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It's always nice to know that the White House has your back.
Obama Knew the Spill Was Hopeless
by Richard Wolffe Info
What has not been previously disclosed: The president was not only briefed on the real-time events of the spill, but also on just how bad it would be—and how hard it would be to plug the hole.
For the full story click on the following link.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-06-04/obama-briefed-in-april-by-carol-browner-on-how-bad-bp-spill-was-/
Company With Whitefish Ties Aids Gulf Cleanup
Several locals involved with Echosphere Technologies
http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/company_with_whitefish_ties_aids_gulf_cleanup/18136/
Ecosphere Technologies' mobile water treatment system. - Photo contributed by Chad Wold
By Myers Reece, 06-14-10
On a map, Whitefish is a long way from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but in reality, it might be a lot closer than you think.
Ecosphere Energy Services, a subsidiary of Florida-based Ecosphere Technologies, recently announced a partnership with Mid-Gulf Recovery Services to use the Ecosphere Ozonix water treatment system in the cleanup of British Petroleum’s massive oil spill.
Both Ecosphere’s parent company and the subsidiary have ties to Whitefish. Ecosphere Technologies’ chief executive officer Dennis McGuire is a part-time Whitefish resident, as is one of Ecosphere Energy Services’ major investors, Drew Bledsoe.
Whitefish-based attorney Chad Wold is the subsidiary’s general counsel and managing member. Wold is also general counsel for the Drew Bledsoe Capital Group, which has invested in the project. Wold said the board for Ecosphere Energy Services consists largely of Whitefish residents.
On June 9, Ecosphere Energy Services investors Troy Aikman and Bledsoe, both former NFL quarterbacks, met with members of the press in New Orleans to discuss the Ozonix system, which treats contaminated water without the use of chemicals. Jean-Michel Cousteau, of the famed oceanic exploratory Cousteau family, has endorsed the technology.
Back in the Flathead Valley last week, Wold was scurrying around, conducting his own interviews and keeping in constant contact with his partners in Louisiana.
“It’s really exciting to wake up in the morning and know you’re working for this company that’s helping the environment, helping out in this dire situation, and creating jobs,” Wold said.
The Ozonix technology has been used to treat water contaminated by chemicals and oils in various locations around the country, Wold said. According to an informational presentation distributed by Ecosphere Technologies, the Ozonix system uses a “contain and clean” method for treatment, as opposed to BP’s current chemical dispersant approach.
The chemical dispersant approach, according to the presentation, is aimed at dispersing the oil not collected at the wellhead so the oil doesn’t reach the surface. This minimizes containment of the oil and leaves the door open for “massive unknown consequences for tomorrow.”
But Ecosphere Technologies says that the “contain and clean method” uses ultrasonic transducers and acoustic cavitation to create millions of micro-bubbles that rapidly transport the oil to the surface for non-chemical separation.
Seawater is then pumped through reactor systems located on an offshore supply vessel. Billions of oxygenated and ozonated micro-bubbles are created, producing a chemical-free, and non-toxic, fluid that’s pumped down to the wellhead. The oil on the surface is contained and treated in an Ozonix system.
Glen Smith, CEO of Mid-Gulf Recovery Services, said in a release that Ecosphere’s technology has far-ranging benefits in oil-spill cleanup efforts.
“Mid-Gulf's expertise is responding to natural disasters,” Smith said. “We are excited to be combining decades of experience and rapid response with Ecosphere's breakthrough technology to begin the massive cleanup of the Gulf's marshes and inland waterways.
“Our teams working together can make a real difference to the Gulf region that is being so devastated by the oil spill.”
The Gulf of Mexico is more than 2,000 miles away from Whitefish, but through the 24-hour news cycle the oil spill has become ingrained in many people’s daily lives since the Deepwater Horizon oilrig exploded on April 20.
But the constant coverage doesn’t generally paint a picture of optimism. Wold hopes Ecosphere’s technology can shine a light on progress, and give people a reason to believe the situation is getting better.
“You turn on the T.V. and it’s so negative,” Wold said. “But there’s actually a solution to it.”
Thanks - It's interesting how there always seems to be a series of
speed bumps put in the path of those that might do the most good
the quickest.
Food for thought. Based on what the president said last night
about the Coast Guard now being in charge of approving the various
equipment and process to be used in the clean-up effort, do we
now have to stand in that line and if so how far back in this line
are we ????
Cork - Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I don't have PM
service, which is why I took a pass when the board was first
established. When and if I find things of interest I'll post them
as always.
BP Rig Missed 16 Inspections Before Explosion
June 11, 2010 5:39 PM
This post was written by CBS News investigative producer Laura Strickler.
Newly released government inspection reports show BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig was only inspected six times in 2008 even though government regulations say drilling rigs should be inspected every month. In total, the rig missed 16 inspections since January 2005, according to the documents.
An Interior Department official told CBS News a rig might miss an inspection because it's moving from one place to the next or there might be a delay from weather.
Special Section: Disaster in the Gulf
Inspectors found five incidents of non-compliance at the rig dating back to 2001.
The last government inspection of the rig was on April 1 by Eric Neal, a government inspector who had only recently started his drilling inspection training, yet he was sent to the rig by himself to do the inspection.
Neal was asked about his experience by Jason Mathews, one of the accident investigators from the Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation, May 11:
(Question): Have you done any drilling inspections?
(Neal): Only in training.
(Q): And for how long have you been in training?
(Neal): Four months.
Seems a bit of a risk to allow novice inspectors to be responsible for a deepwater rig," said Gene Beck, associate professor of petroleum engineering at Texas A&M University.
In response to questions about the inspections, an Interior Department spokesperson sent a statement referring to the many ongoing inquiries into the rig's explosion.
"These questions will be best addressed in the context of those investigations," the statement read.
"We need professional, highly trained inspectors who aren't just pushing paper and rubberstamping what the industry tells them," said Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee investigating the government's ability to thoroughly inspect offshore rigs.
The Minerals Management Service (MMS), the government agency that conducts inspections, has been sharply criticized for its "cozy relationship" with the oil and gas industry.
Two MMS employees who inspected Deepwater Horizon in 2009 were quoted in a recent report (PDF) by the Department of Interior inspector general describing the close relationship that MMS inspectors have with the oil industry.
Marcus Mouton inspected Deepwater Horizon June 9, 2009. Mouton told federal investigators he participated in skeet-shooting fundraisers where "various offshore companies sponsored a five person team.
"He said he had thought participating in the events was acceptable because many MMS employees including senior managers attended and participated in them. He explained he did not think offshore companies received any favors in exchange for inviting MMS inspectors to these events."
Another Deepwater Horizon inspector, Larry Williamson, described the relationship between the oil and gas industry and MMS employees by saying, "Obviously we are all oil industry." He added "We're all from the same part of the country. Almost all of our inspectors have worked for oil companies out on these same platforms."
But Williamson said once a staff member was brought up on charges of taking gratuities from oil and gas companies, he told his employees that even eating with an industry representative was unacceptable.
MMS inspection reports dating back to September 2001 show five red flags or incidents of non-compliance. The last incident was from February 2007. Back in 2003, the reports note there was a pollution event on the rig that was investigated.
MMS has 56 inspectors in the Gulf of Mexico to oversee 3,500 production facilities that operate 35,591 wells, according to the Interior Department.
You've just got gas, you'll get over it.
Outstanding, thanks for sharing. Now were only missing one thing,
an Ok from BP and we should have that today.
Looks just as good the second time around.
A first hand report.
Grandson of Jacques Cousteau After Diving into BP Oil Spill - May 29, 2010
http://vodpod.com/watch/3738903-grandson-of-jacques-cousteau-after-diving-into-bp-oil-spill-may-29-2010
Let's hope EcoSpheres management was pro-active and called there
various vendors and said "WHAT IF" With any luck at all ESPH may
already have many of there bases covered, and delivery times
could be kept to a minimum.
A question that comes to mind is, how fast can ESPH get additional
units produced and into the field. I know what the competition
said they can do, I'd like a realistic answer of what our vendors
can do to help us help the country.
Again an interesting video clip. WPBR.COM Reporter Alexis Rivera
ends this clip by saying Company representitive say they have
24 units ready to go.
Now unless I missed a PR along the way, the only 24 units we have
are out in the fleild workin on NG wells. Are we going to pull
these units and send them to the Gulf ???
NFL Players Back Oil-Water Separation
http://www.wpbf.com/news/23853763/detail...
Interesting side note. Hefner Energy Partners & Ecosphere.
Hefner Energy Partners - About - Ecosphere Technologies, Drew ...
http://www.hefnerenergy.com/Hefner_Energy_Partners_-_About_-_Ecosphere_Technologies,_Drew_Bledsoe,_Robert_Hefner,_Ecosphere_Energy_Services.html
That's a very interesting question. I haven't heard of any additional equipment being available for immediate use.
Video clip with Drew Bledsoe.
http://www.wpbf.com/news/23853763/detail...
Video Clip from Fox News.
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4233027/aikma...
Great find, thanks for sharing. As the video clip says, now they
need to pressure BP to pick up the tab.
LOL,that's why we have tomorrows
LOL,now that's more than enough to put a person to sleep
Slim I'm not sure why you feel this is a strong close ? Where up
$0.01 on volume of only 844,521
I guess in some respects we can agree to disagree. In general we
both want the company to do well. What's starting to bother me
more than Dennis watered down Pr's is the whole Golf oil spill
story to begin with.
Many people including my self are starting to feel we have not
been told the truth about what happened and why,or who in truth will truly pay for the clean up.
Perhaps you don't think management needs to keep investors in the
loop especially when you consider that the Gulf oil spill is on
everyone's tong. As for trading this stock, I tend to be a buy and hold type of investor on every thing I own.
Yet another morning without news. Houston do we have a problem ??
Wall Street Journal: Hot Stock Picks.
Ecosphere Technologies Inc. (ESPH, $1.14, +$0.29, +34.12%), a water-engineering and enivronmental-services company, gained after saying it's preparing to deploy equipment to help clean up the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The company said its new technology is specifically built for removing oil and chemicals from sea water. Ecosphere's head of investor relations, Gerald Kieft, said the company is working on finalizing a contract for the deployment of the equipment. He declined say who Ecosphere is negotiating with. He also declined to comment on the potential size of the contract.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100526-712253.html
On April 6, 2009 (Obama administration) Interior's Mineral Management Services (MMS) granted the lease at Deepwater Horizon a "categorical exemption" from an environmental impact study required by the National Environmental Policy Act. That exemption basically means that MMS determined that there would be no significant environmental problems from the well.
BP submitted a brief environmental impact anaylsis that stated "it is unlikely that an accidental oil spill would occur from the proposed activities" and MMS agreed.
While Obama will use the spill to try to cram through his Cap and Tax bill, using the spill as a reason why "The time has come, once and for all, for this nation to fully embrace a clean energy future", the issues really are not that related.
One result of all of this will be more imported oil from Canada.
LINK:
http://wolves.wordpress.com/2010/05/20/why-was-the-deepwater-horizon-given-a-categorical-exclusion/
Let's hope Esph's equipment is put to use quickly, the golf area
can use all the help it can get.
APNewsBreak: Scientists say lab tests confirm underwater layers of oil
Cain Burdeau, Associated Press Writer, On Friday June 4, 2010, 6:46 pm EDT
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- Laboratory tests confirmed that oil from a spewing Gulf of Mexico well has accumulated in at least two extensive plumes deep under the surface, scientists with the University of South Florida said Friday.
USF researchers at a meeting in Baton Rouge said lab tests showed their initial findings, based on field instruments, were correct. The extensive layers of oil are sitting far beneath the surface miles from the site of the Deepwater Horizon explosion. The university is collecting data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Click on link to read full story.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Lab-tests-confirm-underwater-apf-1675478826.html?x=0&.v=7
I'm sure what your saying is true,however ESPH could have said
something to the effect when or if the unit has already been
shipped and the general location where it would be located.
Nice PR but well short on usable information like where, when
and how many units will be involved, and for what period of time.
What a mess. Thanks Ninja.
Thought this vido might be of intrest. It covers BP's Top Kill
attempt before it falied.
http://bp.concerts.com/gom/kentwells_update24052010.htm
Based on the following BP oil spill article, I hope Ecosphere
writes a very sound contract for multiple units lasting many years.
Ten Things You Need (But Don't Want) To Know About the BP Oil Spill
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=19408
by Daniela Perdomo
AlterNet[color=red][/color] - 2010-05-27
Global Research, May 29, 2010
There is no outright documentation that BP people attended the
meeting, however if you where BP would you want a seat at the
table. I think so, there is to much at stake.
Given thee fact that CEO Dennis McGuire was quoted as saying our
equipment would be on the road in a few days, and given the fact
that "TOP Kill" didn't work, I'm wondering if the equipment isn't
already in place and working.
Let's face it,good old BP is between the proverbial rock and a
hard place, and with every passing day it's getting harder and
harder to save face.I would hope that the BP people coming to visit Dennis are there to agree on how many additional units
will be required,there financing and delivery time.
Stock Alert for Ecosphere Technologies Inc. Issued by MicroStockProfit
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/stock-alert-for-ecosphere-technologies-inc-issued-by-microstockprofit-2010-05-27
DALLAS, May 27, 2010 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- MicroStockProfit.com announces an investment report featuring Ecosphere Technologies Inc. /quotes/comstock/11k!esph (ESPH 1.14, +0.04, +3.55%) . The report includes financial, comparative and investment analyses, and industry information you need to know to make an educated investment decision.
The full report is available at: www.microstockprofit.com/lp/ESPH
Ecosphere Technologies Inc. (ESPH), a diversified engineering, technology development, and manufacturing company, provides clean technologies and services for use in various applications in the industrial waste market in the United States. The Company designs and builds mobile water filtration equipment to treat energy exploration related wastewaters; provides water recycling services to energy exploration companies; and develops Ecosphere Ozonix, an oxidation process to treat industrial wastewater.
Message Board Search for: http://www.boardcentral.com/boards/ESPH
In the report, the analyst notes:
"The Company announced first-quarter revenue in excess of $2.100 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. This represents an increase of 980% over the first quarter ended March 31, 2009, and an increase of 100% over the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009. In addition, the Company has been able to reduce its debt outstanding by 55% from $8.2 million as of March 31, 2009, to $3.7 million as of March 31, 2010.
"ESPH shares were boosted after the Company's recent feature on ABC affiliate Channel 25 WPBF News. CEO Dennis McGuire indicated during the interview that ESPH's patented Ozonix technology was unique over all other methods, since it doesn't use any liquid chemicals in the process. As a result, its equipment will be deployed to the Gulf of Mexico to remove oil from sea water. CEO McGuire said the Company expects to move its equipment to Louisiana over the next few days."
To read the entire report visit: www.microstockprofit.com/lp/ESPH
See what investors are saying about ESPH at penny stock forum
MicroStockProfit.com is a small-cap research and investment commentary provider. MicroStockProfit.com strives to provide a balanced view of many promising small-cap companies that would otherwise fall under the radar of the typical Wall Street investor. We provide investors with an excellent first step in their research and due diligence by providing daily trading ideas, and consolidating the public information available on them. For more information on MicroStockProfit please visit: http://www.microstockprofit.com
MicroStockProfit.com Disclosure
MicroStockProfit.com is not a registered investment advisor and nothing contained in any materials should be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. MicroStockProfit.com is a Web site wholly owned by BlueWave Advisors, LLC. Neither MicroStockProfit.com nor its affiliates have a beneficial interest in the mentioned company; nor have they received compensation of any kind for any of the companies listed in this communication. Please read our report and visit our Web site, MicroStockProfit.com, for complete risks and disclosures.
Do you see anyone out there with a better idea ???
Thanks for the link, this could do a lot for our bottom line.
Down the road George Chapas may be worth his wait in gold,
however right now this last PR comes across as so much fluff.
I'm not asking management to give away state secrets, but I
have to believe they can do better than this.
ESPH hires veteran George Chapas!! Well I'll trade that PR for
one that outlines a newly signed contract.
They have no revenue or producing wells at time. The real question is will they ever have a producing well ? For the most part I've given up on the sub-penny or stocks in general in the
current range of LHPT. Like many here I have shares in this stock
from a much higher price range.