BP Plans to Burn Some Oil Pumping up to Surface
BP won't collect and sell all the oil it pumps to the surface from leak _ some of it will burn
The Associated Press
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By RAY HENRY Associated Press Writer
NEW ORLEANS June 9, 2010 (AP)
... To burn it, the British oil giant is preparing to use a device called an EverGreen Burner, officials said. It turns a flow of oil and gas into a vapor that is pushed out its 12 nozzles and burned without creating visible smoke.
... Depending on which model is used and its settings, it can handle from 10,500 to 630,000 gallons of oil a day, according to promotional materials by Schlumberger Ltd., the company that makes the device and whose website touts it as producing "fallout-free and smokeless combustion."
It's unclear how many times the EverGreen burner has been used, but it has been proposed for at least one offshore rig in the North Sea to get rid of unwanted gases produced during oil processing.
Environmental documents produced as part of that project, an exploration well proposed by Total E&P of Britain, said burning the oil posed "a moderate risk to the environment" that would release sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane and other chemicals.
But Wilma Subra, a chemist with the Louisiana Environmental Action Network, said BP should avoid burning the captured oil — which she said raises new health risks — and instead bring in more processing equipment.
"This is one of those decisions that will have negative impacts," she said. "Even though it's crude dispersed in water, the burning of crude will raise some health issues."
From http://www.examiner.com/x-17299-Hernando-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2010m5d9-Gulf-Oil-Spill-2010-Plans-to-evacuate-Tampa-Bay-area-expected-to-be-announced
Florida Gulf oil spill: Plans to evacuate Tampa Bay area are in place
Updated: May 22, 2010
Gulf Oil Spill 2010: Plans to evacuate Tampa Bay area are in place
As FEMA and other government agencies prepare for what is now being called by some, the worst oil spill disaster in history, plans to evacuate the Tampa Bay area are in place.
The plans would be announed in the event of a controlled burn of surface oil in the Gulf of Mexico, if wind or other conditions are expected to take the toxic fumes through Tampa Bay.
This practice is common for the US Forestry service, when fire and smoke threaten the health and well being of people.
The elderly and those with respiratory problems would be more susceptible to health risks, in the event of a controlled burn.
Estimates of the rate of BP's Deepwater Horizon oil spill have varied. SkyTruth.com, estimates the numbers at more than 1 million gallons a day, based on satellite and Coast Guard images.
Since the April 20th explosion, which resulted in the sinking of the rig, there have been more than 650,000 gallons of chemicals poured into the Gulf of Mexico in efforts to break up the spill. However, the chemicals have come under some scrutiny recently, because of their own toxic nature.
It is not certain if the massive slick will have to be set on fire near Tampa Bay, but the possibility has not been ruled out. BP has been using controlled burnes as a way to control the oil spill since the crisis began more than a month ago.
Oil Odors: If You Smell It, Is It Toxic?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gina-solomon/oil-odors-if-you-smell-it_b_605007.html
Hazard Summary-Created in April 1992; Revised in January 2000
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/glycolet.html
Assessing Personal Exposure
- Metabolites of 2-butoxyethanol can be measured in urine. (8)
Health Hazard Information
Acute Effects:
- Acute exposure to high levels of the glycol ethers in humans results in narcosis, pulmonary edema, and severe liver and kidney damage. (1)
- Acute exposure to lower levels of the glycol ethers in humans causes conjunctivitis, upper respiratory tract irritation, headache, nausea, and temporary corneal clouding. (1)
Chronic Effects (Noncancer):
- Chronic exposure to the glycol ethers in humans results in fatigue, lethargy, nausea, anorexia, tremor, and anemia. (1,5,7)
- Animal studies have reported anemia, reduced body weight gain, and irritation of the eyes and nose from inhalation exposure. (4)
- EPA has not established a Reference Dose (RfD) for 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, or 2-butoxyethanol. (5,7,8)
2-Butoxyethanol
EPA has calculated a provisional RfC of 0.02 mg/m3 for 2-butoxyethanol based on hematological effects in rats. (6)
Reproductive/Developmental Effects:
- No information is available on the developmental effects of the glycol ethers in humans.
- A possible effect on sperm quality and testes size in workers exposed to glycol ethers has been reported. (5,7)
- Animal studies have reported testicular damage, reduced fertility, maternal toxicity, early embryonic death, birth defects, and delayed development from inhalation and oral exposure to the glycol ethers. (2,4,5,7)
Cancer Risk:
- No information is available on the carcinogenic effects of the glycol ethers in humans.
- Another animal study reported pheochromocytoma of the adrenal medulla in female rats, hemangiosarcoma of the liver in male mice, and forestomach squamous cell papilloma or carcinoma in female mice exposed to 2-butoxyethanol by inhalation. (11)
- EPA has not classified the glycol ethers for carcinogenicity.
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