Gulf Oil Spill: Meddling Scientists Keep Ruining It For BP

(MoneyWatch)  A team of scientists discovered an underwater oil plume some 22 miles long and 1 mile-wide, throwing a wrench in the ridiculous premise that the 4.1 million barrels of crude that spewed from BP's well in the Gulf of Mexico -- and wasn't captured by ships -- had vanished. Those damned meddling scientists are once again making life difficult for BP execs, who prefer the government's more positive spin on the amount of oil left in the Gulf.

This isn't some handful of rogue scientists, by the way. At least two other studies -- from the University of Georgia and University of South Florida -- also have revealed data that directly contradicts a recent government report on the amount of oil in the Gulf. Earlier this month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a report that claimed 3/4 of the oil had dispersed -- either naturally or by the liberal use of chemical dispersants.

Curiously, BP has stayed quiet throughout all of this, preferring to watch the federal government and independent scientists battle over the amount of oil in the Gulf. It's a wickedly smart move on BP's part that provides a glimpse into the company's changing strategy.

In the first months after the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and BP's well began belching oil and gas, the company spent considerable time and resources trying to shape public perception. BP figured the more visible its clean up and containment efforts -- shared via advertising and constant press conferences -- the better off it would be. And that failed miserably, thanks to bumbling former CEO Tony Hayward.
BP has reduced its visibility in recent weeks, most notably after it stopped the stream of oil and gas. The company is now preparing to permanently seal the well. BP has finally realized that folks simply don't trust a damned word it puts out there.

The moment BP starts backing up the federal government, that NOAA report, which claims the oil is rapidly dispersing, will lose even more credibility. NOAA's report already is drawing considerable fire from lawmakers, notably from Energy and Environment subcommittee chair Rep. Ed Markey, who held a hearing Thursday on the spill and its impact on seafood safety. (Markey, by the way, was the only member present at the hearing). The debate has become even more muddled in the past 24 hours. After NOAA scientist Bill Lehr backed off the study Thursday, calling it preliminary, the agency's chief Jane Lubchenco held a conference call last night defending the results. All of this confusion, of course, is great for BP. How can we hold BP responsible for damage if we can't definitely determine how much oil is impacting the Gulf?

This report -- or any study that shows the oil has vanished -- is critical for BP and its bottom line. Lingering underwater oil could cause problems for marine life, either by the toxic impact on microscopic plants, the formation of dead zones or by physically coating animals. With every drop of oil left in the Gulf, BP's liability grows because it is ultimately responsible for the clean up and restoration of the Gulf coast.

Photo of oil on the Lousiana coast from Gov. Bobby Jindal's office, CC
For complete coverage, see All Things BNET on BP's Gulf of Mexico Spill
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