duncanriley.com - Latest Comments in Rudd-erless while Oil Spilled

Re: Rudd-erless while Oil Spilled

Stilgherrian — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:41:32 -0000

@Duncan: Agreed, there does seem to be a confusion of threat levels here. However I'm not sure what, exactly the government could have done, at least not directly. Maybe more pressure on the owners to fix it fast -- but would they have the legal power to do so? I have no idea, myself.

@yewenyi Perhaps you might like to revise your comment in light of the existence, since 1902, of the Royal Australian Engineers?

Re: Rudd-erless while Oil Spilled

Jacques Chester — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:26:12 -0000

I don't like Rudd much either, but plugging a deep sea oil well isn't easy. You have to hit a narrow hole 2km under the surface of the earth through several kilometres of mud & rock and hundreds of metres of water. Like trying to hit a straw with another straw at 500m, in the dark.

Re: Rudd-erless while Oil Spilled

yewenyi — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:03:37 -0000

Unlike the Americans, our military does not have an engineering corps. But still, you could declare an environmental emergency and send in the fixers. Of course you would have to bill the company later, otherwise they would just expect a free ride.