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22-Mile Oil Plume Found in Gulf

BP pushes back final cap for well to mid-September

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 20, 2010 8:29 AM CDT

(Newser) – Scientists have detected an underwater plume of oil the size of Manhattan, according to the Wall Street Journal. The findings, published yesterday, further undermine the Obama administration’s optimistic view that most of the Deepwater Horizon oil has already disappeared. The 22-mile-long underwater plume is also highly unusual. “If you’d asked me whether or not you would see oil in the subsurface, I would have said, 'No—doesn't oil float?'” one of the scientists who found it told NPR.

Meanwhile, BP announced that it would delay popping the final plug into the well until at least mid-September, in part because of weather conditions, and in part so the blowout preventer could be repaired first, in case something goes wrong.

Map locates large discovered oil plume
Map locates large discovered oil plume   (Associated Press)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel Henry B. Bigelow sails on the Gulf of Mexico near the coast of Louisiana, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel Henry B. Bigelow sails on the Gulf of Mexico near the coast of Louisiana, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010.   (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 15 comments
JoeQ
Aug 20, 2010 11:57 PM CDT
"CO2, Dave! CO2!"
George-Jetson
Aug 20, 2010 4:54 PM CDT
So that's where it disappeared to.
Rocket448
Aug 20, 2010 4:42 PM CDT
Somebody wanted to get the report out early, and that decision was a disaster. The NOAA report can be criticized for under-estimating the amount of oil escaping into the Gulf. NOAA can also be criticized because their report was not vetted by scientist-members of environmental groups. Really, all the WH said was that the danger has passed, the well-head is sealed, and the impact of the leak is not as awful as some estimates said it would be. Now, the author of the report says he was wrong, and that 75% of the oil leaked into the Gulf is still there. This is not coming from President, its coming from the head of the responsible agency, who is the author of the bogus report. By the way, "Barry" is used by backwoods hillbillies to refer to the President. Show some respect for the office.
 

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