Boat Crashes Into Oil Well, Creating New Spill in Gulf of Mexico

[Leopolds Ghost]

Excuse the source, but I first heard about this on SomethingAwful.com (of all places) and this was the article cited.

I'm sure this has been posted already by folks with regular access to more reputable news outlets... I get my news from newspapers and DC no longer has a reputable newspaper.

Boat Crashes Into Oil Well, Creating New Spill in Gulf of Mexico

Fox News is being told by the Homeland Security director for Jefferson Parish, La., that a new oil leak has sprung up in the Gulf of Mexico after a boat struck an oil well in the early morning hours on Tuesday.

URGENT: Fox News is being told by the Homeland Security director for Jefferson Parish, La., that a new oil leak has sprung up in the Gulf of Mexico after a boat struck an oil well in the early morning hours on Tuesday.

A tugboat or other workboat collided with the well near Bayou St. Dennis, La., shearing off its valve structure and releasing pressurized natural gas and light oil, DHS official Deano Bonano told Fox News.

Cleanup workers are currently booming off the area and the scene at sea has been taken over by federal agents. The U.S. Coast Guard, Jefferson Parish police and fire officials, as well as Vessels of Opportunity boats have all been dispatched to the scene.

Federal officials do not know who owns the well, but a contractor who handles wild wells is also on the way, Bonano said.

Oil is spewing about 20 feet in the air from the severed 4-inch pipe, a contractor who flew over the leak told Fox News. The area has been evacuated and civilian boats are being told not to enter the scene, where "a fair bit of oil" is leaking out, the contractor said.

[Leopolds Ghost]

1. Anyone got a more reputable source for this to confirm the significance of this particular leak?

This is what, the third major oil spill this summer?

See here: Michigan Oil Spill (800,000 gallons) largest ever in Great Lakes region

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8830263

I guess the bright spot is it makes the oil industry look even dirtier. Most of their devastation goes unnoticed by an auto-happy public until something like this happens.

[nenagh]

2. Both leaks were discussed earlier today on TheOilDrum's Open Thread..

[Leopolds Ghost]

3. Any current threads about this here?

I should start reading TheOilDrum again, that's the peak oil site right?

[Leopolds Ghost]

4. Ah, here's another

A New Gusher in the Gulf.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8829494

[Leopolds Ghost]

5. Picture from other thread

http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/14237

2nd Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico After Boat Crashes into Oil Well