Gulf oil spill moving in unpredictable underwater currents
BEIJING. May 20. KAZINFORM As energy giant BP races to capture more spilled oil from a ruptured well, the heavy oil is moving below the surface in underwater currents, Kazinform refers to Xinhuanet.
But where and how far it spreads will depend on weather conditions, according to media reports on Thursday.
The spilled oil, continually shifting direction and speed, is just now reaching the mouth of the Mississippi River and has shown up along the shores of barrier islands.
The U.S. government's top weather forecaster said a "small portion" of light sheen from the giant oil slick has already entered the Loop Current, which could carry the oil down to the Florida Keys, to Cuba and even up the East Coast.
The latest glimpse of video footage of the oil spill indicates that around 95,000 barrels, or 4 million gallons, a day of crude oil may be spewing from the leaking wellhead, 19 times the previous estimate, an engineering professor said on Wednesday.
The United States has already imposed a large no-fishing zone in waters in the Gulf seen affected by the spill.
In the wake of a series of failed containment efforts the energy giant BP has tried since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig collapsed following an April 20 explosion, BP officials are preparing a procedure they say is crucial in containing oil.
The "top kill" procedure will involve pumping heavy fluids down two three-inch lines placed inside the wellhead.
If successful, the fluids will temporarily stop the oil rush, which would then allow operators to seal the opening with cement.
The procedure will take place Sunday, officials say, and it appears to be the last best chance to seal the well in the short term, Kazinform cites Xinhuanet. See www.xinhuanet.com for full version.