BP to apply chem dispersants under water to US Gulf oil spill
30 April 2010 23:25 [Source: ICIS news]
HOUSTON (ICIS news)--BP has received US approval to use chemical dispersants under water as it tries to stop the flow of oil from the sunken Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico, a company spokesman said on Friday.
The underwater application would begin late Friday as the company sought to break up the oil, said BP spokesman Neil Chapman.
“This had not been used in US waters before,” Chapman said. “The idea is to get closer to the source, to mix with the oil there rather than waiting for oil to rise up to the sea surface,” he said.
The dispersant would be of a similar type to those used on the surface, Chapman said - with the notable difference being the point of application.
Dispersants already used at the surface for cleanup efforts contained propylene glycol, according to
Propylene glycol was used in antifreeze, de-icers and detergents.
The sub-surface application idea was initially raised on Wednesday, Chapman said. As such, a giant reel of tubing had already been brought to the spill site as the company awaited final approval.
Also on Friday, the US Air Force was given approval to break up the oil slick by using chemical dispersants dropped by two C-130 Hercules cargo planes.
Each plane was capable of covering up to 250 acres per flight and could fly three missions per day, according to news reports.
Environmental concerns continued to grow throughout the day on Friday as reports surfaced of oil reaching the coastline, with marshlands and wildlife in
In addition, a top adviser to President Barack Obama said the
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By: Ben DuBose
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