Those Dispersants in the Gulf Are Gonna

[volholio]

Be the Death of the Gulf.

I can't believe we allowed BP to use them. You all really really think all that Oil just "went away"?

Think again.

[IPorange]

It's hard to say whether it was right to use them or not. Either way, the Gulf was going to take a big hit.

[crazyguy]

the fact is that we have no idea what is about to happen. the gulf just became one of the biggest science experiments in history.

[volholio]

Originally Posted by IPorange

It's hard to say whether it was right to use them or not. Either way, the Gulf was going to take a big hit.

I can't think of one advantage to using them.

[IPorange]

Ya, they keep talking about the micro organisms that break down petroleum in the water naturally, but methinks those micro organisms probably typically thrive in the upper layers of the water column, like say, on the surface where the oil floats up to normally. Do they even know if those little buggers can survive and process the hydrocarbons that are now suspended throughout the water column? It's like saying don't worry about all the old wood laying around, the termites will take care of it, then suspending the logs in the air with balloons.

[IPorange]

Originally Posted by volholio

I can't think of one advantage to using them.

It kept the oil from washing up on beaches and being transported to wetlands up and down the southeastern coast. The cost of keeping it in the water column is unknown, though.

It was a questionable and debatable decision, but you are acting like they detonated a nuclear warhead to get rid of the surface oil.

[TennTradition]

The biggest problem is that the metabolic processes in the oil-feeding bacteria have very slow kinetics. They can handle natural leaks, but they are going to be overwhelmed by the amount of oil in the column now. Of course, the alternative isn't pretty either, with more oil reaching the coast. Also, with this gusher being in the open water and not in a bay, the effectiveness of the skimmers was surely limited. However, I think that more skimmers + boom and less dispersant would have been a better solution if it was possible.

[tumscalcium]

I had no desire to go to the gulf again. This whole thing just makes my decision that much more satisfying. I would probably cry if it were to happen to Bora Bora or some other beautiful South Pacific locale.

[droski]

Originally Posted by volholio

I can't think of one advantage to using them.

not a single one? BP et all just want to screw the gulf huh? exhibit z you don't know crap.

[VolsNSkinsFan]

Originally Posted by volholio

Be the Death of the Gulf.

I can't believe we allowed BP to use them. You all really really think all that Oil just "went away"?

Think again.

And what facts do you have that they are toxic?

[crazyguy]

Originally Posted by TennTradition

The biggest problem is that the metabolic processes in the oil-feeding bacteria have very slow kinetics. They can handle natural leaks, but they are going to be overwhelmed by the amount of oil in the column now. Of course, the alternative isn't pretty either, with more oil reaching the coast. Also, with this gusher being in the open water and not in a bay, the effectiveness of the skimmers was surely limited. However, I think that more skimmers + boom and less dispersant would have been a better solution if it was possible.

This might also throw the microbe population out of whack, nearly unlimited resources are hardly ever a good thing.
I wonder what effect this might have on the red tide dead zone? The oil is going to bind any avaliable CO2 in the area. This will limit the CO2 from being consumed by the flora in the gulf and over developing....it could be a small positive.

[hohenfelsvol]

Originally Posted by volholio

Be the Death of the Gulf.

I can't believe we allowed BP to use them. You all really really think all that Oil just "went away"?

Think again.

So you have a chemistry degree?

[TennTradition]

Originally Posted by crazyguy

This might also throw the microbe population out of whack, nearly unlimited resources are hardly ever a good thing.
I wonder what effect this might have on the red tide dead zone? The oil is going to bind any avaliable CO2 in the area. This will limit the CO2 from being consumed by the flora in the gulf and over developing....it could be a small positive.

It' not completely clear to me why the oil would bind any available CO2.

[lawgator1]

This deviates form the script. But perhaps a new one is in order anyway?


Old Script: Obama administration is dragging its feet in hesitating to allow full pnaorama of tools to be used, including chemicals and beach heads !!

New Script: Obama should have acted quicker to stop the use of chemicals and beach heads! This is worse than the spill would have been!

[kptvol]

Originally Posted by lawgator1

This deviates form the script. But perhaps a new one is in order anyway?


Old Script: Obama administration is dragging its feet in hesitating to allow full pnaorama of tools to be used, including chemicals and beach heads !!

New Script: Obama should have acted quicker to stop the use of chemicals and beach heads! This is worse than the spill would have been!

You're arguing there is only one right path and one wrong path. Got it.