James Cameron Brainstorms with Gov't on Spill

(AP)  "Top kill" didn't stop the Gulf oil spill. How about something "titanic"?

Federal officials are hoping film director James Cameron can help them come up with ideas on how to stop the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Special Section: Disaster in the Gulf
"60 Minutes" Interview: James Cameron

The "Avatar" and "Titanic" director was among a group of scientists and other experts who met Tuesday with officials from the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies for a brainstorming session on stopping the massive oil leak.

The Canadian-born Cameron is considered an expert on underwater filming and remote vehicle technologies. "Avatar" and "Titanic" are the two highest-grossing films of all time.

[JIMA1965]

I DON'T HAVE CAMERON'S MONEY OR FAME, BUT I TRIED TO GET BP TO TALK TO ME TO NO AVAIL.MY PEOPLE THINK THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING WRONG. WAITING FOR THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES.MONKEYS AND FOOTBALLS.

[dparks9]

So how exactly is James Cameron going to save the coastline?
You know, that long stretch of land which Obama & his administration have ignored for 40 days while they run around like lost children pointing fingers and blaming everyone except themselves for the inevitable land-based disaster that we're going to see in a few weeks?

Yup - that whole "Just words, just speeches" thingy was right on target.

[Wolf1944]

I notice that the people griping about this can't spell "Cameron" or "Lucas."

[credibility_problem]

James Cameroon might know all the people in the underwater filming and image reconstruction business, so that's likely why he was called in. Cutting the pipe exactly is easier with a real-time 3-D reconstruction of the blowout preventer and riser.

However, if the only solution is to drill relief wells all the way down to the oil zone, through thousands of feet of rock, and then precisely intersect the base of the leaking well, then why aren't THREE relief wells being simultaneously drilled? Too expensive for BP?

[irongate60]

Now their calling on James Cameron! This has got to be a joke. Absolutely pathetic! Do they have any idea how totally incompetent this makes the administration look?

[goffredo29]

They should call in Kevin Costner from his Waterworld experience. With those gills he could just swim down there and check out what's happening and maybe fix the thing. Qui potest capere, capiat.

[wdh3007]

Since drilling and cutting pipe has had no effect it makes no since at this point to continue. The oil spill needs to be contained by sealing it permanately at it's leakage point. If this has no effect then BP as a last resort may want to consider requesting millitary help in carrying out a controlled explosion of the ocean floor with a small conventional weapon.

[canoedog]

Actually, this makes a lot of practical sense. If one of the problems is getting clear images and maneuvering remote cameras, why not bring in someone who is highly skilled in this? It seems probable that the unique problem of visibility for the kind of precise work being attempted is probably not within the typical skill set one would find in an engineer who works with drilling structures, valves and pipes. Nothing in the article suggests that Cameron is being asked to design a shut off valve--but he certainly knows a thing or two about complex visual problems requiring remote photography.

[CZ452]

Do you really think that BP doesn't have top of the line equipment and operators running the ROVs? Just because you filmed some scenes underwater doesn't mean crap. He shot the Titanic he did not raise it!

Whats next George Lucus giving NASA tips?

[Archie_Clement]

This administration is in so far over its head that I am at a loss for words.

[thesevenveils]

It's not just this administration, the whole dang government. Being a little government to the oil industry the Federal governemnt has stayed out of the oil industries business, expecting it to act responsibly and cautiously. Just like the bank business, apparently the oil business puts making a dollar a head of everything else. Now its apparent that the oil business could use a little regulation too.

[jgg000101]

this is absurd.

[erasmus111]

Who cares? At this point they need to be trying whatever they can. Maybe Cameraon can help, or maybe he can't. Anything is worth a try.

[erasmus111]

oops, CAMERON. I have no idea how that "a" got in there. : )