as storm bands from Alex continue.
    High winds and rough seas delayed British energy giant BP's plans to expand the volume of oil it is siphoning from the well. Thad Allen, the U.S. government's point man on the spill response, said Alex slowed oil clean-up efforts but one of the relief wells was within 15 feet (4.5 metres) of the side of the blown-out well.
    "They are within around 15 feet of the well bore at this point. They will continue down 7-800 more feet, slowly close in to the well bore and when they know they've got it exactly in range, know exactly where the drill pipe is in relation to the well bore then they will attempt to move in and drill through the well bore and then the casing as well. At that point, they'll be in a position to be able to try the bottom kill or to be able to insert the mud. And hopefully after that, put a plug in that will kill the well," said Allen, who retired as a U.S. Coast Guard admiral on Wednesday (June 31).
    About 500 skimmers were in operation prior to the halt of skimming operations as Alex threatened. At the peak, 650 such vessels were in operation.
    More than 28 million gallons of oily water mix have been picked up since the beginning of the spill about two and a half months ago, and the cleanup rate has picked up recently. The total a month ago was about 14 million gallons.
    A government spokeswoman said that a massive ship converted into a "super skimmer" had arrived in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico to assist with the spill cleanup.
    The 1,100-foot-long ore and oil carrier, dubbed the "A Whale," is being provided by the owner, TMT Shipping of Taiwan, Chris Coulon, a joint incident command spokeswoman said.
    Oil from BP's blown-out well began spewing into the waters off Louisiana after an oil rig exploded on April 20, killing 11 workers.
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