Calculating oil spill numbers

University of Delaware of marine college professor looks at barrels lost and what could have been done with the oil

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill is now in its 52nd day.  A University of Delaware marine profession figures that lost oil could have powered 39,000 cars, 3500 trucks, and 1,800 ships.  James Corbett says his predictions are based on 19,000 lost barrels per day.

Corbett’s U.D. maritime web site isn’t the only Delaware connection to the Deepwater oil drilling disaster.  The New Castle County based Tri-State bird rescue has had teams working with other wildlife organizations since April.  The organization reports last week that the number of birds they have treated jumped from 1-4 birds a day to 60 birds in a week.  Recent news reports have questioned whether all wildlife can or should be saved, according to NPR.

The University of Delaware sites also list links to the potential damage that could be done in the Gulf from the upcoming hurricane season.  Corbett says the greatest danger is that a storm could mix the oil and ocean water and spread it over a wider area than exists right now.

BP continues to try different ways to capture the oil in the Gulf.  Most experts say a relief well is the only true way to stop the rupture and that might not be finished until early August.