National Geographic Releases Video of Gulf Oil Rig Fire
Posted on May 20, 2010 / 330 viewsNew video shows fire on Deepwater Horizon rig which began the Gulf oil spill, and then sank
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The new video shows a massive fire aboard the rig that began the Gulf oil spill disaster. AP Photo
National Geographic has released video showing the massive fire aboard the Deepwater Horizon rig which began the current Gulf oil spill disaster. The video shows multiple boats spraying water on the rig with hardly any effect as the entire thing is swallowed up in flames. At the end of the video, the rig ends up sinking in the ocean while it is still on fire.
Experts believe the fire began from a methane gas explosion during drilling process. A number of “fail safe” devices were suppose to prevent such an explosion. Instead, the methane gas expanded rapidly as it came to the surface and then created a massive explosion when it found an ignition source. Eleven workers died in the accident and over 100 other workers had to be evacuated. New details have emerged showing that BP skipped a number of tests and precautionary measures which may have prevented the explosion.
The oils spill which resulted has now come ashore on the wetlands of Louisiana. The oil slick has also caught the Gulf current loop which could take it to Florida, though scientists are hopeful that much of the oil evaporates or weathers before it reaches the delicate Florida Keys environment.
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National Geographic crews had exclusive access to the site of the oil rig disaster. They shot the video on April 22, as the Deepwater Horizon collapsed and sank, two days after the explosion that killed 11 people.
National Geographic will broadcast a one hour special entitled “Gulf Oil Spill” Thursday, May 27 at 9 pm on the National Geographic Channel. WKRG
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