Gulf of Mexico
Drilling permit regulator: Paperwork problems cause delays
The top federal regulator of offshore drilling recently lambasted the oil and gas industry for complaints about the permitting process and indicated that paperwork problems frequently cause delays. Full article.
Seven missing oil workers found alive
Mexico's state oil company, stated that rescue teams found seven of ten oil workers missing in the Gulf of Mexico alive after three days at sea. They also recovered two unidentified bodies, and one worker is still missing. The employees of Houston-based Geokinetics Inc. called for help after evacuating to an enclosed life raft in the middle of Tropical Storm Nate. Full article.
Coastal LA braces for up to 20 inches of rain
A slow-moving tropical depression in the Gulf could bring Coastal LA up to 20 inches of rain. On Sept. 1, Gov. Jindal declared a state of emergency because of the threat of flash flooding. Forecasts were for landfall over the weekend included the southern LA coast, but it is still too early to predict where landfall will occur. Full article.
Forecasters eye Gulf Disturbance
A low-pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico could become a tropical depression by the weekend. Weather forecasters, however, indicate that it is too early to tell exactly how it will affect the Gulf Coast. Full article.
Exxon, U.S. Government duel over oil discovery
Exxon Mobil Corp. is fighting with the U.S. government to keep control of one of its biggest oil discoveries. The massive Gulf of Mexico discovery contains an estimated one billion barrels of recoverable oil. The problem lies in the fact that the Interior Department says Exxon's leases expired and the company hasn't met the requirements for an extension. Exxon sued to retain the leases. Full article.
BP: Oil sheen in Gulf not from Macondo site
Oil giant BP Plc indicated that a new oil sheen discovery in the Gulf of Mexico has nothing to do with its operations, and is far from the site of its disaster-hit Macondo well. BP spokesman Daren Beaudo said the company sent several mini-submersibles into the water over the weekend to investigate the source of the sheen — a shiny coating that floats on the surface of the water which could come from leaked or spilled oil — but had concluded "that it couldn't have been from anything of ours." Full article.
LSU researcher: Gulf seafood is safe to consume
A nationally recognized expert in food safety recently indicated that Louisiana's Gulf of Mexico seafood is safe. The problem? There is still a perception that it is tainted by the BP oil. Lucina Lampila, associate professor of seafood technology at LSU, said that no tainted seafood has ever gone to market and won't, but a survey showed "69 percent of consumers are still concerned about seafood" harvested in the Gulf. Full article.
Gulf of Mexico Dead zone not as large as predicted
The annual low-oxygen area off LA's coast is nowhere near the record predicted because of record Mississippi River spring floods. The largest recorded dead zone was found in 2002, when water along the sea floor for 8,400 square miles held little or no oxygen. Full article.
Tropical Storm Don expected to make landfall in drought-stricken Texas
With more than 90 percent of Texas in extreme or exceptional drought, there's barely concealed excitement for Tropical Storm Don's arrival. Tropical Storm Don should make landfall late Friday, June 29 or early Saturday with sustained winds of 55 to 60 mph. There are currently no coastal evacuation plans. Full article.
Possible tropical depression near Gulf of Mexico
The National Weather Service recently reported that a tropical wave near the Yucatan Channel could develop into a tropical depression later Wednesday and could move into the central and western Gulf of Mexico. The tropical system is moving west northwest near 15 mph. Full article.
