THE GULF
Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation Team Releases Final Report
"In Volume II, the JIT details evidence developed during the investigation and concludes that BP, Transocean and Halliburton's conduct in connection with the Deepwater Horizon disaster violated a number of federal offshore safety regulations under BOEMRE's jurisdiction."
New evidence cites more BP oil spill mistakes
"At issue: BP petrophysicist Galina Skripnikova in a closed-door deposition two months ago told attorneys involved in the oil spill litigation that there appeared to be a zone of gas more than 300 feet above where BP told its contractors and regulators with the then-Minerals Management Service the shallowest zone was located."
Gulf Restoration Bill – A No Brainer for Congress?
Clean Up of TS Lee Tar Balls Begins
University of Mississippi leads team to study Gulf oil spill
"Ole Miss is the lead university in a 14-member consortium awarded $20 million over three years to study "Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf.""
Hydrocarbons At Gulf Spill Surface
"Valentine, Reddy, and others, however, are concerned that these results may engender a false sense of safety for workers. Naphthalene and other large aromatic hydrocarbons in oil have not been well studied above the surface at the spill site. These compounds don't readily dissolve in water, but they still are volatile and could have posed a risk to workers at the surface."
BP DRILLS AHEAD - THIS TIME OFF THE COAST OF SCOTLAND
Big Oil steps up the battle for deep water drilling
"Now, with BP clearly believing that public outcry over Deepwater Horizon has faded, the plans are back on the agenda. A few days ago the company launched a public consultation on this environmental statement (pdf) for its proposed North Uist well.
Disturbingly, in its statement, BP takes a leaf out of Cairn's book, claiming that some fish will just swim out of the way of any spill. The company also admits that a deep water blow out at North Uist could release 75,000 barrels of oil a day - worse that Deepwater Horizon's 55,000. Finally, BP claims that fitting the new cap to plug a deep water blow out will take between 10 and 35 days, and it gives no details at all about how long it would take to drill a relief well."
