Article

2010-06-21 Science & Technology

Oil Leaks 40,000 years ago off Santa Barbara, CA

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Posted by Bobby 2010-06-21 14:06|| || Front Page|| [11130 views ] Top

#1 Actually, the latest Ice Age ended about 12,000 years ago. These "methane monsters" had about zero effect on the ice at that time. According to one record I read, the Gulf of Mexico has several THOUSAND natural leaks that put as much oil into the water as the BP well does.

Posted by Old Patriot 2010-06-21 15:02|| 2010-06-21 15:02|| Front Page Top

#2 Not as much as the BP leak but about two Exxon Valdez tanker loads a year seeps naturally into the Gulf every year.

The same thing happens off the coast of California. Some of the natural gas seeps are so prolific that oil companies, prevented from drilling there, simply put a cap over them and collect the gas:

Two small underwater containment structures positioned near Goleta Point, placed to collect natural seepage, have alone captured over 4 billion cubic feet of natural gas since 1982: enough natural gas to supply the needs of over 25,000 residential natural gas users each year.

Posted by crosspatch 2010-06-21 15:09|| 2010-06-21 15:09|| Front Page Top

#3 Also:

In 1793, during the travels of English explorer James Cook, his navigator, George Vancouver, recorded in his journal that they had anchored off of Goleta. Vancouver reported that the sea was "... covered with a thick, slimy substance, which, when separated or disturbed by any little agitation, became very luminous, whilst the slightest breeze, that came principally from onshore, brought with it a very strong scent of burning tar." He continued that "... the sea had the appearance of dissolved tar floating on its surface, which covered the ocean in all directions within the limits of our view."

This also is consistent with the memory of my friend's mother who is now in her 90's. She spent her summers at the beach near Santa Barbara in the 1920's and 1930's. She said the beach was always full of tar and her aunt made the kids clean their feet with turpentine when they got back from the beach. She said the breeze smelled like kerosene. She said that after the war when drilling started, the beaches cleaned up and became usable. Before that time the beaches were normally fouled with oil and tar seeping naturally into the ocean.

Posted by crosspatch 2010-06-21 15:14|| 2010-06-21 15:14|| Front Page Top

#4 'Tar she blows'

Posted by BrerRabbit 2010-06-21 15:32|| 2010-06-21 15:32|| Front Page Top

#5 more glad than ever that I use a brita filter.

Posted by Hugh Jass 2010-06-21 15:46|| 2010-06-21 15:46|| Front Page Top

#6 Groan! Bad Bunny!

Posted by Deacon Blues 2010-06-21 16:02|| 2010-06-21 16:02|| Front Page Top

#7 In 1793, during the travels of English explorer James Cook, his navigator, George Vancouver, recorded in his journal that they had anchored off of Goleta

is this the same English explorer James Cook who died in 1779?

Posted by classer 2010-06-21 19:41|| 2010-06-21 19:41|| Front Page Top

#8 The Cheney predates civilization...frightening. Without progressive civil rights lawyers back then he could have feasted on blood at will.

Posted by swksvolFF 2010-06-21 20:22|| 2010-06-21 20:22|| Front Page Top

#9 swksvolFF...Very funny comment. Priceless!

Posted by Asymmetrical 2010-06-21 22:42|| 2010-06-21 22:42|| Front Page Top

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