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Oil oil everywhere and not a drop to drink... oh wait...

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Samr, May 23, 2010.

  1. Muses

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    I'm seeing some of my friends on Facebook join an event to boycott BP stations. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most gas station chains buy and sell gas to each other all the time, meaning boycotting any one particular outlet brand is pretty pointless?

    Edit: The event has over 125,000 confirmed guests. Please tell me this boycott isn't as retarded as I think it is.
     
  2. DannyMac

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    You are pretty much correct. Plus BP has sold most of its stations to independent franchisees that agree to carry the BP logo. Unfortunately screwing with the Petroleum industry via boycotts has gotten pretty damn difficult over the last 15 years.
     
  3. Blue Dog

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    From what I understand, the main obstacle that is preventing foreign aid is the Jones Act, and old law from the 1920's which prevents vessels that are not built in the US and crewed by US workers from working in the Gulf. Why this has not already been waived is a mystery to me:

    http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/06/10/jones-act-slowing-oil-spill-cleanup/
     
  4. effinshenanigans

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    Just found this. I don't think it's been posted here yet. As always with this incident, it offers a grim picture, supported by (what I think is) sound analysis of what's been going on.
     
  5. Solaris

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    But what is the grim 'worst case situation'? Just a bit more oil? Will the entire Atlantic be ruined? Will oil rush against the coast of Ireland?!?!?
     
  6. zyron

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    Yup, soon oil covered leprechauns will be washing up on the shores of Ireland.
     
  7. Saint

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    Good, maybe now those greedy fuckers will give up that crappy cereal.
     
  8. ILikePie

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    You mean like what was on the BBC?

    Full article here.

    I also just realized BP is the manufacturer of the dispersant that is being used currently. Again they're choosing to cut corners and be cheap and use a less safer method. Way to go dipshits.
     
  9. scotchcrotch

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    Congress, do you feel better for ripping Hayward a new hole today? Wait, did you actually accomplish anything or were you all just seeing who could make the front page with your insults?

    Rep. Cao, the Hari Kari comment was so over the top and unneccessary, you wasted time boosting your political career that could have been used constructively in brainstorming.

    Congratulations Congress, I hate you more than Hayward now.
     
  10. Disgustipated

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    Deep fried whale is only a lit match away?
     
  11. Mr. Crow

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    This may be a stupid question, but...

    I understand how nuking the leak is a crazy option, but the idea of sealing the hole with an explosive seems almost plausible. The hole isn't that large (5-10 feet wide, tops?), so why can't they use a different powerful, non-nuclear, explosive? Is a nuke the only kind of explosive capable of generating enough heat to seal the hole?
     
  12. Bread Mustache

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    This was on The Daily Show the other night. It's not about the spill, but it definitely ties in with all of this. Probably one of the best segments he's done in a while.

    <a class="postlink" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-june-16-2010/an-energy-independent-future" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-j ... ent-future</a>
     
  13. Racer-X

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    There are several problems with the "nuclear option" or a large conventional explosive.

    You have to plant the explosive in an adjacent wellbore deep enough to avoid and of the damaged casing in the leaking well. Drilling this hole has many of the same dangers as drilling an oil well and would take a significant amount of time.

    Second, the physical makeup of the ground around the well has to meet very specific requirements for an explosive to even have a chance of working. Most of the information that I've heard from trustworthy sources seems to indicate that the floor of the gulf does not meet these requirements. There's also the possibility of causing a seafloor collapse which could cause the leak to get worse instead of better.

    The third, most obvious, problem with using a nuclear device is the resulting radiation. Theoretically, if the explosive is deep enough below the ground no radiation would leak out. The problem is that the explosion may cause crack or collapse of the sea floor that allows enough water to get into the radiation zone to cause some contamination. It's unlikely that enough radiation would escape to cause any real harm, but try telling that to the general public. Obviously this wouldn't be a concern with a conventional explosive but a conventional explosive would have to be much larger necessitating a larger hole to be drilled.
     
  14. toddus

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    Yesterday reminded exactly why I fucking hate congressional hearings so much. Nothing but elected officials wasting time and money as an excuse to create headlines for themselves.

    BP CEO: I had no prior knowledge of the drilling of this well, none whatsoever. With respect, sir, we drill hundreds of wells a year around the world

    Rep. Michael Burgess: That’s what’s scaring me now

    Thanks Rep. Burgess, that quip has done so much.
     
  15. JoshP

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    DON'T FEAR!! KEVIN COSTNER HAS SAVED US ALL!
    <a class="postlink" href="http://www.necn.com/06/18/10/BP-turns-to-cleanup-device-backed-by-Kev/landing.html?blockID=256423&feedID=4215" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.necn.com/06/18/10/BP-turns-t ... eedID=4215</a>
    Take that scientists! I wonder if this will be reflected on his IMDB.
     
  16. Stealth

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  17. Nettdata

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    #117 Nettdata, Jun 24, 2010
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  18. Nitwit

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    Make jokes if you will, but my hat is off to that guy. Exxon Valdez, 21 years ago, prompted him to invest (20 million dollars?) millions of dollars for now. I hope his machines work.
     
  19. Danger Boy

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    Isn't it just a larger version of the thing that he used to turn piss into water in Waterworld?
     
  20. Stealth

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    #120 Stealth, Jun 28, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 27, 2015