NU Online News Service, July 21, 3:15 p.m. EDT
A tropical depression is expected to intensify to a tropical storm and enter the Gulf of Mexico late Friday, which could complicate efforts at the British Petroleum oil spill site.
The National Hurricane Center said the storm, with 40 mile per hour wind gusts, is expected to continue on a northwest track to the center and western Gulf zones.
Fears are that any tropical depression or storm activity will send oil in the Gulf onto beaches and wetland areas, hampering cleanup efforts and further impacting jobs and economy in the area.
News reports also stated that the storm could delay cleanup and repair efforts at the damaged well if workers were forced to evacuate the area.
With the BP oil spill aftermath expected to last indefinitely, some organizations are making efforts to help Gulf residents.
Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) executives said they will be helping the victims of the BP oil spill by raising money for the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans Oil Spill Relief Fund.
Jamie Maguire chairman and chief executive officer, along with co-presidents Chris Maguire and Sean Sweeney, are competing in the Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race to raise funds for the cause, the company said.
The team of executives, named TEAMPHLY, asked that those interested in helping visit www.climb.phly.com and make a donation to support the people impacted by the oil spill catastrophe along the Gulf Coast.
They also will compete on Aug. 14 in the Leadville Trail 100, one of the toughest bicycle races in the world, to help raise money for those impacted by the oil spill.
Four oil companies also made an announcement that they are offering relief by building and deploying a rapid response system that will be available to capture and contain oil in the event of a future underwater well blowout in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
The announcement was made by Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell.
The four companies said they will form a non-profit organization, the Marine Well Containment Company, to operate and maintain this system. Other companies will be invited and encouraged to participate in this organization, they said.
The new system will be able to mobilize within 24 hours and may be used on a wide range of well designs and equipment, oil and natural gas flow rates and weather conditions, according to the announcement.
The system will be engineered for use in deepwater depths up to 10,000 feet and have initial capacity to contain 100,000 barrels per day with potential for expansion.
The sponsor companies said they will proceed immediately with the engineering, procurement and construction of equipment and vessels for the system. ExxonMobil said it will lead this effort on behalf of the four sponsor companies.
The companies said they have reviewed the system with key officials in the federal Administration and Congress and will conduct briefings with other key stakeholders.
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