Gulf spill could result in an extinction level eruption event

[DisgruntledVirus]

Or so this guy says.

I won't comment on his credentials, but it's an interesting read. There is a video of a guy who chartered a plane from Mexico and flew over the spill (who is annoying to listen to IMO) that's worth a watch. If you're interested in the numbers involved here, this article has provided a decent amount of information regarding this disaster.

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-...Examiner~y2010m5d13-A-volcano-of-oil-erupting

This is not a system in stasis. This is an out of control volcano of oil spewing up with 70,000 psi behind it, from a reservoir nearly the size of the Gulf, with an estimated trillions of barrels of oil and gas tucked away. It is this deposit that has me reminding people of what the Shell geologist told me about the deposit. This was the quote, "Energy shortage..., Hell! We are afraid of running out of air to burn." The deposit is very large. It covers an area off shore something like 25,000 square miles. Natural Gas and Oil is leaking out of the deposit as far inland as Central Alabama and way over into Florida and even over to Louisiana almost as far as Texas.

What we are seeing now could be small compared to what may yet unfold if things break apart, as they can do under such circumstances. If this thing blew, it could be like the Yellowstone Caldera, except from below a mile of sea, with a 1/4-mile opening, with up to 150,000 psi of oil and natural gas behind it.

That would be an extinction event.

It is not likely to happen, but it is within the realm of possibilities.

 

[piasabird]

It would have been safer to drill in shallow water off the east coast of Florida or in the bay off the coast of california by the golden gate bridge. It is obvious we have no clue how to control oil that is in water that deep or did anywhere near enough research to be prepared for it.

Maybe we need some kind of special uber powerful submersible vessel that can go that deep and control it from the bottom. Oh, Yeah, that was a movie.

 

[theeedude]

Are Caribbean cruises going to be cheap this season?

 

[Zedtom]

The gloom and doom crowd delight in seeing technology overwhelmed by forces of nature, but then again who's to say that this might be a situation that is out of man's control.

I used to think that the Gulf of Mexico was created by an asteroid, now I'm starting to wonder if it's going to become a sacrifice area.

 

[StageLeft]

I know people talk of nukes, it would obviously close that hole but if this is kind of similar to a propane tank with a small hole in it (maybe it's not, though), and there is a leak and you plug it by exploding something next to it won't the hole get bigger?

 

[Rebel44]

That retard doesnt know anything about topic he is talking about.

 

[Throckmorton]

I know people talk of nukes, it would obviously close that hole but if this is kind of similar to a propane tank with a small hole in it (maybe it's not, though), and there is a leak and you plug it by exploding something next to it won't the hole get bigger?

What's worse than an oil spill? A radioactive oil spill spewing from an atom bomb crater.


What could work is using a small bomb to crimp the well.

 

[sandorski]

hehe, Epic Fail.

Ok, sure, if all that Oil suddenly burst out in one Big Bang, that would be very bad. Only problem with that scenario is that it simply won't/can't happen like that. Might as well fear the possibility of all liquid water being evaporated at once due to Sun Spots...or some other ridiculous thing.

 

[dmcowen674]

Latest flows suggests it's up to 3 million gallons a day coming out of multiple leaks.

8 inch tar balls now washing up on Louisiana beaches

 

[Greenman]

The author claims 70,000 psi of pressure in the well. Some searching found information that would indicate he's off by a factor of ten. That makes me wonder if he got anything else right, is the entire article hyperbole?

 

[Commish]

NM.

 

[Jaskalas]

extinction level eruption

No... while we all like tall tales and dramatizations I'm having a hard time following this one. OTOH, this is quite a serious ecological disaster.

 

[NeoV]

how exactly would this lead to an eruption again?

 

[herm0016]

idiot is an idiot

this cant happen.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

So the author is saying that an eruption will result from the buildup of pressure? So maybe we should relieve the pressure by, say, making a hole? Maybe like the one that is there now.

 

[BladeVenom]

Drilling holes would relieve the pressure. So by drilling now, we may be saving the planet from a huge explosion later.

 

[Slew Foot]

One of the first video games I ever played was called "Space Station Oblivion". You were supposed to drill holes in a space station to release gas pressure that was building up under the surface. Maybe Sarah Palin was right.