Danger as Oil leak from platform threatens to damage environment

Huge leaks from the oil platform which exploded last week threatening the environment as thousands of barrels of oil spill into the ocean.

Video of Oil Rig Fire

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The oil platform which exploded last week at the Gulf of Mexico, 84km from the Louisiana coast last week is spilling oil into the ocean at a rate of over 1000 barrels a day and experts say the effect could be devastating for marine life and sea organisms.

Crude Oil poring out of the demolished oil rig at the Gulf Of Mexico
Crude Oil poring out of the demolished oil rig at the Gulf Of Mexico

Filtering efforts to extract the oil from the ocean is being drastically hampered by bad weather as clearing vessels have been ordered to leave the area.

According to officials the oil leek so far as grown to about 580 sq miles after the cleaning efforts were called off.

Eleven workers at the platform are still missing and presumed dead as search teams were called off after the explosion which occurred last week, but over 100 employees were rescued.

Dozens of vessels were around the burning platform as can bee seen by the video on top, trying to control the flames on Thursday but could not prevent the rig from demolishing.

Other forms of methods are being used to try and stop the oil leakage with BP the contractor of the Oil Platform, using a remote controlled submarine to activate a blowout preventer.

The method uses a series of pipes and valves to stop the leak but Doug Suttles, the chief operating officer of BP’s exploration and production unit said “The blowout technique is a highly complex task and it may not be successful”

Officials are hoping that mother nature would help them with the waves currently keeping the oil off the coast and for the temperature to decrease a little more so that the oil can harden and sink to the bottom of the ocean.

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