June 17, 2010

Governor Bobby Jindal

PO Box 94004
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9004

RE: Gulf States Governors Conference for Gulf Oil Crisis

“Go out and get the oil”

Dear Governor Jindal:

I am a petroleum geologist in Shreveport.  I along with all of the citizens of our state very much appreciate your efforts in responding to the tragedy that is growing in the Gulf.  We, as I’m sure you concur, are very frustrated with the bureaucratic and corporate “mess” that has come to light with this crisis.

If you don’t mind, I have a suggestion that, I believe, would make you a real hero in the eyes of not only all Americans but also all of the average people of the world.  Why don’t you organize a governor’s conference among all the states that border the Gulf of Mexico?

This conference would discuss methods that the states can do to respond to the crisis in the Gulf.   I am not referring to the capping of the BP well.  I am referring to doing what is necessary to bring national and world attention to being “proactive” as it relates to the oil already present in the Gulf.  Right now all that has been discussed and deployed are booms, artificial sand barriers, or huge sand bags.  As I know you’re aware, this is only an attempt to keep the oil from reaching the beaches, marshes, and back waters.  And so far, it is not working very well.

What I am referring to is opening up a serious dialogue about “going out and getting the oil” before it has a chance to come ashore.  Or at least make the attempt.  And it will come ashore.  Think about a hurricane driving a million gallons of oil sludge from both the sea surface and from the plumes of oil suspended beneath the Gulf into the New Orleans area, or Galveston Bay and the Houston ship channel, or the Mobile Bay area and Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Destin, or the Tampa Bay area.

Oh, by the way.  I would recommend not inviting BP, the feds, the Coast Guard, the Army Corp of Engineers, even our Senators and Congressmen.  Even if our national representatives agree, I believe would be best for them to stay home.  You and the other governors can find qualified people among the state mineral and natural resources boards to give solid, non-political opinion.  Local business men, professional consultants would also supply sound advice.

What do I mean by “going out and getting the oil”?   Use skimmers for the surface oil and tankers equipped with large diameter flexible pipes and vacuum pumps for the sub-sea oil.  This has been even suggested by industry experts in the main stream media.  NASA and the Coast Guard would be used to direct the operations by determining where the concentrations of oil are.  This won’t get all of the oil but at least would be an effort and it is better than sitting back and waiting for it to come ashore.  And this has been done before. In 1979, the IXTOC I blew out 600 miles south of Texas. The water depth was 164’ and the well depth was 10,000’.  Because of a damaged well head they had to drill 2 relief wells.  It took 9 months to drill the wells and get the well under control.  They immediately brought in containment booms and skimming equipment and got most of the oil.  Over 3 million barrels were recovered.

http://www.incidentnews.gov/incident/6250

I know the states don’t have the resources to do all of this and I know the states’ can’t get the permits to do all of this from the feds, Coast Guard, EPA, Army Corp or Engineers, Homeland Security, etc., etc., etc.  Realistically, the primary purpose of the conference is to put pressure on the administration to do something besides just reacting to a disaster which is on its way to being the largest in history.  The mainstream media would have to cover it.  The conference would be televised, on radio, and on YouTube.  The world would know about the Gulf States efforts to “go out and get the oil”.

Respectfully

Rick Taylor

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PS:  If you decide to do this, be prepared for opposition.