04 June 2010

MEXICO: 1979 Ixtoc Spill Provides Grim Lessons For BP's Gulf Gusher.

AP/ MIAMI HERALD/    For now, the 1979 Ixtoc disaster in shallow waters off Campeche still remains the Gulf of Mexico's - and the world's - worst peacetime oil spill. It took 10 months to stop the massive leak of 140 million gallons as Pemex tried methods similar to those that BP has attempted at its Deepwater Horizon rig as slicks reached the northern Mexican Gulf coast and Texas. "Unfortunately, from a science standpoint, not much was followed up on, to learn from," says researcher Larry McKinney. "That was a mistake that was made that hopefully won't be repeated."