“In testimony before Congress last summer, Tony Hayward, then BP’s chief executive, asserted that his company was conducting a “full and comprehensive” investigation into the causes of the Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 rig workers and spewed millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. He said BP had put in place a sweeping new safety system throughout the company in the wake of lapses in 2006 and 2007.”
“Transocean Ltd., the Swiss company that owned and operated the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, says the Gulf of Mexico oil spill that occurred last year is the result of successive decisions made by well owner BP. BP calls it “an advocacy piece” to support Transocean’s “litigation strategy.”
St. Landry Parish President Don Menard issued a voluntary evacuation of residents east of Port Barre and a mandatory evacuation of all livestock on the levee and surrounding areas Monday. Both Menard and Gov. Bobby Jindal encouraged emergency officials and community members gathered at an emergency preparedness meeting in Krotz Springs on Monday to prepare for the worst.
“Whether they open the (Morganza) Spillway or not, water’s coming over the spillway,” Jindal said. “That’s just the way it’s built, the way it’s designed.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may open the Morganza Spillway as soon as Thursday to reroute water into the Atchafalaya River.
Energy traders’ fears are rising right along with the flood levels along the Mississippi River.
Oil is firmly back above $100 a barrel and gasoline futures surged over 6% Monday on concerns about the potential impact of flooding on the largest gasoline pipeline in the U.S. as well as nearly a dozen Gulf Coast refiners.
“The potential for flooding is just one more issue in a series of things that have befallen the gasoline market,” says Houston-based energy analyst Andy Lipow of Lipow Oil Associates.
Rising river waters are fueling concerns about U.S. gasoline production after a series of refinery outages in Texas and the East Coast over the last several weeks.
“ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A trickle of new oil into the trans-Alaska pipeline has BP Alaska officials optimistic about a $100 million investment.
For more than a week, the company has produced about 350 barrels per day of new heavy crude oil – petroleum with the viscosity of molasses or cold honey – from a test well in the Ugnu Formation in the Milne Point lease area on Alaska’s North Slope.”
The one year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill has come and gone yet the process to compensate individuals and businesses that were affected lingers on. The Gulf Coast Claims Facility run by Ken Feinberg, is still working through thousands of claims that are still under review.
The number of claimants to date reaches over 500,000 of which 286,490 of those have been paid out (as of April 29th). The majority of claimants have settled for the quick pay option while few others opted for the final review payout.
Time has been a factor for individuals and businesses as they’ve been forced to accept the quick pay option guaranteeing fast cash. Many others who have held out for the final review are receiving offers equal to the quick pay option.”
“The Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) has begun a collaborative, region-wide investigation of toxic impacts of oil and dispersants on the Gulf ecosystem – from phytoplankton, fish, and birds to marine mammals and humans. This broad-based, multi-species, multi-habitat approach can provide essential information in a timely way that will inform public health measures (seafood safety), as well as current and future restoration efforts.”
The money will go to the Natural Resource Trustees for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which includes the states of Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Texas, the Department of the Interior and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.”
