BP (NYSE:BP) Setback, Oil Slick Almost To Florida

It took BP (NYSE:BP) 12 hours on Wednesday to free the saw that was stuck half way through the pipe they were cutting. Although, they did not give a time when they would resume their oil spill containment attempt, they did say they were preparing.

Meanwhile, the oil slick is within seven miles of Pensacola, Florida, ready to hit the area known as the sugar white beaches. Emergency workers are rushing to get the mile long boom link, designed to collect the oil, in place before the oil slick reaches the shoreline. Forecasters say the estimated arrival time for the slick is Friday.

As we've already seen what devastation the oil slick has caused in Louisiana, the outcome doesn't look any better for Florida. As well as the white sands beaches which inhabit much wildlife, there are also several Islands and bays that will feel the effects of the oil.

John Dosh, emergency director for Escambia County, which Pensacola is included in, said, "we are doing what we can, but we cannot change what has happened."

There has been much extra aid sent to the East Coast including boats, helicopters, and more staff. The helicopters will help spot oil in the water. The boats will help skim oil as well as place extra booms where needed to collect the oil.

BP (NYSE:BP) Spill Containment As Oil Rages Towards Shorelines

As BP's (NYSE:BP) oil spill containment efforts continue on, the already spilled oil continues its course into the ocean and towards the shorelines. The latest predictions are saying the oil could hit near the Mississippi Sound as well as the coastline near the mouth of Mobil Bay.

"We are working around the clock to keep the oil off the shoreline and have had the gift of time to plan for its arrival," said Capt. Steven Poulin, incident commander for the Coast Guard. "The projections are of concern. This is a dynamic situation influenced by a wide variety of environmental factors, so while we're not certain where or what the impact will be, but we're prepared."

The Unified Incident Command in Mobil said it has aggressively increased air and sea surveillance. In place are additional beach support teams on shore as well. There are also over 6,000 people taking part in the response effort on the shorelines and in open water in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.

As oil cleanup efforts are being highly increased, BP said earlier today that it has already spent $990 million on cleaning and fighting the oil spill. This amount doesn't include the many lawsuits for damages.

BP's (NYSE:BP) New Plans, Will Make Spill Worse

As BP (NYSE:BP) is putting together a new plan, after the failed "top kill" attempt, it could only make things worse. Although it would only be temporarily.

Carol Browner, the White House energy czar said, "the American people need to know that it is possible we will have oil leaking from this well until August, when the relief wells will be finished." The other complication is that storm season is moving into the Gulf. As storms move in, this causes the oil recovery operations to come to a halt.

Michael Dixon, a lieutenant in charge of oil recovery operations at the Coast Guard Venice staging area said, "the way that the currents are treating this, and the ongoing leaking of oil, this is basically small spills all over the place. It's a series of a lot of small oil spills. We're fighting on a lot of fronts."

So our worst fears are being realized, our oceans will continue to be polluted, our shorelines destroyed, stocks will continue to fall, and the full effects on humans has yet to be fully realized.