Florida Releases July 15, 2010 Gulf Oil Spill Situation Update
On July 15 according to the NOAA oil plume model, the oil plume is 128 miles from Pensacola and 130 miles from Panama City.
Trajectory forecasts are showing a slow northward movement of both offshore oil and the nearshore uncertainty line through Saturday.
Offshore, no oil has been observed within or moving towards Eddy Franklin and there is no clear path for oil to enter the Florida Straits.
Statement from Admiral Thad Allen, National Incident Commander on stopping the flow of oil into the gulf:
“We’re encouraged by this development, but this isn’t over. Over the next several hours we will continue to collect data and work with the federal science team to analyze this information and perform additional seismic mapping runs in the hopes of gaining a better understanding on the condition of the well bore and options for temporary shut in of the well during a hurricane. It remains likely that we will return to the containment process using this new stacking cap connected to the risers to attempt to collect up to 80,000 barrels of oil per day until the relief well is completed.”
Following installation of the capping stack and in line with the procedure approved by the National Incident Commander and Unified Area Command, the well integrity test on the MC252 Deepwater Horizon well commenced today.
The well integrity test will last at least 6 hours and could last up to 48 hours. During the test, the three ram capping stack is closed, effectively shutting in the well and all sub-sea containment systems (namely, the Q4000 and Helix Producer systems) have been temporarily stopped.
Although it cannot be assured, it is expected that no oil will be released to the ocean during the test. Even if no oil is released during the test, this will not be an indication that oil and gas flow from the wellbore has been permanently stopped.
Information gathered during the test will be reviewed with the relevant government agencies, including the federal science team, to determine next steps. The sealing cap system never before has been deployed at these depths or under these conditions, and its efficiency and ability to contain the oil and gas cannot be assured.
During the well integrity test, operations on the first relief well have been temporarily stopped while the well was at 17,840 ft as a precaution. Operations on the second relief well have been temporarily suspended at 15,874 feet to ensure that there is no interference with the first relief well. The relief wells remain the sole means to permanently seal and isolate the well.
On July 14, BP recovered a total of approximately 12,840 barrels: 7,680 barrels of oil were collected, 5,160 barrels of oil were flared and 30.7 million cubic feet of natural gas were flared. Total oil recovered from both the LMRP Cap, Q4000, and Helix Producer systems since they were implemented is around 795,500 barrels. An additional 22,000 barrels were collected from the RIT tool earlier in May bringing the total recovered to about 817,500 barrels.
All Florida Beaches remain OPEN! Learn more.
Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.
The following is a summary of state and BP response actions as of July 15, 2010.
Map of BP Oil Spill as of July 15, 2010. Click on images for larger picture.
This forecast is based on the NWS spot forecast from Wednesday, July 14 PM. Currents were obtained from several models (NOAA Gulf of Mexico, West Florida Shelf/USF, TGLO/TAMU, NAVO/NRL) and HFR measurements. The model was initialized from Tuesday-Wednesday satellite imagery analysis (NOAA/NESDIS) and Wednesday overflight observations. The leading edge may contain tarballs that are not readily observable from the imagery (hence not included in the model initialization). Oil near bay inlets could be brought into that bay by local tidal currents.
Winds are forecast to be NW at 10 kts on Wednesday night and into Thursday AM. A persistent period of SE winds is forecast to begin on Thursday and continue through the weekend at speeds of up to 15 kts. Remote sensing imagery and overflights indicate that oil from the source is continuing to move to the south/southeast and there is very little oil remaining to the north. Imagery and overflights also indicate only several scattered sheens offshore to the west of the Delta; however, shorelines from Atchafalaya Bay to Southwest pass continue to be threatened by scattered tarballs.
View the Florida Gator Interactive Oil Spill Map here.
Visit geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/ to see the latest information about the oil spill’s trajectory, the position of NOAA’s research ships, spilled oil’s coastal location and the areas closed to shipping.
Weather Summary:
Two weather disturbances converging on the region may impede both onshore and offshore recovery operations today with a 50% chance of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms inland and in nearshore waters and a 30-40% chance of thunderstorms offshore. Outside of storm activity, heat index values may reach between 99 and 106 degrees along the Panhandle coastline today. Winds are forecast to be out of the south today and then south-southeast Friday through Sunday around 5-15 knots. These winds, along with eastward and northward moving nearshore ocean currents, could carry portions of the oil plume or tarball fields closer to the coast. No significant tropical activity is expected through the next 48 hours.
Current Situation:
Florida beaches are open.
Estimated release rate of oil from Deepwater Horizon at 35,000 to 60,000 barrels per day. The “capping stack” procedure, designed to capture greater quantities of oil, was installed on July 12. Test procedures for the new cap are ongoing. July 13, total oil recovered approx. 17,060 barrels.
This event has been designated a Spill of National Significance.
Unified Area Command continues with a comprehensive oil well intervention and spill response planning following the April 22 sinking of the Transocean Deepwater Horizon drilling rig 130 miles southeast of New Orleans.
- More than 44,000 personnel are working the on and offshore response.
- Oil-water mix recovered: nearly 31.83 million gallons
- Response vessels available: more than 6,870
- Response aircraft available: 119
- Dispersant: more than 1.82 million gallons deployed.
- There is no planned use of dispersants in Florida waters.
Florida Specific:
Oil Impact Notices are posted for Northwest Florida beaches.
Tar balls, tar mats and light sheen continue to be reported in Northwest Florida.
Perdido Pass will continue to be closed with the tide to reduce the amount of oil from entering inland waters. This waterway is manned to allow access to necessary vessel traffic during low tide. The USCG Reported that Pensacola, Destin, and Panama City passes are closing from 1900hrs -0700hrs at night.
Oil Containment Boom (in feet) total: 781,661 deployed in Florida. (Tier 1 & Tier 2: 466,100 / Tier 3: 315,461)
In accordance with established plans, protective booming, staging, and boom maintenance is being conducted along the coast from Escambia to Franklin.
413 vessels are deployed in Florida for the Vessels of Opportunity program.
959 Qualified Community Responders are working in the Florida Panhandle.
Federal Fishery closure, west of Cape San Blas to state line. (see NOAA FB10-060)
In addition to $100,000 for Volunteer Florida to maintain a volunteer registration database, BP has issued over $75 million in grants to Florida for booming, a national tourism advertising campaign, and the state’s preparedness and response efforts. An additional $500,000 has been issued by BP to fund two innovative technology solutions for Okaloosa County.
BP claims in Florida total 29,707 with approximately $ 34,596,633.12. paid.
Florida Information Lines:
The Florida Oil Spill Information Line (FOSIL) is available from 8am-6pm EDT daily.
- English – (888) 337-3569 / TDD – (800) 955-8771 / Voice – (800) 955- 8770
- Spanish – (877) 955-8773
- Haitian Creole – (877) 955-8707
For general health/exposures information questions related to the oil spill, contact the Florida Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222.
Two public hotline numbers for oil spill investigation and cleanup:
- Impacted Wildlife: (866) 557-1401
- Oiled Shoreline: (877) 2-SAVE-FL or #DEP for cellular devices
The Florida Department of State has established a hotline for archeological, historical preservation, and tribal lands that may be impacted by the Deepwater Horizon incident: (850) 245-6530.
To confirm legitimate charities and determine if an organization is registered with the state, call Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) (800) 435-7352 or www.800helpfla.com.
Information Websites:
Volunteer registration: www.VolunteerFlorida.org and click “Register to Help”
Health advisories: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/health.htm
State sampling data: www.nrdata.org
GATOR web mapping application: http://map.floridadisaster.org/gator/
Recovery related jobs: http://FloridaGulfRecoveryJobs.com/
NOAA GeoPlatform, response management application: http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/
State Actions:
State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is at a Level 1 (Full), operating from 0700 to 1800 EDT, with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) as the lead agency.
Governor’s Executive Orders 10-99, 10-100, 10-106 and 10-132 declared a state of emergency for identified Florida coastal counties.
Governor’s Executive Order 10-101 established the Gulf Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force, which will facilitate efforts by Florida businesses and industries to recover the loss of commerce and revenues due to the oil spill.
Conducting daily conference calls with county and emergency management partners, the Federal On-Scene Coordinator, and various Unified Commands.
FEMA is assisting SERT with streamlining financial reimbursement.
A portion of coastal state waters offshore of Escambia County is closed to the harvest of saltwater fish, crabs and shrimp.
A SERT Toxicological Data Analysis Cell is providing consistent scientific assessments of collected sampling to inform local/state decision making.
The Agency for Workforce Innovation and Regional Workforce Boards are identifying and filling jobs related to the oil spill: 12,787 positions advertised; 39,863 applicants referred.
103 Florida National Guard personnel on duty at various duty posts in the Deepwater Horizon area of operations.
ESF 15 reports, 19,592 volunteers have registered to respond to Deepwater Horizon. 22,853 volunteer hours have been worked. AmeriCorps, National Civilian Community Corps members are in Escambia & Santa Rosa Counties to assist with models for a communityrun Citizen Information Station (CIS).
Conducting daily reconnaissance flights and shoreline patrol from Escambia to Franklin Counties for impact. Real time reconnaissance reports are being entered into GATOR.
Currently, Florida’s coast has 9 decontamination sites for response vessels and 8 that are being operated for commercial vessels. A site for recreational vessel decontamination has also been established and additional recreational vessel sites are in negotiations with BP.
Recovered Oiled Wild Life: 07/14/10
See the consolidated wildlife report updated by noon each day: http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doctype/2931/55963
The Boom Coordination Cell continues to coordinate additional boom requests. The Innovative Technology Cell continues to assess alternative clean-up technologies suggested by the public and stakeholders.
Emergency Bridge Loan Program, cumulative, week ending 07/09/10. Applications: 43; Declined: 5; Approved: 38; Amount: $950,000.00
The Small Business Administration has issued an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Declaration for the State of Florida. Outreach Centers are open in 8 counties.
Loan Applications: As reported on 07/15/10.
- Issued: 580 Accepted: 161 Declined: 56 Approved: 32
- Loan amount approved: $3,464,700.00
Local States of Emergency
- Escambia: Expires on 7/20/10
- Santa Rosa: Expires on 7/16/10
- Okaloosa: Concurrent with State
- Walton: Expires on 7/16/10
- Bay: Expires on 7/15/10
- Gulf: Expires on 7/20/10
- Franklin: Expires on 7/19/10
- Wakulla: Expires on 7/19/10
- Jefferson: Expires on 7/15/10
- Dixie: Expires on 7/15/10
- Sarasota: Expires on 7/19/10
County EOC Activations
- Escambia, Level 2 (Partial)
- Santa Rosa, Level 2 (Partial)
- Okaloosa, Level 2 (Partial)
- Bay, Level 2 (Partial)
- Gulf, Level 2 (Partial)
- Franklin, Level 2 (Partial)
- Wakulla, Level 2 (Partial
Topics: 2010, beaches, BP, British Petroleum, business, coastline, Deepwater Horizon, Economy, emergency response, environment, environmental impact, fishing, Florida, Florida seafood products, GOHSEP, Governance, government, Governor Charlie Crist, Gulf of Mexico, gulf oil map, July 15, landfall predictions, loans, Mexico Beach, moniter, monitor, news, noaa oil spill, Obama Administration, oil loop current, Oil Rig, oil spill, oil spill forecast, oil spill map, Panhandle, Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Pass, pollution, President Obama, relief wells, tourism, Transocean, U.S., United States, VISIT FLORIDA marketing campaign, White House, www.visitflorida.com
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