Introspection time

On the energy and environment, it is the biggest story that continues to be highlighted for a fortnight. And why not, considering that as much as 5,000 barrels per day are escaping into the Gulf after Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and collapsed, letting oil from the well gush into the ocean. Some say the number is closer to 1.1 million gallons—approximately 26,500 barrels—per day. A barrel of crude equals about 42 gallons. The large element of doubt is because this is based on guesswork based on a cascade of satellite images and thickness estimates derived from visual descriptions of the slick. So far, somewhere between 4 million gallons and 21 million gallons have spilled.

BP's attempts to contain the spill using two huge domes to catch and siphon the oil have failed. The next tactic is going to be something they call a junk shot. They're actually going to take a bunch of debris, shredded up tires, golf balls and things like that and under very high pressure shoot it into the preventer itself and see if they can clog it up and stop the leak. What better use for garbage??!

The final hope is in a relief well that will be dug or a series of them nearby to take the pressure off the spilling well. But that will take 2-3 months and meanwhile the oil spill continues spreading (as shown in the picture taken by NASA.

The spill has made international bodies sit up and take note of a lack of regulations regarding offshore drilling which can cause untold pollution and environmental problems. With many nations eyeing the melting Arctic region with a view to tapping the seafloor, the world seems set for another 'cold' war. The erstwhile Soviet Union has made quite a mess of the Arctic with abandoned fuel barrels strewn around. Putin has pledged funds to its geographical society for 'developing' the Arctic.

The region's potentially enormous oil and gas reserves are becoming more accessible, prompting what Agence France-Presse called "a diplomatic tug-of-war" between the five countries that border the area -- Russia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, and the United States. Even China has shown more than passing interest. After all, the Arctic belongs to all!

The Arctic region also sits on what is believed to be tons of peat that keep a close lid on methane gas. If drilling is to proceed merrily, what can happen is a nightmare. Peak oil or not, looks like it is time we got unhooked from oil. What do you think? Or is it simply a matter of lax regulations?