I don't want to minimize anything, because the spill IS a disaster... BUT:
1) At its current rate of leakage according to an AP report in this morning's paper, this well would have to leak for NINE YEARS continuously to equal the volume of oil released by the last major well accident in the gulf (a well owned by Mexico). As deep-water wellhead leaks/blowouts go, this one is a trickle.
2) Its still quite possible that they'll get the blowout preventer valve closed or the well otherwise capped.
3) Burning the oil is a reasonable and practical way to clean it up. In fact if you'll recall, the oil slick didn't start forming until the rig sank, extinguishing the fire which was consuming the oil as it was released. Burning crude at atmospheric pressure creates a lot of soot, but it doesn't create a lot of highly toxic pollutants and soot precipitates out of the air eventually. The air pollution due to burning crude is WAY less harmful to the environment than leaving it in the water where it kills everything it comes in contact with.
4) Nothing is impossible so its silly to say that this kind of accident can "never" happen. That wont stop the anti-petroleum energy faction from playing this to the hilt, though.
1) At its current rate of leakage according to an AP report in this morning's paper, this well would have to leak for NINE YEARS continuously to equal the volume of oil released by the last major well accident in the gulf (a well owned by Mexico). As deep-water wellhead leaks/blowouts go, this one is a trickle.
2) Its still quite possible that they'll get the blowout preventer valve closed or the well otherwise capped.
3) Burning the oil is a reasonable and practical way to clean it up. In fact if you'll recall, the oil slick didn't start forming until the rig sank, extinguishing the fire which was consuming the oil as it was released. Burning crude at atmospheric pressure creates a lot of soot, but it doesn't create a lot of highly toxic pollutants and soot precipitates out of the air eventually. The air pollution due to burning crude is WAY less harmful to the environment than leaving it in the water where it kills everything it comes in contact with.
4) Nothing is impossible so its silly to say that this kind of accident can "never" happen. That wont stop the anti-petroleum energy faction from playing this to the hilt, though.
