Kevin Costner's Oil Centrifuges Deployed to Gulf

Kevin Costner will have a role to play in the cleanup of the Gulf of Mexico.

Special Section: Disaster in the Gulf

BP spokesman Bill Salvin told The Associated Press that the company has contracted with Costner and Ocean Therapy Solutions to use 32 of their centrifuge machines that are designed to separate oil from water.

"We recognized they had potential and put them through testing, and that testing was done in shallow water and in very deep water and we were very pleased by the results," Salvin said.

Costner has invested more than $24 million to develop the devices.

Previously, the oil and water separator Costner's been investing in for 15 years clogged up when it was tested on the spill, CBS News Correspondent Kelly Cobiella reported June 2. BP the said it would tweak it and retest it.

Apparently the fixes worked. The actor-director told a congressional committee June 9 that BP ordered 32 of the machines to be deployed in the Gulf, CBS Radio News reports.

The centrifuges were developed by a group of scientists funded by the Hollywood star following the Exxon-Valdez oil spill in 1989, reports CBS News Affiliate WWL-TV in New Orleans.

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Vulnerable Gulf Species
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[RoboBlogger]

They should just use those ships with the giant vacuums to suck up the crude oil rather than scouping it out of the water.

[Myopinion046]

Those centrifuges are a God send for sure.

[gruven13777]

Keven Costner and Jan Brewer...cleaning up America by doing the dirty jobs that Obama won't do.

[cleric60]

Unlike Mr. Obama, Mr. Costner is actually doing something besides talking about the oil crisis--Mr. Costner --substance--doing something to correction the crisis. Mr. Obama--symbolism--just talking about doing something--make public appearances/speeches.
Again liberal symbolism over real substance.

[CHReed]

Could you give some examples of what you would like Pres Obama to have done or be doing with regards to the oil spill?

[renonv5]

What, exactly, would you have the president do?

[bobnjersey]

[Costner has invested more than $24 million to develop the devices. The centrifuges were developed by a group of scientists funded by the Hollywood star following the Exxon-Valdez oil spill in 1989, reports CBS News Affiliate WWL-TV in New Orleans. ]

good for mr. costner ... using his success and the spoils of it all ... for something bigger than himself.

so ... once again ... the rantings of the 'auth follower' right thinkers about those in hollywood and in the entertainment business being the problem ... is actually completely wrong!

[msay3]

They are a big part of the problem....Once in a while, however we have the pleasure of experiencing a hollywood actor who has integrity, puts his money where his mouth is, and tries to do what he can to make improvements on the bungling bumpkins who don't know what they are doing. Cheers for Kevin Costner....

[bobnjersey]

[They are a big part of the problem....]

yes ... i agree ... the clueless auth follower right thinkers are at the root of the problem.

[1notrub11]

Well, I don't know about the througput on such a device, or whether it will be adequate, but you have to give the man credit for being proactive and using what he has available to solve a problem.

Given his resources, it is certainly more action than I have seen elsewhere.