The process of siphoning oil from the downstream leak is forcing more oil out of the blow off preventer (the other leak). As of this diary the only leak being shown is the downstream leak that has a pressure plate that forces oil into the siphon tube and also forces more oil out of the blow off preventer upstream.
WE NEED TO SEE THE OTHER LEAK!
I have wanted to write about these topics and found that this video, just released discusses nearly all of the important topics.
(AP) A damselfly tries to clean itself as it is stuck to marsh grass covered in oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, in Garden Island Bay on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana near Venice, Tuesday, May 18, 2010.
Please note, the AP video below shows a clip of the live stream that most cannot yet access due to heavy traffic on the websites that carry it.
Now, pay attention because this is important
The tube that is now inserted into the leaking pipe has a plate around it that is partially plugging the leaky pipe. This plate works to help direct more flow into the siphon straw. This plate is creating a backpressure that is forcing more oil to flow out from the other leak at the blow off preventer (the upstream leak).
They are still only showing 1 of 2 leaks. The one being shown is capturing 5,000 barrels of oil per day but this process is forcing more oil to leak from the blow off preventer (upstream). They are still not showing the blow off preventer leak.
They are still hiding the leak.
We need to see the other leak to see what the combined total leak rate is.
(scale reference below) - The yellow tube on the lower right is 21" across. This means that the plume of oil and gas from this leak is over 5 feet across at the base.
Rep Ed Markey Rips BP a New One
in the meantime, the Obama Administration has now, finally, demanded all evidence of BP's crimes. Of course, they are still relying on BP to provide the incriminating evidence. This simply will not do.
Remember when BP said that there was "no oil" leaking and then there was 1,000 barrels per day leaking. . .as Rep Ed Markey said (in the video)
"These videos stand as a scalding, blistering indictment of BP's inattention to the scope and size of the greatest environmental catastrophe in the history of the united states."
--Representative Ed Markey, May 20, 2010
Here is The Hill on the information demand by the Obama Administration:
Obama administration says BP has ‘fallen short’ on transparency, demands new data
By Ben Geman - 05/20/10 05:42 PM ET
Top Obama administration officials said Thursday that BP is failing to keep the government and public informed about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and ordered the company to quickly publish environmental monitoring data and other information.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, in a letter Thursday to BP CEO Tony Hayward, say BP transparency efforts have “fallen short in both their scope and effectiveness.”
“In order to meet BP’s responsibilities and to fulfill this obligation, BP must make publicly available any data and other information related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that you have collected, or that will be collected in the future,” the letter adds.
also
The EPA has demanded that BP use "less toxic" dispersants on the oil. Instead of buying product made from one of their subsidies (and making money off of the deal) they must now actually pay someone else (the horror!) and use something 20 times less toxic to the environment (and works better by the way).
EPA demands a less toxic dispersant in Gulf spill
By MATTHEW DALY (AP) – 53 minutes ago
WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency directed BP PLC on Thursday to use a less toxic form of chemical dispersants to break up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, one of several steps the government took to crack down on the oil giant.
The moves come amid a growing sense of frustration with the company's failure to stop the spill and allow independent reviews of its work.
"I think now we're beginning to understand that we cannot trust BP," said Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., who pushed for the video release and the EPA directive on dispersants. "BP has lost all credibility."
--and then some
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Update: from the comments THANKS mydailydrunk
created by Carol Zuber-Mallison at ZM Graphics
full sized image
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Interactive graphic to estimate amount of oil spilled so far