Two Gulf Oil Cleanup Workers Reported Dead; Robot Knocks Containment Cap Off Gusher
This morning, BP confirmed rumors that it would be handing off the leadership of the Gulf oil disaster cleanup to Managing Director Bob Dudley from CEO Tony Hayward, who turned out not to be so much of a “people person.” Within a matter of hours, two cleanup workers were reported dead and the containment cap partially subduing the gusher was knocked off by a robot submarine. Not the best first day on the job, by far.
Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, who is leading the government response to the disaster, is reporting that the two deaths seem unrelated to the work effort, one being a product of “an incident involving a swimming pool, the other a vessel operator, according to Fox News. NBC is reporting that one of the deceased “was a boat captain who died of a gunshot wound,” but no further details are currently available.
As for the containment cap issue, a submarine robot hit a vent, forcing BP to remove the cap:
“When the robot bumped the system, gas rose through the vent that carries warm water down to prevent ice-like crystals from forming in the cap, Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said. The cap was removed and crews were checking to see if crystals had formed before putting it back on. Allen did not say how long that might take.
The cap was removed and crews were checking to see if crystals had formed before putting it back on. Allen did not say how long that might take.”
More details from the Fox News Report below:
