If the geology at Block 252 is like that described by Anderson and Boulanger for the Gulf oil region as a whole, then it might be difficult to stop the oil gusher without completing relief wells (which will take a couple of months). Again, if there are salt layers right under the sea floor, high porosity near the surface or salt movement, then sealing the leak by plugging the risers and blowout preventer might not work. The oil pressure is coming up at such high pressures that sealing the leaking equipment at the level of the seabed might just mean the oil will flow out somewhere else nearby.
The government must publicly release details of the geology under the spill site. The American people – and people in Mexico, Cuba and other countries which might be affected by the spill – have a right to know what we’re dealing with.
Until it does so, people will not have be understand what is going on. And failing to release such information may prevent creative scientists from around the world from coming up with a workable solution.
Moreover, as the first draft of Anderson and Boulanger’s paper – released in 2001 – noted:
The government must publicly release details of the geology under the spill site. The American people – and people in Mexico, Cuba and other countries which might be affected by the spill – have a right to know what we’re dealing with.
Until it does so, people will not have be understand what is going on. And failing to release such information may prevent creative scientists from around the world from coming up with a workable solution.
Moreover, as the first draft of Anderson and Boulanger’s paper – released in 2001 – noted:
No means currently exists to produce oil and gas to market from such water depths!(exclamation point is Anderson and Boulanger’s). In other words, the technology to drill in such deepwater conditions in the Gulf has only been developed after 2001
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