'Ocean Saratoga': A second leaking oil well?
A second rig may be spewing crude into the Gulf of Mexico. How concerned should we be?
There's a "new" oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, according the federal government. The second, much smaller leak, originating from the Ocean Saratoga rig only 40 miles from the Deepwater Horizon spill, has reportedly been releasing small amounts of oil — about a half-barrel per day — into Gulf waters since 2004, when the well was damaged by Hurricane Ivan. (The rig's owner, Diamond Offshore, denies the existence of a leak.) This report proves we need "public, transparent monitoring everywhere offshore drilling is going on in U.S. waters," says John Amos, president of Skytruth.org, a nonprofit environmental group. Maybe so, says Michael Reilly in Discovery News, but keep in mind that a "million-plus barrels of oil" flow naturally into the sea every year. So, let's not blow this out of proportion. Watch video of the Ocean Saratoga oil slick:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'A financial windfall for Iranian terrorism'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Orangutan heals cut with medicinal plant
Speed Read A Sumatran orangutan in Indonesia has been self-medicating to heal a wound on his cheek
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Turkey halts trade with Israel in latest Gaza rift
Speed Read The country plans to join South Africa's genocide case against Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published