One Month Ago: The Deepwater Horizon Rig Before Sinking

Exactly a month ago, on the 20th of April, the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded then sank while working on an 18,000-foot well for British Petroleum (BP).

Since then, it’s been pumping oil into the sea at a rate of about 146 gallons every minute that passes, according to a US Government estimate.

The first attempt to contain the crude oil output has failed, and another attempt is underway now. The world should know by tomorrow night whether or not it has been a success.

If by some miracle the oil output is controlled, then those involved have the incredible – and unenviable job of removing all the oil that is still bellowing into the sea as I type.

The size of the spill as measured from satellites now covers around 3,650 square miles according to the University of Miami.

Homeland Security estimates that when this is all over, 38,000,000 gallons of crude oil will have been released into the gulf of Mexico.

The catastrophic effect this spill is having on wildlife in the Gulf is obvious, as you can see.

If there’s ever been a greater reason to drive electric vehicles I’d like to see it.