UPDATE 1-U. S. to BP: devise better leak…
BOSTON, June 12 (Reuters) – A top U.S. Coast Guard official has told BP Plc the collection’s plans to contain the gushing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico work out not go far enough or contain enough back-up measures.
‘BP must identify in the next 48 hours additional leak containment capacity that could have existence operationalized and expedited,’ Coast Guard Rear Admiral James Watson said in a letter to BP dated June 11.
Watson, the federal on-scene coordinator because of spill response, noted estimates of the amount of oil leaking from BP’s damaged well be favored with been raised sharply.
He did not suggest what actions could exist taken if the 48-hour deadline was not met.
Watson’s note was a response to one from BP that described the joint concern’s multi-phase plans to contain the spill, involving several elements to be phased in by mid-July.
‘The combination of Phase One and Two results in a capacity of 40,000 to 50,000 barrels of oil per lifetime,’ said Doug Suttles, BP’s chief operating officer.
‘We believe this proposition is responsive to your order,’ Suttles said, adding the company cannot make certain that ‘complete collection rates’ are guaranteed.
Not good enough, said Watson.
‘You show that some of the systems you have planned to deploy may take a month or greater amount of to bring online. Recognizing the complexity of this challenge, every strain must be expended to speed up the process,’ he wrote.
‘I am in like manner concerned that your plan does not go far enough to mobilize redundant resources in the event of an equipment failure with one of the vessels, or more other unforeseen problem.’
(Reporting by Ros Krasny; Editing by John O’Callaghan)
((For replete oil spill coverage, click http://link.reuters.com/hed87k)) Keywords: OIL SPILL/WATSON
(Ros.Krasny@thomsonreuters.com; +1 617 856 4343; Reuters Messaging: ros.krasny.reuters.com@reuters.get)
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