Oil in the keys already????
 

I flew to Houston today and the size of the oil slick from 30k feet was amazing. "Humongous" does nothing to describe how vast an area of ocean this slick covers. It is also all over the beaches covering dozens of miles of coastline that I was able to see. I feel the media has been totaly covering up (probably as ordered by our Government) the severity of this. I understand the blow to Tourism will be catastrophic, not to mention the blow to our ecology.
This post from Spearboard only confirms my fears. I have been told the same by many dive shop owners in that area, as what you are about to see if you click on the link, that there is indeed oil showing up in MANY areas in the Fl keys already as a result of the loop current. Isn't it nice the media Sucks A$$. I guess there really is no freedom of the press or free speech.


http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=104954

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

I`ll be taking my online Haz-Mat cert. soon. Sea Tow is organizing volunteers here in WPB. Our collective hearts are breaking.

GFS

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Keys balls are ship oil from a bilge. I live in Mobile, Alabama and have worked in the oil field and have been performing remediation for the past decade, please don't listen to the tv about this. Louisiana is getting hammered, the rest of us on the gulf coast are just watching money being wasted with hundreds of people driving up and down the beach waiting for something that may never get here. We are all boomed off and ready to close off every inlet and we have had a total of about 2 gallons (actually less) of tar balls wash up on the beaches here. The media has killed tourism here and the beaches are as beatiful as ever. Yes our fishing is closed when you get 20-25 miles offshore, but there isn't any oil there either.

Pray for Louisiana, the rest of us are just like always.

Eric

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

The keys balls may indeed be from a ships bilge, I am guessing you did not look at the pictures, these pictures are from marathon key, on the Atlantic side, This is Light sweet crude that has made it up thru the loop current.Where the leak is occurring some of the spill is going to move towards land in MS or LA,the rest will and has begun to get swept up in the loop current and is/ has begun landing in Florida. This is not tar balls from a ships bilge. The color of these slicks forming already is the same as LSC from the spill site. This is a oil slick over a mile long. Also some friends just commented the CG has found a slick over 5 miles long heading for the dry tortugas. (which will most likely become public at any time) This is not just speculation, this is reality. Fl may become worse effected then LA or MS or any of the other states due to the loop current situation. CNN and all the other media claims what the government tells them to.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

The gulf oil spill is a huge mess, and BP should be held responsible for their failure to contain it. But don't lose heart, folks. Crude oil occurs naturally, and mother nature has ways of dealing with it. The Gulf is loaded with natural oil seeps. This spill has just dumped a lot more than usual over a much shorter period of time. So while the immediate situation is a gummy mess, I think in two years or less, you'll be hard pressed to find signs of lasting damage.
Dave

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

tar balls in keys do not match fingerprint of of from horizon. the loop current will spread it farther, but the action in the current will ultimately increase the rate of degredation. this incident has been blown way out of proportion and millions off resources wasted in places that will never see an impact from this. my wife is from jupiter and laughed because tar balls used to wash up on the beach very frequently when she was younger. it is an oil spill not the end of the world. the saddest part is everyone has forgotten the 11 people that died because their fishing might get hurt for a few months.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

WTF is the loop current??????
Been here my whole life!!!!
It's called "THE GULF STREAM"!!!
Frickin' liberal media dying for any disaster
they can latch on too, to promote doom and gloom!

OK, I feel better now got that of my chest.. [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Just my 2¢ worth!

See ya, Ken

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

we have always called it the loop current, the gulf stream is in the atlantic to me

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Checking with friends in Marathon, this is all news to them. Fisherman and tree huggers and those inbetween were asked and not one heard or saw anything except the tar balls in Key West.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Just got this from a Charter boat Captain running a boat out of Marathon.
Tucker


We urge you NOT to subscribe to the media hysteria about the possible effect of the oil spill on the Florida Keys. Here's a news flash we just received...

NOAA's latest observations indicate that a small portion of the oil slick has reached the Loop Current in the form of light to very light sheens.

In the time it would take for oil to travel to the vicinity of the Florida Straits, any oil would be highly weathered and both the natural process of evaporation and the application of chemical dispersants would reduce the oil volume significantly.

However, the oil may get caught in a clockwise eddy in the middle of the gulf, and not be carried to the Florida Straits at all.

Oil entrained in the Loop Current would require persistent onshore winds or an eddy on the edge of the Loop Current for it to reach the Florida shoreline. If this were to occur, the weathered and diluted oil would likely appear in isolated locations in the form of tar balls.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Civil Air Patrol flights have reported small oil sheen/slicks now positively in the Loop Current. (which does feed into/merge with the Gulf Stream Current, Ken)
The slick reported was 2-3 miles long, very narrow, and about 80 miles north of the Dry Tortugas. It was also described as light, not heavy, discolored by dispersant (which identifies it as from the BP spill), with estimates from so-called experts describing it as "probably less than 1000 gallons total"
I'm interested in hearing if they make a big deal out of a little bit of oil like this. I remember spills way bigger than that off Palm Beach in the 70's from oil tankers flushing ballast seawater from their holds before offloading in Port Everglades.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

I agree, even if it does impact florida, time will cure all.
But as to those that feel there is a media hype, not sure what you mean? The oil slick is huge, As I have seen from the air, which is not shown on any media tv station I have viewed. Even what is visible from the air a majority of what is leaking out is not floating on the surface but hanging at different depths. The report that it might get caught in the middle of the gulf and not make it to Fl at all is well and good, but it is a report from the same group that is trying to protect tourism, and not start any panics. I understand their intentions but feel at the same I would rather know the entire truth of a situation. Its not that it could potentialy ruin fishing and diving for a few years, it is much larger then that. I would love to believe everything is awesome and honky dory and no oil is going to effect us. Yes we all know tar balls have floated up on beaches for the last 100 years and it is a normal ocurrence. We will have to wait and see, and hope...

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

i still clamin wit no slimee clams yet

drill baby drill

sam

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

I've been down here for a week and a half, will be here for a week or so more, it's starting to affect the tourist coming here. Lots and lots of cancellations for fishing trips, hotel rooms, etc. from the news media's reporting. Just got back from KW and it's the BIG talk down there. A big mess.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Our tourism is dead here in Alabama. We actually had a nice looking girl on the beach in a bikini surrounded by guys wearing tyvek suits on the front page of the paper. This has been horrible for the hotels and restaurants as cancellations are all the way across the board and months away. This incident has really brought out the idiot sector, people getting sick from the smell in the air (its 100 miles away folks) so they can sue, everyone and their brother calling the line saying they lost money so they can sue, attorneys adds everywhere, horrible. Just like what happens after hurricanes. Makes you sick of humanity.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

:mad:Ditto here in LA. The media is killing the tourist trade. There is still great fishing in certain areas but the media is causing those customers to cancel. This gushing oil well is going to play hell with our coast line and its marshes. We are really worried because we now have oil on land where there wasn't even a sheen so it looks as though the oil may be below the surface. No one really knows for sure what the future holds but we are praying.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

"Tar balls don't match". You really believe that?
"Blown out of proportion". BP said today that they are siphoning off 210000 gallons daily. Wasn't it only yesterday that it was only leaking 220000 gallons daily?
"Its only an oil spill not the end of the world" Buddy, for those people that depend on that water and it's resources to live, they will be devastated; not the end of the world, but close.
"11 people died and everyone is worried that there fishing will be hurt for a couple months" My condolences to those 11 who died and their families and friends. I wonder who those 11 were? Buddy this is going to hurt for more than a couple months.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Let me rephrase, if you are one of the 10,000,000 people complaining that don't make their living on the water, its not the end of the world.

Yes, I believe the tar balls don't match, you obviously haven't lived your life on the water near a major shipping port, lots of unexplained things come out of ship bilges.

I don't want to go into free flowing well hydrulics of an open hole in a minor field in the Gulf, but needless to say I never believed the amount they reported anyway. They may be recovering that many barrels of fluid from the well bore, but a majority of it will be saltwater from the formation.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

No, go into it. Whats the pressure of the escaping fluid? Whats the temp at that depth? If they could stick a 6" pipe into it, then why not a bladder on the end of that pipe pressurized to seal off the leak until a relief well is bored.
I've been on the water all my life and have seen what pollutants do. Not oil but phosphates from Lake Okeechobee run-off. Kills everything.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

BP said they could drill 18,000 ft in 90 days and hit a target the size of a basketball. Oh look, it`s the Easter Bunny again. I hope they prove me wrong! :mad:

Many things are not being discussed.

At 110 days, this is some simple math I did on day 5.

At 2 kts., the GS will travel over 5,000 miles.
Kittery ,Me. is 1500 miles to WPB.

At 210,000 a day you are north of 20 million gals.
You may want to add a zero to "their estimate".

Disolved O2 is already low in the gulf. :mad:

Not so cheery,
GFS

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100520/...l_rig_leak_201

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

The Russians would have probably set off a nuke in the seabed next to this thing a few days after it started and sealed it instantly! Seems a little strange there hasn't been more discussion of that. We did underground nuke tests for years, so there should be plenty of data on how close and how deep it would have to be to melt all the rock around the hole!

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Ken here is a good visual on the loop current

http://www.roffs.com/deepwaterhorizon.html

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

This mess is going to start looking really bad once the hurricanes start blowing, and the predictions are for a really big hurricane year. I doubt BP really wants to stop the flow, they're still getting oil out of it. It's all about profit. :(

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Here is a website with daily pictures from the MODIS satalites AQUA and TERRA, not everyday can you see the spill, nix that FLOW, but when they pass by and the sun shines you can get a good view, the 250m is the big picture

MOIDS TERRA AQUA MAIN PAGE

Here is a great picture from the other day 5/17

TERRA 5-17-2010

Here is a website with Oil Trajectory Models from USF

USF Ocean Circulation Group OIL SPILL MODELS

Crown weather just put up a Oil Spill page too
Crown weather oil page

Here is a webpage of the presentations given to the House panel on energy and commerce Oil spill presentations for energy and commerce

oh yeah, live webcam of the flow
Oil Flow WEBCAM

Your right about the media, they do blow everything out of proportion, and they also don't tell you everything either. I try to get to the source of information on the web and SEE for my self.

Lets try to keep this a civil conversation with usefull information maybe change the title of the thread or start a new one.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Looks like the storms are starting to POP!
Storm 2K CARIB LOW

Storm 2K Bahama LOW

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

5 miles off big pine yesterday. ocean was beautiful as always.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Live video of 20" diameter pipe leaking oil into the gulf, one of two leaks,

http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_inte...ov_stream.html

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

IMHO it's hard at this point to accurately forecast the spill's eventual true impact, and gov't, big biz, media, environmentalists, tourism officials, apocalyptic visionaries, self-proclaimed internet experts, etc., are working overtime to spin the story in every direction possible to suit their own individual vested interests. I doubt that anybody really "knows" what's going to happen in 2 days, 2 months or 2 years.

The reality is that a whole s#@tload of oil is being released into the Gulf, and they're having a hell of a time stopping it - that's bad. It seems to have been caused by some people ignoring rules and established safe practices, and that's bad too. Oil mucking up sensitive wetlands, killing birds and fish, fouling beaches and trashing coastal community economies...bad, bad, bad.

I don't see how very much good is going to come out of this...maybe clearer, stricter regs? Maybe a rethinking of the "Drill, baby, drill!" mentality? Fasten your seat belts, it may be a bumpy ride. Best wishes to all in the affected areas.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

New regs is something we certainly don't need. Why would we need another branch of the government not doing their job.

I was thinking the other day that whenever there is a storm and power lines for example go down, other power companys sent people over to help. There doesn't seem to be any other oil company helping? You would think it would be in the best interest of all involved. It may even help to have them police themselves against shortcuts. Heck, I'm a pretty patient guy and I'm only going to help someone once or twice before he is on his own.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Isn't this exactly what BP was doing? After all, self regulation has worked fine for years in the Gulf. Why spend the extra dough to install the additional cut off valves that are required in places like the North Sea? Too much $, what can possibly go wrong?

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

There have been offers, and they have been rejected. BP wants to own this, and does not want the advice of other oil companies. They also have stalled for way too long in hopes of collecting as much of the oil as possible without having to permanently seal off the Leak (Really its a major blow out :o ) Personally I feel that the shutoff valve had not been sufficiently tested in water a mile deep and that is part of the failure issue, who really knows. If BP is such a caring good company why are they charging for people to take their Hazmat class in Tampa :D They are aslimy, shady company that will do anything for profit. Personally I hope they never get to drill in the GOM ever again. I also will refuse to purchase any BP products ( Fuel, Castrol Oil) Etc ever!!!

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

I agree. And I withdraw my earlier comments. This is a bigger mess than I thought at the time. I don't think they should ban drilling, but BP has certainly shown us how to do pretty much everything wrong.

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Here is a couple of good ole' cracker boys with the
solution to the problem!!
Hay Soak

See ya, Ken

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

I would imagine there would be a lot of simple solutions...but just like a flat tax it is too simple :D

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

Many disturbing things are not being discussed.

It may be too close to other rigs to risk it.

The dispersant being used was banned in the UK 10 years ago for toxicity. BP has "no idea about this" They "just have a bunch of it, and that is why we`re using it".

Translation. It makes it sink really well.

The dispersant makes the sweet crude turn to taffy clogging the skimmers.

I know this is not a political site and I think we all share the horror.

The disolved O2 is already low in the Gulf. The microbes and bacteria which will attack and eat the oil will grow in numbers corresponding to the threat. They need O2 as well. Add the oil and watch the carnage.

The collapse of Phytoplankton and Zooplankton will amputate the food chain.

At 110 days the oil in the Gulfstream will travel 5600 miles @2 kts. Kittery, Me. is @1500 miles to WPB.
North of 20 million gals if you believe their "estimate".
Add a zero to their "estimate".

Re: Oil in the keys already????
 

There was a post by a fairly prominent charter captain who is based in Louisiana commenting on one of the larger fishing forums in the week after the spill that this was all being blown out of proportion and that within a month nobody would so much as remember this spill.

I wish for his sake and everyone else's that he'd been correct.