Wednesday April 28, 2010 -

Last week, a massive explosion on a Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico sent oil spilling into the waters just off Louisiana. The rig, owned by Transocean Ltd. and working for BP (British Petroleum,) was the work site for 115 crew members. 11 workers were declared missing and searches have been suspended. 17 were seriously injured and one remains critically hospitalized.

What remains now is a 600-mile circumference oil slick just 36 miles off Louisiana. This is larger than the state of Rhode Island. Authorities estimate 40,000+ gallons of oil per day is being released. Coast Guard Petty Officer Erik Swanson is part of the clean-up. He told Msnbc.com that skimming vessels have collected more than 48,000 gallons of oily water thus far. According to to Swanson, "Right now, the weather's in our favor…Our goal is to fight this thing as far offshore as possible." Reports are that a “distinct edge between the oil slick and the sea” can be seen for miles.

Workers are also using submerged robots to try to stop the leaks but that has not been very effective. Reports are that BP is mobilizing another rig to drill a “relief well” to redirect the oil. But authorities worry that this could take weeks. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration experts call the spill “very thin” and consisting of “97% sheen.” BP also plans to lower a large dome into the sea in an attempt to collect excess oil.

The cause of the blast remains unknown. However, authorities are developing regulations aimed at preventing human error. Mnsbc.com reports that human error is identified as a factor in many of the more than 1,400 offshore oil drilling accidents between 2001 and 2007. Three senators have requested a congressional inquiry, and they are Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ). As they wrote, “The explosion, ensuring fire, and continuing spill raise serious concerns about the industry’s claims that their operations and technology are safe enough to put rigs in areas that are environmentally sensitive or are critical to tourism or fishing industries.”

Article by Katherine Butler