(5/13/2010) Kevin Costner hopes his solution to the BP oil crisis will become a reality (WWLTV)

[Kelle]

(5/13/2010) Kevin Costner hopes his solution to the BP oil crisis will become a reality (WWLTV.com)
http://www.wwltv.com/news/Kevin-Costners-solution-to-the-BP-oil-crisis.html
NEW ORLEANS -- A longtime Hollywood star is now in the Metro area and in the business of cleaning up oil.

Motivated by the Exxon-Valdez oil spill, Kevin Costner began assembling a team of scientists to construct a machine that could clean up massive spills. A decade and a half later, that technology might now be put to use off the coast of Louisiana.

A massive oil slick creeping to the coast, vulnerable Louisiana wildlife just miles from its path, and Kevin Costner mingling on the lakefront. These are unusual times, and the Hollywood star is introducing his unusual machine -- one designed to separate oil from water.

"It's not anymore about talk," said Costner. "It's about doing the walk, and that phrase was probably invented down here."

With a tub of oil at his side, Costner unveiled what he's been financing for the last 15 years.

"It's like a ... big vacuum cleaner and it brings the water up and oil up and it will actually separate the oil and separate the water," said John Houghtaling, Costner's business partner.

Houghtaling said the biggest machines can handle 200 gallons per minute. That's more than 50 gallons faster than what the leaking oil well is spewing out each day.

Costner’s team said the machines can be taken out into the water on barges, where giant tanks attacked to the machines’ pipes can be used to store the collected oil.

The invention works by first sucking out both the water and oil, a second pipe spits out the oil, and a third spews out the water, which Costner's scientists claim is nearly free of crude.

"More than 99 percent of the oil, out of the water," said Eric Hoek, professor of engineering at the University of California.

A more expensive model by the Costner team boasts even clearer water, but Hoek said it's still years away from production.

Costner’s pitch, however, is just one of many.

Some ideas have even gone viral, like the online clip showing hay being used to soak up oil or oil booms constructed of nylon stockings and human hair. Canadians are even urging the use of finely shredded tires to absorb and filter the oil.

But inventor Wayne Bennett said despite his constant calls to BP, he’s yet to hear back.

"So far we've had no luck,” said Bennett.

And he’s far from the only one. But Costner is confident, wealthy and popular. The who’s who of area parishes from Jefferson Parish councilmen, to parish presidents from St. Bernard and Plaquemines, appeared more than convinced -- they're eager.


"To me this is a major tool for a tool box that should be tested," said Craig Taffaro, St. Bernard Parish President.

Costner's team says they already have 20 machines and could start pumping the gulf as early as tomorrow if BP gives the okay. A representative from the oil company was at the demonstration, but wouldn't comment, only to say he plans to report back on what he saw.

In the meantime, area leaders are already talking about negotiating a daily rate for the machines during a trial period.

"Do it at cost for the first seven days," said Billy Nungessor, Plaquemines Parish president. "Then after that, if it works, you're happy, it stays on that day rate until the oil is cleaned up."

It's unclear when BP will decide whether to give Costner’s machine a thumbs up or a thumbs down, but area leaders say they'll push the company to start using the new technology, and soon.

kel

[foxyladi]

why isn't B.P. jumping on this it sounds good.

[Suzan]

"Do it at cost for the first seven days," said Billy Nungessor, Plaquemines Parish president. "Then after that, if it works, you're happy, it stays on that day rate until the oil is cleaned up."

It's unclear when BP will decide whether to give Costner’s machine a thumbs up or a thumbs down, but area leaders say they'll push the company to start using the new technology, and soon.

They're offer to do the cleanup at cost? I'm not sure what BP has to lose unless they have reason to believe Costner's machine won't work in this situation.

[Kelle]

I have a whole new respect for Costner.

kel

[Kbentleyis]

Me too Kelle!

BP, try everything!! Try it NOW!!

The whole idea of this machine is so logical, I'm amazed.

[jlynne]

How long is the Obama administration going to continue to let BP manage this spill? Louisiana is already badly damaged and the Florida Keys are in serious danger. The federal government can take over control of the response at any time. If there are other resources that could be used and BP isn't at least trying them, then the Obama administration should.

[foxyladi]

over a month now and that volcano is still spewing oil:eek:

[foxyladi]

How long is the Obama administration going to continue to let BP manage this spill? Louisiana is already badly damaged and the Florida Keys are in serious danger. The federal government can take over control of the response at any time. If there are other resources that could be used and BP isn't at least trying them, then the Obama administration should.

wait till it reaches Cuba!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kelle]

(6/9/2010) Wednesday's intriguing people (CNN)
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/09/wednesdays-intriguing-people-13/?hpt=T2

Kevin Costner
The star of such movies as "Field of Dreams" and "Waterworld" is scheduled to testify Thursday at a House Committee on Science and Technology hearing on solutions to the Gulf oil disaster.

The Hill reports that Costner has invested some $26 million into his Ocean Therapy Solutions device, which uses centrifugal force to separate oil from water. According to The Hill, last month BP approved the machine for testing.

The actor and activist visited New Orleans, Louisiana, in May. WDSU-TV reports that he demonstrated the oil extraction device, which Ocean Therapy officials say will clean up the water to 97 percent.

"I just am really happy that this has come to the light of day," Costner said. "I'm very sad about why it is, but this is why it was developed, and like anything that we all face as a group, we face it together."

The Hill: Kevin Costner to testify on oil spill clean-up effort

CNN video: Kevin Costner demos oil extracting device

WDSU: Kevin Costner helps fight oil spill

Dr. Steve Ramee and Dr. Kamran Khoobehi
Stopping the oil leak in the Gulf may require the U.S. to draw upon unexpected ingenuity and experience.

"It looks like the ocean floor is bleeding, and we know how to stop bleeding," said Ramee, cardiology chief at Ochsner Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

WWL-TV reports that Ramee and Khoobehi, a surgeon at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, believe the concept used to stop bleeding – going against the blood pressure in an artery – can be used to stop the gushing oil.

Khoobehi describes his device as a circular wedge that begins small and gets larger, supported by a heavy concrete plug. As the pressure builds, the weight of the concrete block would counteract the pressure of the leak. Both doctors told the TV station that they have tried to get their concepts to government officials, oil support companies, and BP itself, but have not heard back from anyone.

kel

[foxyladi]

so many great ideas all going nowhere..WHY?????:eek:

[sojourner]

Why not just go do it? Do you have to have government approval to scoop up oil in the gulf?

[foxyladi]

Why not just go do it? Do you have to have government approval to scoop up oil in the gulf?

now thats the 64 million dollar question

[Kelle]

I just came across some video clips of Costner testifying about his technology in front of Congress. Some portions of the clips are redundant to each other.

I watched each clip once and summarized the key parts as best I could. The quotations are pretty accurate, to a point. When I start paraphrasing I put the quotations in parentheses but you should get the gist.

I don't know how this fits within the 3 paragraph limit but I think I'm ok. If not let me know and I'd be glad to edit.

The last clip is a demo of the machine done on 5/14. You may recognize one of the Louisiana politicians ... from one of the Parishes, I think it's Plackaman (sp?). He seems interested in implementing the machines.

One or two of the clips address the question of why Costner hasn't been able to use it in real life yet. Apparently the Coast Guard wants to know that it works, so there's a bit of a Catch 22 there.

I really appreciate Costner's demeanor here. Clearly he's put a lot of money and resources into this and he'd like to see it put to use --and indirectly save some jobs for people in Louisiana-- but he's not pushing it. He just seems to be stating his case clearly and matter of factly.

Good for him. Hope it works. And hope he makes some major money off of BP.


(6/9/2010) Costner Says He Can Clean Up Oil (CNN)
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/06/09/dnt.sylvester.costner.oil.cnn?iref=allsearch

Costner testifies about his oil clean-up technology and his Ocean Therapy Solutions


(6/9/2010) Real Life Waterworld (CNN, Larry King Live)
http://larrykinglive.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/09/kevin-costner-real-life-waterworld/?iref=allsearch

American people deserve the comfort of knowing there is a proactive solution

He is asked about regulatory road blocks

Couldn’t get out onto spots. Coast Guard wouldn’t let them. Catch 22, wouldn’t let him out there since they didn’t know the technology worked.

Two successful tests with BP

Am I up here hawking my product? I guess. I don’t know. Don’t take mine take someone else’s. But I’ve been to these conventions and all I’ve seen are booms (etc.)

I’m the only one with a machine that gets the oil out.

Put people back to work ... that’s what this represents



(6/9/2010) Kevin Costner: We Have A Unique Moment (CNN)
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/06/09/bts.costner.oil.cleanup.cnn?iref=allsearch

(Does it seem odd that it's me doing this?) Equally inconceivable that these machines are not already in place

(They) couldn’t get (us) out there on the spill ... a kind of ineptness

I know you can’t endorse a product (addressing Congress).


(5/14/2010) Kevin Costner Demos Oil Extraction Device (CNN)
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2010/05/14/dnt.kevin.costner.oil.spill.wdsu?iref=allsearch

Really happy the light of day has come to this, but sad for the reason

My respect for this guy is way up there right now.

kel

[foxyladi]

saw on the news the company thats making the oil booms are not because of red tape:eek:

[Kelle]

I'm confused, the article below is dated 6/8 and reports that Costner's machine clogged but BP is tweaking it for another try. I don't see a date for when the test was done.

Keeping in mind that the videos I posted last night were mostly dated 6/9.

I was wondering if Costner had tested it with sediment or small debris. Perhaps BP shouldn't have tested it in a marsh. Although, if the machine worked that's where it would do the most good.

Anyhow, I'm hoping they find a way to make it work on a large scale.


(6/8/2010) Costner machine clogs during test; scientist says it won't help
http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20100608/FEATURES12/100609420?Title=Costner-machine-clogs-during-test-scientist-says-it-won-t-help

HOUMA — Kevin Costner's vaunted oil-spill-cleanup machine clogged when it was tried in a Louisiana marsh, but BP is tweaking it for another try, CBS news reports.

Following the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill, the actor-director helped fund a group of scientists developing a device to aid in oil cleanups. The Ocean Therapy machine uses centrifugal force to separate clumps of oil from water. BP has approved a test of 26 of the devices in the Gulf.
...
Michio Kaku, physics professor at City University of New York and host of “Sci-Fi Science” on the Science Channel, said the physics of the Ocean Therapy machines would separate the water from the oil, but at the rate of 200 gallons a minute, it's too little, too late.

kel

[foxyladi]

(but at the rate of 200 gallons a minute, it's too little, too late.) even if this was started on day one it would not have been effective.

[Kelle]

(but at the rate of 200 gallons a minute, it's too little, too late.) even if this was started on day one it would not have been effective.

That would assume you couldn't build larger ones and/or ramp up production quickly.

kel

[foxyladi]

The Dutch offered help but they were turned down?
three days after the explosion the Dutch offered ships with skimming equipment,but was told no thanks,\now 52 days later they are getting some U.S. boats equipped and ready
52 DAYS LATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad:

[Kelle]

The most recent CNN video clip on this issue is linked below. It’s pretty much a rehash of the earlier ones with some new info and some good news.

The machines are compact enough to fit on a boat, and designed as a first response immediately after an oil spill.

According to a company spokesperson, in recent tests, in the past few days, even with dispersants and old oil, the machine is 99.9% efficient at separating oil and water.

BP has purchased 32 machines and they could treat 6 million gallons of water a day.

Woot, woot, woot.

(6/9/2010) Costner Says He Can Clean Up Oil (CNN)
Actor, entrepreneur Kevin Costner says he has a machine that can mop up the Gulf oil slick. CNN's Lisa Sylvester reports.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/06/09/dnt.sylvester.costner.oil.cnn?hpt=C2

kel

[cindyb]

wait till it reaches Cuba!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hadn't thought of that.




What are those bleeping idiots waiting for Barack, BP, all of them, let Costner do his thing. Their propensity to sit around and discuss every freaking thing for weeks is mind boggling.

Day 54 Barack, you dumb bunny.

[Kelle]

...

What are those bleeping idiots waiting for Barack, BP, all of them, let Costner do his thing. Their propensity to sit around and discuss every freaking thing for weeks is mind boggling.

Day 54 Barack, you dumb bunny.

Is it just me or does it seem odd that Kevin Costner saw this coming and President Heal the Earth didn't?

kel

[foxyladi]

I understand this oil spill will reach the shores of England in about ten years..I,m going to see if I can find a link:D

[foxyladi]

As it turns out, one of the biggest question marks of Barack Obama’s presidency thus far is not whether he could answer a 3am phone call, but why he didn’t make one. Tuesday’s Today show interview with Matt Lauer garnered an awful lot of attention for the President suggesting he’s looking for some “ass to kick” in the Gulf oil spill, but the real revelation came when the President told Lauer that he hasn’t spoken to Tony Hayward, the CEO of BP, since the crisis began more than seven weeks ago:

Lauer: Have you talked directly to Tony Hayward, the CEO of BP?

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/authors/?author=Tom+Bevan&id=14676

[Kelle]

(6/17/2010) Kevin Costner blasts Big Oil 'bureaucratic maze' (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/17/smallbusiness/small_business_bp_hearing/index.htm?source=cnn_bin&hpt=Sbin

"The whole world is watching as America fumbles its way through the greatest environmental disaster in history," Costner told the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship at a hearing Thursday in Washington. "I believe there are other small companies out there in the private sector just like us. You should know that negotiating your way through the bureaucratic maze that currently exists is like trying to play a video game that nobody can master."

BP said Monday that it has ordered 32 of the 4,000-pound machines that Ocean Therapy Solutions, a company Costner funds, invented to separate oil from water. But getting the machine on BP's radar took a Herculean effort -- even for a rich, high-profile movie star like Costner.

(For instance) BP (BP) has used Microsorb (non-toxic, oil-eating microbes) on past spills, and the technology is on the Environmental Protection Agency's approved product list for emergencies like this one. But Microsorb can't get its little microbes into the Gulf of Mexico. The company's executives have spent thousands of dollars traveling to the Gulf, pitching every BP executive and official they can reach on the efficacy and safety of their product.

kel

[Kbentleyis]

I don't know what the motives are behind the bureaucratic maze, but it sure has millions of Americans looking at our government as incompetent baffoons.

They (BP) are in OUR waters. BP is destroying OUR shores. I would have thumbed my nose at their CEOs and got every one with American know-how and charged forward. And, I certainly wouldn't have turned down help from 17 countries.

[foxyladi]

use the machines stop using Nalco..It is toxic and banned in Europe :mad: