Scientists: Gulf oil spreading into major current

[marmar]

Scientists: Gulf oil spreading into major current
BP siphons some oil gushing into Gulf, but scientists say spill oozing into major sea current

Jeffrey Collins and Jason Dearen, Associated Press Writers, On Monday May 17, 2010, 6:34 am


NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- BP engineers finally figured out how to recapture some of the oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico but scientists said it could be too late to stop the black ooze from reaching a major ocean current that could carry it to the Florida Keys and up the U.S. East Coast.

After weeks of failed solutions, BP PLC crews hooked up a mile-long (1.6-kilometer) tube Sunday to funnel some crude from a blown undersea well into a tanker ship.

However, millions of gallons (liters) of crude are already in the Gulf, and a researcher told The Associated Press that computer models show the oil may have already seeped into a powerful water stream known as the loop current, which could propel it hundreds of miles (kilometers) away into the Atlantic Ocean.

A research boat is being sent this week to collect samples and learn more.

"This can't be passed off as 'it's not going to be a problem,'" said William Hogarth, dean of the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science. "This is a very sensitive area. We are concerned with what happens in the Florida Keys." .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Scientists-Gulf-oil-spreading-apf-3062430346.html?x=0

[newfie11]

1. There goes the lobster along with the shrimp and oysters n/t