BP Oil Spill Hits Coastal Islands

CHANDELEUR SOUND (Hollywood Backstage) - The BP Oil Spill has hit islands surrounding the Chandeleur Sound off the coast of Louisiana. Large patches of oil can be seen pooling in the beach areas and marshes. Dead sea turtles were washed up on the beach. Birds can be seen landing in the oil. Dead jellyfish have been seen floating in the oil. The condition is expected to worsen as a westward tide is pulling more oil toward land.

A very large section of oil has flung to the east and appears headed for the western coast of Florida, depending on the tide and winds.

Smaller stretches of oil have drifted toward the coast of Alabama, but are still miles away.

NOAA is predicting more contact on the Louisiana islands and coastal region.

The first of three known leaks in the riser pipe was successfully capped leaving two known leaks in the pipe. The amount of oil spilling into the gulf remains at an estimated 5,000 barrels per day. The first containment dome is being implemented today. It will take about a week to transport it to the spill site and rig it. Chemical dispersants have been tested at 5,000 foot depth and scientists are studying the possible effects on the ocean.The oil slick is forecast to move west being dragged by the current. Weather conditions have become more favorable. Oil burning, dispersant delivery and booming will continue through the weekend.

Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) cut off a section at the end of the riser pipe, which used to lead from the well to the rig, and capped it with a valve.  While this stopped one of the three leaks, oil continues to enter the Gulf of Mexico at a rate of approximately 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) per day. Testing of a new technique that involves injecting dispersants at the oil’s source - 5,000’ below the surface - will require further monitoring to tell whether the sub-sea dispersants are having an effect and further analysis to ensure effects in the water column are not worse than those from oil.  If successful, the technique could reduce or prevent an oil plume from forming at the surface.  Drilling of a relief or cut-off well got further, but will take several months to stop the flow. The first collection dome, a large cofferdam-like structure that collects oil at the sea floor and funnels it for collection at the surface, was deployed today.  These containment chambers have never been tried this deep - five thousand feet - and will take about a week to be fully rigged and functional. Hundreds of thousands of feet of boom have been deployed to contain the spill, with hundreds of thousands more staged and ready to be deployed.

Trajectory Map

The oil has reached Chandeleur Sound and Cat island.

KILN, Miss. – A team of U.S. Air Force aerial spray aircraft maintainers from the 910th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Youngstown-Warren Air Reserve Station, Ohio, prepare to refill a chemical dispersing C-130 aircraft at Stennis International Airport here, May 4, 2010. Members of the 910th Airlift Wing were in Mississippi to help with the oil spill clean up. The 910th AW specializes in aerial spray and is the Department of Defense's only large area fixed wing aerial spray unit. U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Adrian Cadiz.

KILN, Miss. – A team of U.S. Air Force aerial spray aircraft maintainers from the 910th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Youngstown-Warren Air Reserve Station, Ohio, move a chemical pump into position in order to refill a chemical dispersing C-130 aircraft at Stennis International Airport here, May 4, 2010. Members of the 910th Airlift Wing were in Mississippi to help with the oil spill clean up. The 910th AW specializes in aerial spray and is the Department of Defense's only large area fixed wing aerial spray unit. U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Adrian Cadiz.

KILN, Miss. -- U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joe Torba of the 910th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Youngstown-Warren Air Reserve Station, Ohio, prepares to marshal a chemical dispersing C-130 aircraft into a pre-positioned parking spot at Stennis International Airport here, May 4, 2010. Members of the 910th Airlift Wing were in Mississippi to help with the oil spill clean up. The 910th AW specializes in aerial spray and is the Department of Defense's only large area fixed wing aerial spray unit. U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Adrian Cadiz.

NOAA is restricting fishing for a minimum of ten days in federal waters most affected by the BP oil spill, largely between Louisiana state waters at the mouth of the Mississippi River to waters off Florida’s Pensacola Bay .  The closure is effective immediately.