It will take at least three months to effectively stop the flow of oil rushing through a damaged well that is leaking oil into the Gulf of Mexico, Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, and now National Incident Commander of the Gulf Coast oil spill said Monday morning.
The spill started April 20 when the rig attached to the oil well exploded and began to spew thousands of barrels of oil into the Gulf.
Allen said the three-month window is the best case scenario for drilling a new well into the reservoir of oil that’s 23,000 feet below the water’s surface, noting that this was the only way to stop the flow of oil at the source.
Allen also spoke approvingly of various ongoing efforts to contain the spill. These include the use of chemical dispersants on the surface and under water to help degrade the oil. He said it will take another week to build cofferdams around the spill.
Allen said the oil slick remains nine miles off the Louisiana coastline, attributing the stationary position to an eddy flow from the mouth of the Mississippi River. He also said shipping channels or “fairways” remained open but the situation remained tenuous.
“Some things are inartful,” was Allen’s brusque assessment of how the emergency developed.
Allen appeared irritated by criticism directed to the response and claims that officials were slow to recognize the extent of the problem.
He defended the work of the Defense Department and wanted to “debunk” any suggestion that the Pentagon was less than responsive in helping with the disaster.
“The Joint Chiefs have been totally responsive,” Allen said, before adding, “there is nothing inhibiting our ability to ask for resources we need.”