The Lakeview Gusher, a 1910 disaster, is making headlines now due to the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010. The Lakeview Gusher, a California disaster of 100 years ago known now as the worst oil spill in U.S. history, will likely be dethroned by the BP oil spill, which shows no sign of being contained after 50 days. Back in the present, an oil spill cap, shown on the oil spill live feed appears to be capturing only a fraction of the BP gusher as tens of thousands of barrels a day continue to spew to the sea.
Lakeview Gusher: epic disaster
The Lakeview Gusher was an oil well blow-out disaster that began in March 1910 near Maricopa, Calif The Pasadena Star-News reports that for 18 months, the Lakeview Gusher released 9 million barrels—378 million gallons—of oil. Estimates in the first 50 days of the oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico 2010 are as high as 122 million gallons. That figure could be much higher, according to some experts. The Lakeview Gusher blowout flowed at about 48,000 barrels a day. Estimates of the BP oil spill run as high as 72,000 barrels, or 3 million gallons a day.
A lake of oil within the desert
Despite its spectacular blow-out, the Lakeview Gusher ended up as probably the most successful well ever in California.Initial flow from the gusher was 18,800 barrels a day. The surrounding desert was subjected to 90,000 barrels a day at its peak. A 60-acre lake formed from a river of oil flowing downhill from the well.William Rintoul, in his book, “Drilling Through Time,” said the lake allowed crews to recover so much oil the price of oil fell in 1910.
Oil spill live feed defies estimates
The oil spill live feed (see below) shows the oil spill cap, BP’s last best attempt to stop the undersea gusher, being overwhelmed by the ruptured well’s powerful flow. MSNBC reports that scientists are skeptical of BP’s claim that the oil spill cap is capturing the vast majority of oil. On Tuesday, BP said the oil spill cap siphoned 14,800 barrels of oil the previous day. Ira Leifer of the Flow Rate Technical Group, a panel of experts working to figure out just how much oil is leaking, said the gusher may be as high as 100,000 barrels a day.
BP oil spill underwater plumes
The worst threat to marine life in human history, as reported by the New York Times, is feared by scientists tracking huge underwater plumes deep within the gulf. The Times reports that researchers on a two-week cruise traced an underwater oil plume 15 miles wide, 3 miles long and about 600 feet thick. The plume’s core is 1,100 to 1,300 meters below the surface. A dead zone with no undersea life might be created as bacteria draw all the oxygen from the water as they break down the oil.
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