Oil Cleanup

[denjac]

This looks like a good way to get rid of the oil.

http://www.wimp.com/solutionoil/

[eric1978]

Of course we're talking about millions of gallons instead of half a pint. Worth a shot, though. It would be nice to see something done. I'll email the White House.

[fishinwrench]

It doesn't have to be seasoned hay, grass clippings and tree litter will work too.

They can start cutting my lawn and raking my leaves anytime they want.

[Phil Lilley]

How about oil eating enzymes?

[fishinwrench]

How about oil eating enzymes?

Nope, bad idea. If they eat all the oil, then they'll start farting...

And THERE GOES THE OZONE LAYER !

[Kayser]

What Phil is probably referring to are oil-degrading bacteria, which have been chemically engineered to eat all of the oil and grow as non-toxic first level consumers (like algae, except they eat oil instead of capture light as an energy source), which actually forms a biofilm (like algae, pond scum, etc) that can be eaten by zooplankton, shrimp, and other low-level consumers. I watched a video of it in Microbiology, but can't seem to find it online. The stuff basically comes in 50lb bags of dry powder, then gets mixed with water and sprayed onto the oil. It degrades all of the petroleum- from asphalt and tar all the way up to octane and ethers, and was used to clean up an early 90's spill off of Venezuala (I think) when a supertanker exploded and released it's oil into the water. And though BP might not care about the environmental/nontoxic aspect of bioremediation, the fact that is costs about 25% of what their expensive toxic dispersants does probably would make them interested. Surprised they haven't started with this already, probably would've saved them a lot of grief. Oh, and when there's no more oil to eat, the bacteria just die off, just leaving themselves as fertilizer, basically.

Rob

[catman70]

Anything BP does has to be approved by the EPA. Genetically engineered microorganisms for the use of bioremediation has been banned (either explicitly or otherwise) by the EPA since the technology's arrival in the 80's. There's some research going on, but nothing to my knowledge has been allowed to be commercialized.

Florida's fishery really took a hit with the cold weather, and now – if this continues – even more havoc will be wreaked. On the bright side of things: With all the organic carbon and nutrient deposition that is or will occur from either the oil or the naturally-occurring microorganisms that will consume the oil, the affected areas will probably be much more biologically productive in 50 to 75 years than they otherwise would be.

If only we had a Hollywood movie director to solve this problem for us...

[Phil Lilley]

Talked to a friend this evening from the Mobile, AL area who's into Gulf fishing in a big way. Also a pilot. Also has some interest in oil.

He had a few interesting things to say that I didn't hear in the news.

#1 - He said they should have let it burn.

#2 - He said when they were trying to put the fire out, they blew too much foam on the rig and that's what made it collapse (tip over), breaking off the pipe and thus the leak.

#3 - He said his daughter was swimming on the beach in that area 2 weeks ago and came out smelling like oil, felt the oil on her skin. Couldn't see it but it was already showing up.

#4 - If a hurricane hits the Gulf and blows up north into the states, it will carry that oil hundreds of miles inland - all the way up here.

[denjac]

Most folks dont realise that the Estuaries in La, Miss and Alabama are the spawning grounds for the food chain for the whole gulf and Alantic. Shrimp and other baitfish spawn up into the weeds in Mobile bay and the Fowl river. If that ends then the whole system shuts down. The news media plays up the plight of the birds because that is what is visable. Its a real bad deal and hope the can get it under control.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Why didn't they just pinch the pipe? Or should I say why haven't they?