The response to the Deepwater Horizon incident continues as responders work to stop the flow of oil and minimize its environmental impact.
Efforts by BP and Transocean personnel to activate the blowout preventer using submersible remote operated vehicles began Sunday with the process expected to take 24 to 36 hours. Additionally, BP has mobilized two drilling rigs, one of which is expected on scene today, to prepare for relief well drilling operations. BP has filed permits with the Minerals Management Service for an engineering review and approval for drilling the relief well.
Sunday, an aircrew from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sighted five small whales during an over flight in the vicinity of the oil spill, which currently measures 48 miles by 39 miles at its widest points with varying levels of sheening, and is located 30 miles off the coast of Venice, Louisiana.
The unified command is monitoring the situation and is working closely with officials from Fish and Wildlife, National Marine Fisheries Service and NOAA to understand the impact the spill and response activities may have on whales and other marine wildlife in the area. The use of dispersants has been adjusted to avoid areas where whales have been spotted.
“The safety of the people working offshore is our top priority and the improved weather has created better conditions for our response,” said BP Group Chief Executive Tony Hayward. “This, combined with the light, thin oil we are dealing with has further increased our confidence that we can tackle this spill offshore.”
BP, operating with the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies, has launched its comprehensive, pre-approved oil spill response plan following the April 22 sinking of the Transocean Deepwater Horizon drilling rig 130 miles south-east of New Orleans.
According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) experts participating in the spill response, the spill is “very thin” and consists of “97 per cent sheen.”
In Houma, Louisiana where the field operations response is being coordinated, more than 1,000 personnel on and offshore are deployed to coordinate the oil spill response.
BP, as lease operator of MC252, also continues to work below the surface on Transocean’s subsea equipment using remotely operated vehicles to monitor the Macondo/MC252 exploration well, and is working to activate the blow-out preventer.
The Transocean drilling rig Development Driller III will arrive on location today to drill the first of two relief wells to permanently secure the well. A second drilling rig, Transocean’s Discoverer Enterprise, is en route.
Following adverse weather that went through the area, response crews are anticipated to resume skimming operations today. Assets currently being used to respond to the incident include:
- More than 1,000 personnel,
- 14,654 gallons of dispersant have been used with another 119,734 gallons on stand by,
- 21,340 feet of containment boom is place at the spill site,
- 10 offshore response vessels,
- 7 skimming boats,
- 1,152 barrels/48,384 gallons of oily water have been collected.
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