The Lakeview Gusher of 1910 is in the news a century later thanks to the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010. The Lakeview Gusher, a California disaster of 100 years ago known now as the worst oil spill in U.S. history, will likely be dethroned by the BP oil spill, which shows no sign of being contained after 50 days. A century hence, the undersea gusher is overwhelming an oil spill cap on the oil spill live feed, which shows thousands of barrels a day nevertheless flowing into the sea.
Article Source: BP oil spill likely to pass the Lakeview Gusher as the worst ever
Lakeview Gusher: epic disaster
The Lakeview Gusher was an oil well blow-out disaster that began in March 1910 near Maricopa, Calif The Pasadena Star-News reports that 9 million barrels—378 million gallons of oil—was spilled in 18 months by the Lakeview Gusher. In 50 days, BP oil spill estimates run as high as 122 million gallons. Skeptical experts say that figure is far too low. The Lakeview Gusher spilled an average of approximately 48,000 barrels daily. The daily output of the BP oil spill has been estimated as high as 72,000 barrels (3 million gallons) a day.
A sea of oil on land
The Lakeview Gusher became the most productive oil well in California history, blow-out notwithstanding.At the start the gusher spilled 18,000 barrels a day to the ground. At its peak, 90,000 barrels a day escaped into the environment. A 60-acre lake formed from a river of oil flowing downhill from the well.William Rintoul, in his book, “Drilling Through Time,” said the lake allowed crews to recover so much oil that the price of oil fell in 1910.
Oil spill live feed defies estimates
The ruptured well's powerful jet of oil, as seen on the oil spill live feed, is overwhelming the oil spill cap, BP's latest effort to control the spill. BP claims the oil spill cap is a step forward in controlling the leak, but MSNBC reports that scientists viewing the oil spill live feed disagree. On Tuesday, BP said the oil spill cap siphoned 14,800 barrels of oil the previous day. Ira Leifer of the Flow Rate Technical Group, a panel of experts working to figure out just how much oil is leaking, said the gusher may be as high as 100,000 barrels a day.
Underwater plumes smother marine life
The worst threat to marine life in human history, as reported by the New York Times, is feared by scientists tracking huge underwater plumes deep in the gulf. The Times said that scientists cruising the gulf over the last two weeks detected a deeply submerged plume of oil roughly 15 miles wide, 3 miles long and about 600 feet high. The plume's center of mass floats about 3,600 to 4,300 feet deep. Microorganisms consuming oxygen out of the water as they break down the oil are creating a dead zone devoid of any marine life.
Additional information at these websites
pasadenastarnews.com
msnbc.msn.com
www.nytimes.com
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