Lightning Strike (Causing Fire) Forces BP to Suspend Recovery of Leaking Oil

[tekisui]

Source: McClatchy

WASHINGTON — BP temporarily suspended the collection of crude oil from the runaway Deepwater Horizon well Tuesday morning after a small fire was spotted at the top of the derrick of the Discoverer Enterprise drill ship.

In a statement, BP said the fire, which was extinguished, preliminarily was attributed to lightning. No one was injured.

The incident, which happened at about 9:30 a.m. Central time, underscores the precariousness of the recovery efforts. In its newest recovery plan, BP noted that hopes of collecting as much as 80,000 barrels of oil a day from the well once four ships are at the site in mid July would founder if a hurricane approaches and operations must cease.

BP Vice President Doug Suttles also warned that workers aboad those ships would face significant risks once all four are collecting crude oil and natural gas in close proximity to one another.

The Discoverer Enterprise has been collecting about 15,000 barrels a day of oil through a containment device known as the Lower Marine Riser Package, which was installed over the spewing well's failed blowout preventer on June 3.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/06/15/95922/lightning-strike-forces-bp-to.html#ixzz0qxV5cRbG

[taterguy]

1. Second lightning strike in a week that's hit a gas source

I think God's trying to give us a hint to get off this oil stuff.

(Of course I drove to work today so I wouldn't have to bike home in a thunderstorm)