[Updated at 9:36 p.m.] Earl has been downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane but is still dangerous, the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 p.m. Thursday forecast.
As of 8 p.m., the center of Earl was about 160 miles (260 kilometers) south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and about 625 miles (1,005 kilometers) south-southwest of Nantucket. It was heading north at about 18 mph (30 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (165 kph).
"Even if the center of Earl remains offshore ... hurricane force winds are expected to occur in the Outer Banks overnight tonight," the center said Thursday.
[Updated at 2:14 p.m.] For continuing coverage of the incident involving a production platform on fire in the Gulf read the full story here.
[Updated at 2:08 p.m.] U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Elizabeth Bordelon tells CNN there is a sheen at the site of the production platform that measures approximately 1 mile by 100 feet. This information comes after Gov. Bobby Jindal who said there were reports of a mile-long sheen.
[Updated at 1:03 p.m.] Mariner Energy, owner of the production platform, said in a press release that no hydrocarbon spill has been reported after an initial flyover of the incident.
"Mariner has notified and is working with regulatory authorities in response to this incident," the statement said. "The cause is not known, and an investigation will be undertaken. During the last week of August 2010, production from this facility averaged approximately 9.2 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and 1,400 barrels of oil and condensate."
The company also said no injuries have been reported.
[Updated at 12:48 p.m.] David Reed, a paramedic on board a neighboring oil rig located 14 miles from the platform that exploded, told iReport he saw all thirteen workers rescued from the water.
“We were up here in the radio room and all of sudden we saw a whole bunch of smoke coming from the platform," Reed said. "Shortly after all the radios started lighting up like a Christmas tree. They called any helicopters in the area, any boats in the area to respond, they were saying there were people in the water. There were multiple people in the water.”
See Reed's iReport of what he witnessed
WWL: Coast Guard reporting production platform incident
WDSU: Production platform explodes in Gulf
iReport: Did you see the explosion? Share images
[Updated at 12:32 p.m.] White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday that the federal government has "assets ready" to respond to any environmental problems resulting from the explosion of an oil platform off the coast of Louisiana.
[Updated at 12:31 p.m.] All thirteen people aboard a production platform that exploded in the Gulf are accounted for and safely on a commercial vessel according to initial information, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement.
"We continue to gather information as we respond with full force, and have oil spill response assets ready for immediate deployment should we receive any reports of pollution," the statement said.
[Updated at 11:53 a.m.] U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Bill Colclough tells CNN that 12 people from the production platform are in water immersion suits as they await rescue.
Colclough told CNN there are reports the production platform, which is for both oil and natural gas, is still on fire.
"We don't know what caused the rig to catch on fire," he told CNN, noting the incident is under investigation.
Asked about concerns regarding oil leaks or pollution, Colclough said "there are reports the rig was not actively producing any product, so we don't know if there's any risk of pollution."
Mariner Energy is a leading independent oil and gas exploration and production company in the Gulf of Mexico. About 85 percent of the company's production comes from offshore assets, with a growing share of that coming from deepwater developments.
The explosion comes nearly five months after the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded April 20, killing 11 people and causing oil to gush into
the Gulf of Mexico, leading to one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history.
[Updated at 11:43 a.m.] U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Bill Colclough tells CNN that all 13 workers involved in the production platform explosion are accounted for, but one person is injured.
Coast Guard Choppers are on the way to the site 80 miles south of Vermilion Bay.
[Posted at 11:33 a.m.] An oil production platform has exploded 80 miles off the coast of Louisiana, with 12 people overboard and one missing, the Coast Guard said Thursday morning.
Rescue attempts are under way for at least 12 people, Coast Guard spokesman John Edwards told CNN. 13 people were on board the production platform total, Edwards said, noting 12 have been accounted for, but one person was missing.
The accident took place 80 miles off the coast of Louisiana on the Vermilion Oil production platform 380, which is owned by Houston-based Mariner Energy.
The Coast Guard has multiple helicopters, an airplane and several Coast Guard cutters en route. It's unknown if there are any injuries.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Aww, crap.
The headline needs to say "this is not a repeat from April"
Ohhhhh, my head hurts.
It cannot be, again?
((
I think im going to buy a few shares in BP! stock price is gonna boom.
Get out your score cards, kids.
OMG, I just walked into the building and saw this breaking news story....so sad. It's obvious something has to be done. The industry needs to be better regulated than it is now. Peoples livelihood depend on it!
Its no more Obama's fault as every other problem in the entire universe is Bush's fault... Both of you need to get over yourselves
looks like 9/11 all over again the 1 – 2 punch ?
Conspiracy theory...BP can't pay for anymore clean-up so they blow up another rig to share the spill costs
This is just amazing.Earthquakes in different parts of the world. Earl is coming and Evacuations are taking place. meanwhile, another rig Explodes. We're pulling out of Iraq and onto Afghanistan. This is a year we should not forget people.
you took the words right out of my mouth!
this is so sad. My husband is on his way out now. People say the Coast Guard doesnt do anything. I think not. They do just as much as any other Branch! Stay Safe to everyone out there!
Why don't you wait till they have the whole story before placing blame, or assuming anything at all. Rumors is why there is so much controversary on everything in this Country anymore. Nobody waits for the facts or bothers to check out what they receive in an email.
I don't think the explosion is Obama's fault. I do wonder about radical environmentalist. The Hurricane on the other hand . . .
I cannot believe that this is happening again. Now I am really starting to lose my faith in BP, those cost cutting numskulls have alowed another rig to exploed. This one better not start spewing oil as well or else no one will want to do buisness with these people.
Let's all bring God and politics into an oil rig explosion.
I hope some of you are just joking or being jerks. I hate to think I'm sharing the road with some of you Einsteins.
Bush and Chenney did it.
Yeah... when is enough enough? This is insane.
For those of you argue for reduced drilling and reduced dependency on petroleum, here are a few things to ponder:
Offshore drilling has been in operation around the world since the 1890's. SInce then there have been a number of rig's, platforms, and drilling boats lost. In most incidents it was due to mechanical failure or severe weather. Out of these a very small number resulted in an actual petroleum spill. The majority of recorded acidents have occured in the past 25 years.
The recent BP accident was caused by an obvious levelr of corporate iresposability and negelect by cutting corners to reduce overhead and time to production. Unfortunatly as we all observed it does not pay to be cheap when it comes to doing things the correct way or the safe way. Thus the largest oil and mining disaster ever recorded.
Chances are this latest event may not generate a measurable spill. Judgement on the future offshore operations should be with held until the cause of the explosion is discovered. It could have simple been equipment faile or it could have been another horrid example of corporate irresponsability. Let's wait and see.
Unfortantely there is no way around the need to produce oil any way possible. Petroleum is used in everything we consume. From paper and plastics, to paints, cleansers, clothes, electronics, even food production. Power, heating, and motor fuels are a small part of our dependancy on oil. In fact the gasoline we use in our cars is one of the first byproducts in the oil refining process and is produced in far greater abundance than the oil companies, government, or media would like you to know. Up until the early part of the 20'th century gasoline was considered a useless waste product and thousands of galons a day would be dumped into the ocean. Today not even the coke ash goes wasted, everything produced int the refining process now has a purpose in our work and daily lives.
So instead of push to sttop production lets push for improved saftey protocols and inflict strict punishments agains companies that fail to comply or are found negligent after and accident.
do the math september 2 . add that up. 11. whats with double numbers? Get on f***ing Facebook already! on I like it!
This is a conspiracy.
DRILL BABY DRILL
First off, it is a platform, not a rig. Second, because it is a platform, it is in shallow water and they are not drilling. Not even close to the 5000' water the last disaster was in. Lastly, I haven't worked since the last explosion and with this on the shelf, a lot more people will likely be out of work. I have an idea, how about the GOM oil and gas producers close the valves that supply this country with a large percentage of its supply, drive the price of gasoline and about a million other products through the roof and see what is said then. IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!
the price we pay for being the worlds largest oil consumerl....this makes me sick
once again 11:33 is the next post for this news.......Ps the last that i posted should not contain foul language. i do not use facebook.
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two similar accidents in the same place in a few months CAN'T BE a "coincidence"
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could they be a terrorists attack?
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could the Earth become like this: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-483473
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however, I hope, that, this time, they'll use THIS TOOL to STOP the oil leak in a few hours: ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-472981
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Right garc its not like its President Bush or anything. If Bush was still President of course we all know it would have been his fault...but since its Obama its "just one of those things."
As Sarah would say : " Drill baby , Drill"
SAM....
Shallow water huh.. The accident was in all of 340 feet of water. Do you have a clue what you are talking about?
the last entry was about double numbers. 11:33 was the next post from the news I do not use facebook and did not type the last of the comment.
drill baby drill! ...yeah, that's working out real well.
Ah! how lovely ... may I say round two perhaps? what horse crap!!!! people wake up and smell the gas we have to do something before the oil giants take complete control of this planet!
WAS THIS A BP RIG AGAIN????????
Clearly, what needs to be done is to immediately hire more inspectors. The inspections are taking so long because there are way too few to do the job. And since the oil lobbyists were instrumental in gutting those offices, they're the ones who should pay to hire them!
The first time I had my doubts that it was an accident & now I'm sure that this is no accident. It's a shame that these extreme environmentalists are willing to kill so much wild life to push their agenda.
Obama did it??? Move offshore drilling closer to land??? More regulations??? Get informed, people. Obama has about as much control over this type of situation as did Bush over the national deficit.
Move offshore drilling closer to land??? Yeah, that will make the seafood industry prices skyrocket. Not to mention ruin miles of marshland when/if this happens again. God forbid.
More regulations??? Please. Accidents happen when people don't pay attention to detail in their responsibilities. Accidents just don't happen. And you can't take a restroom break without filling out some sort of government form.
There is a natural gas reservoir that covers over two-thirds of the continental United States' footprint. Why haven't we tapped into that? Same reason we have troops dying overseas for our country over bad intel that there were WMD's (weapons of mass destruction) in Iraq....political agendas mixed with private sector businesses.
To all the families and friends of anyone who has ever stepped foot on an oil rig, may you find peace and you're loved ones be safe. To all of you who haven't...try it. You wouldn't last an hour.
It's time for GREEN ENERGY
I hate mustard
@DragonSoul wrote: "Unfortunately there is no way around the need to produce oil any way possible." That is NOT correct. Electric cars burn NO oil – Solar and Wind Farms require NO coal Algae can be converted to fuel of many kinds (The Air force just ordered Algal Oil be made into 400,000 Gallons of Jet Fuel for a Test) and other Bio-Oils can be used for stocks for synthesis. Also Algae for fuel could be produced in ponds built like Atolls to neutralize much of the fertilizer pollution creating Gulf 'Dead Zones' and provide Storm Protection as barrier islands
CNN Screwed this up. It is NOT an floating oil platform that is producing oil. According to the newspaper in Louisiana, it is a fixed manned platform that hasn't been producing any oil. That is what article read. No, this is NOT the repeat of what happened previously.
Hmm, Alberta Oilsands not looking as bad as "offshore" oil and gas now huh? or Eh?
Awww Crap again, somebody call Palin "momma grizzly bear". she'll fix it, after all there's allot of people that thinks she got brains. Hah
This is number two now. I think we should keep a close eye on our investments in the gulf.
Oh no! It's the Cloverfield Monster!
http://tinyurl.com/2fo86s3
I smell eco-terrorism
@Dragonsoul – No major spills? Have you been paying attention? There have been three major spills this year alone and three in less than three months.
1. Port Arthur Texas – 480,000 gallons.
2. Coast of Louisiana. – Amount unknown.
3. BP Gulf fiasco – We'll never know the truth about the size of that but it decimated the gulf.
Get real and pay attention!!!
Looks like we will be over seas a bit longer... seems we cant get this thing down pat, eh!
Obama strikes again...
People, people, people.....the oil drilled off the shores of the US DO NOT go to the US. It goes to the highest bidder!!
Also, I do not care how deep the water is they are drilling in...I want to know how deep the wells are actually being drilled. The 60 minute interview that I saw about the Deep Horizon, the man interviewed that was on the rig said that they actually drilled around 35,000 feet....the deepest oil well ever drilled. Deeper wells have been drilled but that was the deepest oil well. They were only suppose to drill 15,000 feet deep...so why isn't the media screaming about them breaking the rules.
Idiots. Get the whole story please! BP is NOT involved in this incident at all. Things happen. Do we shut down ALL air travel just because a plane crashes?? Do we shut down driving because peole have wrecks?? Please people really learn what this stuff is all about instead of judging....
Let me guess. Bad blow-out preventer? At least no one was killed. Time to get these rigs/platforms inspected, and take a good look at what regulations need to be PUT BACK IN PLACE.
DRILL BABY DRILL!!!
o boy i bet the gas prise will go up now an more oil in the ocean
meh... so... still think we don't need a moratorium on drilling? Obama had this one right – we need to see that platform operations are safe. We all pay when there is a disaster.
Dumb, baby, dumb!
Dumb here.
Dumb now.
Clueless.
I bet many of you here was also againts the Oil Rig Moratorium by the Obama Admin....wasn't Jindal also against this?
Come on guys this is a natural gas rig NOT a oil rig. Once again the media trying to pull in people with headlines and not facts.
here we go again.
Drill baby drill!!! the terrorist don't need to destroy us. we will do it with a few more oil platforms explosions.
FIFTH WELL BLOW OUT IN FOUR MONTHS IN LOUISIANA. I'm glad everyone is safe.
To ......, if your husband is SAR, he DOESN'T do anything. He waits, he maintains, he trains, he waits. Then, when the doo doo hits the fan, he works his butt off.
I'd MUCH prefer he NOT have to do anything, but the sea is not very forgiving or friendly to us.
So, tell hubby to keep up the good work and stay safe! Without the USCG, many, many good people would be dead and many bad people would NOT be behind bars.
Watch the feedback from DC.
nice.Thank you
nice : http://www.finestpurse.com
I'm not Regis. http://notregis.wordpress.com
Wow, who wants to keep offshore drilling going now? Anyone?
I'm up for it... that's why we pay these guys what we do. There's risk involved in drilling. I'm willing to accept that risk.
Manticore, you're right, no more off-shore drilling – bring it in close where it's way safer and chaeper to drill in shallow water.
well I'm going to keep driving a car, soooooooo i guess me.
I guess all you folks saying stop the drilling dont live anywhere near Louisiana!! We need it, it is a way of life here. More safety regs sure, but dont stop drilling!
Drill, baby, drill. Damn, this is an effin shame.
I do....just because a plane (or two) crashes doesn't mean we ground all airplanes....quit overreacting!!
I do. This how my family survives. Not only does my husband and brother in law work offshore, so does a lot of our close friends. Why not wait to find out what happened before we start blaming the idustry as a whole?
When a mine collapses, do we stop mining? When a car flips because of a faulty design, is the entire automobile industry shut down? This is a dangerous job, but one that, unfortunately, is necessary. Oil and petroleum provide so much in terms of gas, electricity, etc. that we are, like it or not, completely dependent upon it. On top of that, there are about 100,000 jobs in the Louisiana that are dependent upon the oil business. So yes, there are many people who are still going to want to keep drilling. And rightfully so.
If the Republican party wins control in November the first thing they'll do is open up more of the Gulf to oil drilling while they deregulate the induatry even further. It will get worse, in other words.
I'll say it. Drill, baby! Drill!
While you're at it, set off a few dozen dirty nukes! Make sure they're gigaton devices set for ground burst...
hey, Mike R is willing to accept the risk of other people's lives. how valiant!
So we have 16 years without a rig accident under Clinton and Bush. Now with Obama in charge we have two in 6 months and the latest one comes the day after the drilling ban gets shot down in Federal Court. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but if it happens a third time, I'm going to say it is enemy action.
It bemuses me that oil rigs never exploded under the Bush administration. It's only happening under the Obama administration, and anyone with a clue knows what his administration's agenda is vis-a-vis offshore drilling. Superficially, it seems that nefarious forces are at work here to make a point about offshore drilling.
Bet BP is loving this, finally something to take the heat off of them.
who wants to push your car to work? not me. or how about next time you are in the hospital, why don't you request that they just not use any plastic... good luck with that.
me, actually...why not? you're a fool to say we should stop and just rely on our enemies for oil because of some issues and political circus acts. you don't even know the facts of what happened on this occassion yet and you want people to think it's the end of the world. wasn't BP's spill supposed to be devastating to the entire gulf? Kill off all living things as we know it? And yet they're already going back in and fishing those waters. Get a life.
Great idea! Ready for $100.00 per barrel oil prices?
Keep your mouth shut until you know the facts. The rig was not active. Not drilling is destroying the economy of several states and ruining the lives of thousands.
Accidents happen. Just like every other industry facing rising costs and minimal gains sometimes things get overlooked and dumb accidents happen. There are safeguards – they just need to be inforced. You can't shut down the gulf oil operation. It amazes me when people who have no real understanding of economics or the industries they criticize try to "Solve" problems like these. Leave these problems to those of us who actually know something about it and quit getting in our way.
Obviously dorkus Dave does not live in Lousiana! Typical right wing head-in-the-sand (or worse) response!
idiot. learn more about why it's offshore before you post something you don't know about.
Mike...your willing to accept the risk? What kind of crap is that? You're not out there. I suppose you're willing to take the risk for me in Baghdad as well.....you coward.
Cars are crashing, and airplanes, and houses collapse in hurricanes, do you want to ban them too???
The rig was not producing oil. Accidents happen people. You uber-liberals are only making the situation worse with the moratoriums that have cost thousands of job losses. Keep up with those extreme, and rash decisions, and watch while the economy goes south, and prices of oil goes out the roof.
Sam you donkey, if there was such a thing (cheaper and safer) don't you think they would do it ??! Why don't we go where is really deep and expensive ... for the heck of it ...
I'd drill through a box of kittens if it would get gas under $2/gal.
As soon as you nut jobs stop opposing drilling up in Alaska for the sake of a few polar bears the deep water drilling should stop.
Yes, Brian, it's a conspiracy by Obama to hurt his own presidency! Actually it's really that the seeds Bush planted have taken time to germinate into sh!t flowers.
The only way we can stop drilling offshore is when everyone makes the decison to do with less, a lot less. Everyone in this thread who says stop drilling needs to stop driving their cars by 50%, stop relying on petroleum based products, stop relying on many of the things you use in your daily life. Sure, I wish that drilling offshore wasn't necessary, but until everyone, including all the people complaining, step up to the plate and do something you're just wasting time.
People die in cars. Should we stop producing cars?
We're going to run out of oil eventually anyway. We need to work on Alternative energy before it's too late. And I hardly think a downed plane or crashed cars can ruin entire ecosystems. It's not out of a sense of fear of people being hurt or dying. It's out of concern for half the planet.
When a mine explodes or a car crashes into another, the entire Eastern Seaboard doesn't suffer. Big difference! If there is any risk of another BP then the possible damages greatly outweigh the benefits.
@Mike R You aren't the one assuming the risk unless you are working on the rig.
No........we want to depend on the Middle East........duh! Drilling in the gulf has been going on for yeeeeaaaaars! S–t happens! Jeez, it's so ridiculous that everyone's perspective these days seems to revolve around idea that "the world must come to an end" when S–t happens! Grow up and get real.
I love how people can get on here and post something about how we need to stop drilling and how we need to find another source of energy..... well if you are that concerned get out there and do something about it. we've been pulling oil out of our waters for some time now and accidents will always happen. deal with it.
Those of you who still support off-shore drilling to fuel up your gas-guzzling SUVs, would you be so willing to do the work yourself or do you just put someone else in harm's way? I'll pay for the boat to ship you idiots out into the Gulf.
Nothing is wrong with off- shore drilling. But everything is wrong with Corporate cutting corners for the pursuit of profit which is ultimately for wall street.
I agree with you, stop offshore drilling and bring it closer to land where it is safer to drill. Also, let do alittle more drilling inland and in Alaska.
I'll tell ya who, the TEABAGGERS and VPILF Palin. "Drill Baby Drill"
I'm ready to move on from petroleum for sure! We have the know-how, the only thing stopping us really is that the alternatives do not cost (therefore someone is not making a buck) very much. Sun – free. Corn fuels – cheap. Wind – free. Water – free. Yes, it would cost money for start-up...but at some point we've got to think about the future of energy and start to make a plan. That, and the auto industry has to come down on their pricing for hybrids. I feel hypocritial (and very well might be) that I drive a van that takes unleaded because I cannot afford a new car hybrid – hell, can't even afford a used hybrid right now. My point – we have to start moving towards alternative energy. If anything, to give some new work and new industries willing to compete against big oil.
Michael,
If a mine collapses or a car has issues because of the design, it doesn't kill tons of wildlife, and pollute our waters and damage our shores and land. You are comparing apples and oranges. I feel sorry for people who's livelihoods depend on offshore drilling, but these accidents are DESTROYING the tourism industry in the gulf. I'll take tourism industry over the oil industry any day of the week.
"There's no need for a moritorium on drilling, just because one blew doesnt mean it's going to happen again" – guess what, it happened again. IM SHOCKED! oh, no wait...no, I actually am not shocked. This crazy liberal figured it was bound to happen sooner, rather than later. Profits always trump safety, always. Especially when lobbyist get delusional idiots to support their stupidity by chanting "we need these jobs!"
1. It appears that it is an inactive well–let's hope so, and let's hope the workers get rescued.
2. Until America doesn't need oil or jobs, I'm not sure that people *reallly* want the offshore drilling industry to stop. It's a nice, altruistic thing to say, but not reality. Kind of like saying we don't want cheap imports but then trampling people at Wal-Mart for a $19 bicycle–we talk a good talk, but we're a fickle country.
3. I agree with everyone who said there is risk in these things that must be accepted. The oil disasters are horrible–no one can argue that–but as long as we need the product and the region needs the jobs, we have to accept the risk. Disasters are the exception, not the rule. Think about the number of space program disasters relative to the number of launches, or the number of plane crashes relative to the number of flights, and on and on. Given the enormous complexity of our endeavors, we should all be amazed at how *seldom* these things happen, not how often.
Bottom line is that it stinks, but we can't have it both ways.
I'm all for it still.
Perfect reply Michael.
This site isn't currently producing oil. CALM DOWN EVERYONE.. panicking for nothing.
#1 This is a platform rig, NOT a drilling rig, know the difference.... Yeah keep drilling, thats our way of life being husband has been doing this for 30+ years... No guarantee you will be safe on any job......
If you don't want offshore drilling then how will you heat your homes that these brave men so valiantly provide you with. How will you go to work? how will you live the everyday life that you have come accoustom to? instead of pushing to stop drilling how about we push for new safety regulations that the oild companies have to abide by or be fined.
manticore i know your prolly some treehugger that doesnt know anything about the oil industry but would you like to stop drilling out in the gulf im sure you are one of the people who hated the 5 dollar a gallon gas prices hmmmm wonder what would happen if we quit drilling out there i work in the gulf its my livelyhood your talking about hmmm were in a recession how bout lets run some more people out of jobs sounds good huh moron.
To those with the flimsy and/or selfish excuses for wanting to keep offshore drilling. When a plane crashes or a mine collapses, it doesn't take out several states with it. If you want to risk your own life doing a dangerous job, be my guest, but the BP oil spill screwed over thousands of people who had absolutely NOTHING to do with it.
Oh it's your livelihood??? Somebody call the wahmbulance. Murder is a hitman's livelihood and you don't see anyone complaining about that!
I want one of those off shore jobs right now... please hire me!
I'm smart, hard-working, college educated, and out of work....
Please let me work on one of those off shore platforms....
I will work for less than those other guys... need the job... please hire me!
I do. Planes crash, cars crash, ships sink, space shuttles disintegrate and we still keep using them Drill baby drill.
Ban offshore drilling entirely? Sure, go for it. Gas will hit $20 a gallon and my oil stocks will SOAR!
I'm pretty sure that everyone in the oil industry wants to keep it going. Including the entire coast of LA that is funded by the industry, this would include hotels, car rentals, eating places, grocery stores, etc.
Folks in LA have to pull this needle from their arms. Oil will run out. Then what will they do for work?
Of course, slowing down the extraction postpones the crisis and gives more time to prepare.
Would you also be calling for the ban of all air, sea, and land travel? Many more people are injured and killed everyday in these types of ACCIDENTS as well. Just a little food for thought. Wouldn't it be more productive to offer prayers for the injured, the missing, and their families?
YOU CANNOT COMPARE AN OIL RIG EXPLODING TO A CAR CRASHING OR A PLANE GOING DOWN BECAUSE A CAR DOES NOT CAUSE AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN AND WHAT ABOUT THE LIVES OF THE FISHERMAN WHO DEPEND ON THE GULF FOR THEIR LIFE?
Wow, some really muddled logic used here. Yes, cars kill people – but that isn't why people are saying 'stop drilling', it is because of the fear of environmental damage. Much like producing electric vehicles! So, yes, the auto industry *is* changing because of the effect on the environment. Do we stop mining because of accidents? No, we stop strip mining because it destroys the environment. We try to use energy sources other than coal because it damages the environment.
Now, I am not saying *this* accident is leaking any oil, because there is no news on that yet. I'm just saying that the knee-jerk response to other knee-jerk responses is no more rational or intelligent. IOW, both reactions sound pretty stupid.
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come on you idiots! another rig explodes and you all want to shut down drilling. things happen usually in three's, dont they?so, prepare your delicate little lives for another one. take airliner crashes for instance. when one happens there is typically a couple more in succession. do any of you support banning air travel? do you see the white house banning air travel? another thing to consider, drilling involves MANY mechanical things..... and mechanical things break from time to time. you fix it and move on. stop being a bunch of sissies and crying to shut down drilling because of an accident. get real!
Atomic booms kill people, do we stop using them? oh wait.
Keep drilling. I HAVE been on those rigs and I HAVE assumed that responsibility. Before we run around crying "the sky is falling" perhaps we should find out what happened. Who among us can live or is willing to live without oil raise your hands. All of you with your hands up, please submit your essay on how the countries economy will survive. Let the rest of us uneducated morons, I have a BSEE and a BSME, know what we should do to get to work, get the milk from the dairy to our kids mouth, keep our landscaping company profitable, keep our electricity on, keep our houses warm in the winter, etc..... Remember when the price of gas was $4.00 a gallon. What happened to the price of everything else. It didnt go down.
And BTW, if this is the republicans fault for being in bed with big oil why is John Kerry working with BP and other big oil execs to write the Cap n Trade law? Look it up, Big oil donates to whoever is in power. In this case its the Democrats. This is why we need to stop undermining each other and come up with viable solutions. No lets just critisize each other because the world isnt the way WE want it to be. You all sound like a bunch of whining kids. You sound just like the politicions on both sides of the isle.... waaa waaa waaa
Unfortunately, the strongest proponents of offshore drilling are the residents of the Gulf states who long ago sold their souls and all reason to the oil companies for a few shekels. These are the same people who, after the BP explosion, cried out of one side of their mouths and opposed a moratorium out of the other. Can't have it both ways while expecting everyone else to pay for it. The helpless air and sea creatures, the dying flora and fauna are all I feel sympathy for anymore.
SURPRISINGLY MANY WILL still fervently hold onto the idea that OIL is the ONLY thing sacred. We have been BRAINWASHED by those who profit from it (Read as George W. Bush and Dick Cheney et al) that NOT to LOVE oil is UNPATRIOTIC which translates in our current insanity into SINFUL.
I live in Florida and am watching our already fragile economy crumble after the first oil spill, this is effecting every Americans lives Jen. Stop being an oil-zombie.
Not again!!
I'm really, REALLY hoping this is a programming error replying ancient news!
It isn't, but maybe if I pinch myself...
here we go again.....
Exactly my thoughts. Hope everyone is allright. Let's close all drill sites until we absolutely know for sure drilling is safe and safe for the environment. And please stop the oil addiction!
Hey @Spanish Inquisition first tell us that you will put your car away and not use heating oil until we figure out if drilling is safe instead of making completely ridiculous statements!
WE DON'T NEED to put our cars 'away' or stop heating our homes. We only need to convert our current commuter care to electric ( It is easy for any car mechanic to do with a kit ) Keep your SUV for the weekend. Instead of the COAL the utility company uses to make power to heat your home – there is a new product called SOLAR SHINGLES with which you can roof your house to produce power that is fed back into the Grid. The rest of the power required could come from Clean Power the Utility produces.
Here we go again.
What's the line from "Armageddon"....this is a 'g"d' Greek tragedy....
pretty much sums up human history really. this is just the latest Scene of the Current Act.
REVELATIONS 8: 7The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the TREES were burned up, and all the GREEN GRASS was burned up. 8The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown INTO THE SEA. A third of the sea TURNED INT BLOOD, 9a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11the name of the star is called Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
BP to blame? How many CEOs are they going to go through this year?
It's not BP jack-ass! Get a higher education and read the wording
The three thoughts I had were:
1) Again?!?
2) It better not be another BP rig
3) Another blowout preventer bit the dust...
At least we have a plan on how much to charge this time around.
Jesus... here we go again.
I BELIEVE Jesus may be the ONLY one who can SAVE US from the SATANIC forces that seem bent on the destruction of HUMANKIND. If we really were a CHRISTIAN nation we would all be on our knees in REPENTANCE and begging for GOD'S forgiveness.
600,000 MILLION OF BARRELS AT DAY TO THE GULF......AGAIN !!!!
...and none if it make sit ashore.....first time in recorded history probably...makes you wonder about the information we're being fed....pretty soon they'll have to kick up the H1N1 propaganda....all in an effort to take the focus off a horrible economy...don't think our government would ever do that? Look up Gulf of Tonkin incident!!
Thats over $9,000 Grand a day!?
Gosh, James. I am not being a smarta$$ here in answering yours, I'm just glad to see others see what I do. Rhere were others as I was reading down through, but yours just hit me as the one to comment through. Has anyone seen the deficit chart from the last decade? And connected the dots?
Marx/Engels/Alinsky? You should be proud of your disciple. Just a little more Lenin, and you'll have the recipe.
Drill, Baby, Drill!
Prayers for all involved.
Pray all living creatures including us
Yea, that will help...
wow. is anyone else thinking this may not be a good idea?
I think maybe all of us are thinking that.... not that it matters. Gotta fuel up those SUVs.
IT DOES NOT SEEM to matter what WE believe as long as we are PWNED by corporations which; despite being declared CITIZENS by the SUPREMES; are SOULLESS MONSTERS that CONSUME Humankind for the SACRED Dollar that is all that the SATANIC PREDATORY forces of CAPITALISM Worship.
and all we're left to do is hope for equipment failure and not an act of terrorism. yay. god speed to those in the water.
Deja Vu