Evening Buzz: New, Clearer Images of Oil Leak
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/TRAVEL/06/08/oil.spill.beaches/t1larg.pensacola.gi.jpg caption="Workers pick up oil residue Tuesday that has washed up on Pensacola Beach, Florida." width=300 height=169]
Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
Tonight we have new images of the Gulf oil leak and new evidence BP isn't providing the public with all the details on it. The new images are coming from high-resolution cameras, which provide a much clearer view of the leak. We'll give you a look at them tonight on the program. The high-resolution footage from last Thursday before the cap was put in place can help government experts take more accurate measures of how much oil and gas spilled into the Gulf. Yet this is the first we’ve seen these images: on Day 50 of the disaster.
Massachusetts Democrat Rep. Ed Markey wants to know if BP deliberately low-balled the size of the spill. Markey will talk about the controversy tonight on the 360°.
In the first days of the spill "they kept telling the American public it was only 1,000 barrels per day," Markey said today at a news conference on Capitol Hill. "They then raised it to 5,000. They are now pulling up 10 to 12,000 barrels", he added. Markey suggests "they got lawyered up." He believes "they were told not to tell the truth about the larger amount of oil." "BP is either lying or grossly incompetent," Markey said.
Also on Capitol Hill today, a brother of one of the 11 workers killed in the oil rig explosion spoke to the Senate Judiciary Committee. In an emotional appearance, Christopher Jones took aim at BP CEO Tony Hayward.
"Mr. Hayward, I want my brother's life back," Jones said in direct reference to Hayward's comment last week that he would "like his life back."
Hayward has been summoned to testify before the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on June 17.
We continue to dig into what happened on the BP/Transocean oil rig when it exploded on April 20. Tonight you'll hear more from five survivors. They share what they saw and heard on the deck; and the problems they say they witnessed on the rig.
50 days later, Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen reported today that BP stopped 14,800 barrels (621,000 gallons) of oil from flowing into the Gulf in the past 24 hours with help from the containment cap. And, in the past four days, since the cap was put in place, BP has collected a total of 42,500 barrels (1.8 million gallons) of oil.
Pres. Obama announced today he'll return to the gulf Monday and Tuesday. In his fourth visit to the region since late April, he will go to Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. All his previous visits were to Louisiana only.
We'll have all these developments and much more starting at 10 p.m. ET on 360° live from Louisiana. See you then.
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Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz |
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With this recent "new" HD video from BP, how do we know what we have been seeing is even TRUE. The Government is moving away from BP because of trust issues. Don't we have (US GOV) underwater cameras of our own???? Not much trust there also! Looks like everything is trying to be covered up in black, along with the Gulf Coast.
Anderson, your work is greatly appreciated! My question is very simple, Everyone is trying to figure out out much oil was leaking before they installed the cap, why has no one investigated what BP was pumping out per hour based on what there previous days records of barrels pumped?
COMMON FOLKS: Money, Money, Money! The root cause of this whole disaster. The MAIN question/problem is how to STOP the flow of oil into the gulf! Flow rates, guilt, etc., will come out later. Who is in control? BP's attornies are in control of everything they say or do, and you can bet your last dollar that they are working on how to drag out claims for years! President Obama shuts down other rigs for inspection and now those involved are screaming about lost wages and jobs? If these other rigs have been shut down doesn't that mean thier plans & equipment worked? And all this while BP continues to get oil & $$$. If WE, our government cannot take complete control of BP's assets then you can forget about BP doing all they can!
Thank you Anderson Cooper for the excellent job that you have done in covering this story. I live in Peachtree City, GA now but my home is New Orleans, LA.
I am unclear as to how this Oil Giant can call itself "Professional." How can you live and work in an industry such as oil drilling but you have no idea how to cap a well? How can you ask your employees to risk their lives each and every day without a backup plan?
I am appalled and disgusted at the actions of this company and I certainly hope that our Justice Department will find the courage to prosecute all responsible parties for "Crimes Against Nature."
Dianne Jefferson
Please keep getting the pictures of the wildlife being affected. Not because I enjoy it but because we need to see it and be sickened by it and cry and complain to our senators. If they won't let you take pictures while they are working, then please go independently and get the pictures. I was amazed there have to be so many officials in a boat to do clean up including BP rep., gov't rep., state rep., etc. Just as the actor said there are thousands of volunteers and they won't let them help skim the waters or anything.., Work for a big corporation and you will see how controlled you are. All this is doing is bringing to light what people face every day about keeping their mouths shut, not being heard, arrogancy of power.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for what you and the professor and Billy Nungesser are trying to do. You are my heroes.
linda
What happened to the news on closing the 4 vents on the TOP-CAT?
How many vents are closed so far?
When will they all be closed?
BP == "Biggest Polluter"
Anderson,
I am so sick of hearing the word "they". "They won't let us do x, y, z., they won't do this, they won't give us approval". What are they going to do to you? If you would have taken a camera up to where they were bringing the birds yesterday, do you really think they would have done anything to you?
The public would not stand for that because you are the only one telling us the truth. Well, as much as "they" will allow you to.
This country wasn't founded waiting around for bureaucrats to make decisions. People just did what needed to be done. I live near Clearwater Beach, FL. The oil is expected to reach our beautiful beaches in about 2 weeks. I plan on doing whatever I can. Clean the beaches, protect wildlife, take video and send it to the press. I for one will not be waiting for someone else to do something. Hang in there, we need you. Please do not to abandon us because the news is repetitive or ratings go lower because people are tired of hearing it.
Anderson – there is a much larger problem potentially looming – 97% of the worlds drinking water comes from our oceans – our oceans are all connected around the globe – none of us can live long without fresh drinking water – This disaster is going to affect everyone on the planet earth –
250 is a lot of dead turtles
I have been watching this disaster from the beginning and we are relying on BP to give us info, keep us updated and even the video feeds r BP'S seems to me that even though the government is in charge, BP is in control. they give up the info they want us to see and when they want us to see it. What makes you think that the video feeds are even real, video is very easy to edit. why dont we have our own cameras down there why are we relying on BP to give us all this criticle info. WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!!!!
The solution is simple. Corporate greed is leading to the downfall of our world. BP executives don't want to spend the necessary money to stop this leak. My suggestion, boycott BP fuels, make the suits sweat. Lose enough money, and BP will be more than willing to cooperate.
We can land people on the moon. We have the best people in the good old USA. So why cant we stop the oil. I feel bad for everyone that is being hit by this. God bless the USA, and god save us all.
AC360 Crew, Thank you for following this horrendous catastrophe. "Technology has improved and we can now safely drill in the ocean." EVERYTIME drilling is proposed along the Calif. coast here, we hear how technology has improved the safety of ocean drilling for oil. Oh yeah?? Well then, how did this happen? How is it that we can build a space station, land ROV's on Mars, but technology can't prevent this oil disaster? If oil companies are the only ones with technology to deal with this, why aren't they required to demonstrate safety BEFORE they get the permit to drill? Or post a bond before they get the permit? Unfortunately, this current situation with BP is a replay of the 1969 blow out by a Union Oil platform in the Santa Barbara Channel...the same words, the same clean up techniques, the same lies.
Anderson,
You speak allot about BP and BP CO saying that safety is their #1 priority. That is the problem safety should not be a priority it should be a 'value" priorities change. Great job and focus on the behavior of the accident/incident and you will get to the root of the problem... Travis
Keep it up Anderson!! Great coverage, you and Gary figured away to show this to your fans/followers, but BP can't explain to us.....USA
This is keeping them honest!!!! Keep it up Anderson, and the team you have put together behind the scence's. ..............Keep it up!!! GREAT JOB
Rep Markey thank God please help AC36O KEEP THEM HONEST! A PICTURE TELLS A THOUSAND WORDS thank you!
There's been disagreement btwn bp and scientists about the existence fo the underwater plume, but knowing where the plume is is part of being able to know what shoreline will be soiled and so needs to be protected. That impacts how wildlife is protected.
Wild animals are very vulnerable to stress. I'm not sure where I read this, on the tri state bird rescue site or IBRRC site. Esp injured wild animals. Is this why wildlife officials are restricting access? Are the birds less vulnerable when they are being cleaned and treated as in Gary Tuchman's report on the bird rescue center in Buras, LA? Probably at that pt they are more secure about their surroundings.
I understand the anger at BP, but consider for a moment what most companies do when faced with such a disaster. They tuck and run. It appears that BP has agreed to pay all costs, opened up centers for claims, hired local fisherman to help with the clean-up, flown in at their own expense oil experts from around the world to help solve the problem, and I could go on. I think everybody needs to stop hating on BP. I doubt all this anger directed at them is helping. Can we leave them alone so they can fully concentrate on solving the problem?
BP needs to stop lying to everyone! Even without the high res video you can tell by looking at the feed that its over 20k barrels a day. Obama needs to kick some @ss
please keep reporting. we want numbers! of oil spewing, of birds rescued and of birds dead, of fish and turtles and also of marine mammals! we want numbers also of another spill: Saratoga. check it out GREAT JOB AC360 you are on it!
They keep talking about capturing oil and pumping it up to a tanker. Sounds like BP is still making money.
This is simple diffusion oil moving from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.
It's time to end the well. Use the "Jaws of Life" to CRUSH the pipe in a couple of different areas.
This is something that really needs to be understood. There has been no way to stop this blow out except drilling the relief wells since the rig caught fire. That is physical reality. So this will be quite the marathon before its over.
The senerio using the garbage can as an iliustration of how large the pipe is good. Now inagine the garbage can with the bottom side open.
A device could be shoved down the pipe to close off the leak. Take an umbrella, shove it down the pipe up side down, once the umbrella type device passes through the end of the pipe (trashcan), open the
umbrella (device), drawing it back against the end of the leaking pipe.
The pressure against the device will cause the leak to be slower or stopped.
The leak will be severly reduced and or stopped. the hole can then be filled with a substance thatwill permenantly seal the pipe for good.
this bp mess is a witch hunt. bp seems to have given up a witch but what are the rest of then doing? also what is the possibility of this well caving in and causing bigger problems?
We are on day 50+ of this situation and there is still no idea of how much is leaking and how to stop it. How does BP manage to even stay in business My 7 year old daughter came up with an idea that I bet these overpaid executives couldn't come up with. I don't care what they do...;ust fix it and fix it now. This is way beyond ridiculous. I am sick of all these submersibles sitting at the bottom of the ocean watching all this oil spill out. Try stuffing it with cotton balls for all I care...!ut for gods sake try SOMETHING!!!!!!
Anderson,
BP says that they collected 14,000 barrels of oil a day...but how much of that is really oil and not also sea water or a mix? There must be some sea water also in the mix? What will they do with this capture crude oil – is it any good anymore?
How do we know that they are telling us the truth as to what is being captured!
Michael
Anderson, what is happening is very unfortunate. Other countries need to realize that this disastrous oil spill will also affect them gravely. The government needs to seek the help of the many without jobs and employed them to be chartered out of florida shore to prevent the oil from reaching our coast. It is a very sad time in US history. Pray for the victims families.
Anderson, As a lifelong citizen of Louisiana and as far right of a republican as you can get, I want to say thank you!
I was there with you during Katrina (I.e. In a boat rescuing people) and I am here with you now. I can assure you that your coverage of this event is helping us. I always turn to fox news rather than CNN unless you are on.
I would only hope that you press for our people. I have two boys 5 and 8 and they both love fishing in the marsh. My youngest just learned how to bait his own hook. It would be a true tragedy to forgo the fishing trips that I enjoy with him because of the ineptidue of our goverment (Obama) and BP. This is a tragedy caused by both of them and you have been great in pointing that out. PLEASE PLEASE point out to your viewers that the goverment estimate was released for the longest time and not BP's assessment. This is the true tragedy.
Just want to say THANKS AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
Anderson,
Thank you for your outstanding coverage of this insane tragedy in the Gulf. Sometimes (often) it feels like you are the only one fighting to save our precious Gulf and advocate for all the Americans who are losing their livelihoods. We are amazed to hear about all the actions BP isn't taking to minimize the damage of the nightmare it created. Gulf Shores and Mobile Bay are a part of us–where my husband grew up, where we got engaged and married, where we spend all of our vacation time each year. We've seen the most incredible wildlife right off the shore (e.g., dolphins, sea turtles, manatees, sharks). We can't believe that we might not have that chance again in our lifetimes. While we always knew a hurricane could take our beach house, we never imagined that we could lose our beautiful white beach to oil. We know LA is getting the worst of it now, but please don't forget to cover Alabama. It's getting hit, too. Thanks to you and CNN for your coverage! Keep it up!
Looking at the new high quality video, it is obvious that the Top hat approach is not working as we would all like. Tthe pipe is very badly damaged by the cutting process (chewing), so sealing anything to it is all but impossible.
The image clearly shows a 6 bolt flange joint between the riser and the BOP. BP should get it's act together and remove the 6 nuts and replace the damaged pipe with a new section with a new flange.
If BP are not prepared to do the job properly, then the government should get someone else who can and will, leaving BP to focus on cleanup operations.