gulf of mexico

disaster kill millions, end time, gulf of mexico, methane, prophecy

How the Gulf disaster could kill millions

Posted on June 18, 2010May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

In news reports today, we are discovering how violent methane is and how VERY much of it there is in the Gulf. And BP knew it.

“It is an overlooked danger in oil spill crisis: The crude gushing from the well contains vast amounts of natural gas that could pose a serious threat to the Gulf of Mexico’s fragile ecosystem. The oil emanating from the seafloor contains about 40 percent methane, compared with about 5 percent found in typical oil deposits, said John Kessler, a Texas A&M University oceanographer who is studying the impact of methane from the spill.” “This is the most vigorous methane eruption in modern human history,” Kessler said.”

Above, Discoverer Enterprise methane flare. photo source/credit
However, while the AP article looks at the devastating environmental aspects of the spill, this scientifically based article reveals the greater danger.

How the Gulf Oil Disaster Could Kill Millions
“Disturbing evidence is mounting that something frightening is happening deep under the waters of the Gulf of Mexico—something far worse than the BP oil gusher. Warnings were raised as long as a year before the Deepwater Horizon disaster that the area of seabed chosen by the BP geologists might be unstable, or worse, inherently dangerous. What makes the location that Transocean chose potentially far riskier than other potential oil deposits located at other regions of the Gulf? It can be summed up with two words: methane gas. Location of Deepwater Horizon oil rig was criticized more than 12 months ago some geologists rang the warning bell that the Deepwater Horizon exploratory rig might have been erected directly over a huge underground reservoir of methane. Documents from several years ago indicate that the subterranean geologic formation may contain the presence of a huge methane deposit. None other than the engineer who helped lead the team to snuff the Gulf oil fires set by Saddam Hussein to slow the advance of American troops has stated that a huge underground lake of methane gas—compressed by a pressure of 100,000 pounds per square inch (psi)—could be released by BP’s drilling effort to obtain the oil deposit. Current engineering technology cannot contain gas that is pressurized to 100,000 psi.”

But wait…it gets worse. Much worse.

“The ultimate Gulf disaster, however, would make even those historical horrors pale by comparison. If the huge methane bubble breaches the seabed, it will erupt with an explosive fury similar to that experienced during the eruption of Mt. Saint Helens in the Pacific Northwest. A gas gusher will surge upwards through miles of ancient sedimentary rock—layer after layer—past the oil reservoir. It will explode upwards propelled by 50 tons psi, burst through the cracks and fissures of the compromised sea floor, and rupture miles of ocean bottom with one titanic explosion. The burgeoning toxic gas cloud will surface, killing everything it touches, and set off a supersonic tsunami with the wave traveling somewhere between 400 to 600 miles per hour.”

The result would be that

“While the entire Gulf coastline is vulnerable, the state most exposed to the fury of a supersonic wave towering 100 feet or more is Florida. The Sunshine State only averages about 6 inches above sea level. A supersonic tsunami would literally sweep away everything from Miami to the panhandle in a matter of minutes. Loss of human life would be virtually instantaneous and measured in the millions. Of course the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and southern region of Georgia—a state with no Gulf coastline—would also experience tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of casualties…”

This is what could happen. Not to say that it will happen. However, the geologists who have studied this area warned that the methane deposit under where BP planned to drill was too unstable and contained larger than normal quantities of methane. That is a fact. So it is also a fact that the BP well exploded. It is a fact that the sea floor is cracked and ruptured. It is a fact according to the AP article that methane is leaking at a rate at which the BP containment ships cannot keep up with burning it and the gas is spilling into the gulf, leaving huge dead zones. Pray to God that the methane in the gulf, either in the water or under the unstable sea floor, doesn’t explode, My mind can’t conceive of the devastation ensuing from such a disaster. Is judgment about to be rendered unto this sinful nation?

bp, end time, gulf of mexico, hurricane, nations in dismay, prophecy, roaring and tossing of seas

Hurricane forming? Nations in dismay with perplexity: a study on the Gulf Oil leak and prophecy

Posted on June 14, 2010May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

“There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, (Luke 21:25 NASB)

From the Weather Underground Blog, we learn that a tropical wave is forming in the Atlantic. Even more interestingly, we learn that it is unusual so early in the season. “An unusually large and well-developed African tropical wave for so early in the season has developed midway between the coast of Africa and South America.” It is called 92L. With the BP Oil leak continuing unabated, actually it’s getting worse, all eyes are upon the weather forecasters who track low pressure systems in the Atlantic and the Gulf. Yesterday low pressure system 92L that popped up was forecasted to have a 20% chance of turning into a tropical depression. Then its chances were upped to 30% in the same day and upped again and again, until by the end of the day yesterday, the system had a high percentage of forming into a hurricane. The forecasted track is straight into the Gulf.

In looking at the signs Jesus said would come upon us in the end time, we look at things that are out of normal cycles. Hurricanes in the Gulf are not abnormal. One forming so early and so well, is. Further, we see additional anomalies in this season’s hurricane cycle. Again from the Wunderground blog,

“[S]ea surface temperatures (SSTs) underneath 92L are an extremely high 28 – 30°C, which is warmer than the temperatures reached during the peak of hurricane season last year, in August – September. In fact, with summer not even here, and three more months of heating remaining until we reach peak SSTs in the Atlantic, ocean temperatures across the entire Caribbean and waters between Africa and the Lesser Antilles are about the same as they were during the peak week for water temperatures in 2009 (mid-September.)”

Grasp that for a moment: sea surface temperatures (which drive hurricane formation) are HOT, hotter than ever before and hotter than they should be at this point in the season.

It is heartbreaking to wonder about the roiling seas churning all that oil, dispersant, hydrogen sulfide and benzene onto the peoples along the Gulf and further inland. It also brings to mind the scripture from Luke 21:25 above, “…dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,”

First, note that it is nations, plural. Nations are in dismay at the roaring of the sea. The sea is singular. Why would nations around the world be in anguish over roaring waves on a sea??

The word perplexity is known to us. It commonly means trouble or confusion, and it is used throughout the bible. So again we wonder, why should nations be dismayed and confused at the roaring of the sea and waves? Tropical storms, typhoons, tsunamis and hurricanes are known to us and though they do strike terror, why perplexity? However, in looking at the Greek, this particular word for perplexity is “aporia” and it is used only once. Since every word in the bible is carefully chosen by God and inspired to the writer by the Holy Spirit, this one-time use bears closer looking into.

The Greek word origin of perplexity is: aporia, a (state of) quandary — perplexity, impasse; lack of resources; puzzlement; doubt; confusion. This state of being is different from a regular kind of confusion, which typically is individual anyway, “nations” don’t usually display confusion. And the word for dismay is actually anguish. Now, what could whole nations be in a quandary about, totally at a loss over, at an impasse through, and anguished from when the sea roars and tosses?

BP oil spill.

Aporia, the Greek word used in this verse for perplexity, is further defined from the alpha (as a neg. prefix) and poros (a way, resource) and it means to be without resources, to be in straits, to be left wanting, to be embarrassed, to be in doubt, not to know which way to turn. It is a Greek term for a difficulty or puzzle (literally, “with no pathway”).

We’ve watched BP try and try and try and fail to find a way to solve this problem on the sea. We’ve watched Resident Obama appear to try to find a way to solve this in meeting with the British Prime Minister. The State Department confirms there has been an international outreach on the BP oil spill. It is of concern to nations, and they are in perplexity over it and in anguish because of it. This situation affects the many nations, may soon affect a third of the seas, and we know that eventually all the oceans die.

Based on prayer, study and the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, I believe the verse in Luke portending roaring seas and anguish of nations could apply in part or in whole to any and all upcoming storms in the Gulf of Mexico and the BP oil spill, which will further deepen as depicted in Revelation when a third of the seas become poisoned, and at the end of this age when all the seas die. Is the Gulf oil issue the beginning? It seems that it well could be … Lord, come quickly!

end time, gulf of mexico, oil spill

Does the oil platform explosion and oil spill have prophetic implications?

Posted on May 1, 2010May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

UPDATE HERE: Answer to title question: YES

photo credit: Edison Chouest Offshore

On April 20 an explosion decimated the Deepwater Horizon BP oil well 50 miles off the Gulf Coast of Louisiana. It killed 11 and injured 17, four critically. The explosion that occurred released oil from the deepest part of the Gulf in a hot oil volcano, presenting unprecedented containment problems. Initially, the explosion attracted little attention but as the oil continued to gush, heads perked up and brows suitably wrinkled. A few days later, the magnitude of the problem became apparent:

April 22: Gulf oil rig run by BP explodes, sinks: massive spill threatens entire Gulf shore
April 29: Obama sends SWAT teams to Gulf Oil Rigs
April 30: Second Gulf oil rig tragedy: overturns near Morgan City LA
April 30: No relief in sight as oil spill reaches LA shoreline:
April 30: Leaked secret government report: Government fears Deepwater Horizon well could become unchecked gusher “A confidential government report on the unfolding spill disaster in the Gulf makes clear the Coast Guard now fears the well could become an unchecked gusher shooting millions of gallons of oil per day into the Gulf.”

The issue now is a tragedy not only for the oil rig workers and families, not only for the Gulf Shore states, not only for the United States, but for the world. How can an oil rig explosion have worldwide implications? And further, how does it fit into the warnings about trouble in the end times?

ENVIRONMENT

Of course, the environmental damage is heartbeaking. Ten species are already at risk. “North Atlantic Bluefin Tuna: The Great Bluefin Tuna, prized for sushi and sashimi, is one of the species most in danger of slipping into extinction. Traveling down across the Atlantic seaboard, bluefin tuna spawn in the Gulf of Mexico between mid-April and mid-June.” The predicament for the tuna is the same for many other species: the grasses along the Gulf shoreline provide nursery habitat for the eggs and spawning fish.When the oil coats the grass it will kill it.The timing of the spill is also part of the problem not only is it spawning season, but the migratory birds that travel from the north to south America rest along these shores also. Beach-nesting and migratory shorebirds are at risk. Those that build their nests on the ground and feed on invertebrates are susceptible to oil on the beaches. Some migratory shore birds fly nearly the length of the Western Hemisphere and use barrier islands in the Gulf for key resting and refueling spots on their journey as well as migratory songbirds — warblers, orioles, buntings, flycatchers, swallows and others. There are roughly up to 5,000 dolphins in the Gulf area between the Mississippi and Louisiana coasts and the oil rig, many giving birth right now.

FOOD/FISHING

The Gulf accounts for a fifth of U.S. commercial seafood production — including 75 percent of our shrimp. The crude that enters the coastal estuaries areas will cause “a dramatic drop in seafood recruitment, possibly for years to come,” says George Crozier, executive director of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. This is already “the worst case scenario for shrimpers, oyster harvesters, crabbers — all the commercial fisherman,” says fishing boat charterer Brent Roy. The Baltimore Sun is more blunt, they just said “ecological devastation”: “The oil that began washing ashore Friday in Louisiana could devastate one of the richest coastal ecosystems in the country and cripple a major source of the nation’s seafood, a top Maryland scientist warned Friday.” So seafood will become scarce, and expensive. This, already in the face of US food inflation spiraling out of control. Fresh and dry vegetables prices are up 56.1% over last year, in one example.

SHIPPING

“The biggest grain-shipping port in the U.S. may be disrupted by the spread of the BP Plc oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, threatening to depress domestic prices by encouraging importers to buy from South America. More than half of the grain inspected for export from the U.S., the world’s largest grower of corn and soybeans, is shipped from the mouth of the Mississippi River, according to the Port of New Orleans.”

COMMERCE

In an already poor region, “As oil begins flowing ashore from the massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico, coastal communities from Louisiana to Florida are bracing for what could turn out to be an unprecedented and long-lasting economic disaster for the region.” London Times reports, “The cost to Louisiana’s fishing industry could be $2.5 billion (£1.6 billion) while the impact on tourism along the Florida coast could be $3 billion, according to Neil McMahon, an analyst at the investment firm Bernstein.” Like the current economic disaster isn’t enough… more losses in an area ill-prepared to wait it out. Six states are in declared emergencies and the National Guard has been called out in LA to fight the spill.

And there’s this as-yet little discussed impact:

The news reports say that it may take weeks to months to cap the well that is 210,000 gallons of oil into the Gulf each day. Hurricane season starts June 1. “The strong winds in hurricanes, sweeping across the surging waves they have created, such up a considerable amount of surface water and blow it inland. This time, however, those winds could also end up picking up a considerable amount of the oil slick floating on the sea’s surface, which would be deposited as rain well inland, damaging croplands and forests, too.” Think about it- What happens when you mix oil with salty water? It results in a mayonnaise like light foam, an emulsion. A lot of foam can be created from a small amount of oil. The emulsion could become easily airborne under high winds. As the hurricane makes landfall, the oil foam would be plastered on everything for hundreds of miles . When trees, grasses, plants, animals, ect get pounded with the foamy winds they will get a thin layer of oil. That thin layer of oil mixed with sea water will kill any vegetation. Normally Texas receives its first tropical storm on average around June 6.

“The following is not public,” reads the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Emergency Response document dated April 28. “Two additional release points were found today in the tangled riser. If the riser pipe deteriorates further, the flow could become unchecked resulting in a release volume an order of magnitude higher than previously thought. Asked Friday to comment on the document, NOAA spokesman Scott Smullen said that the additional leaks described were reported to the public late Wednesday night. Regarding the possibility of the spill becoming an order of magnitude larger, Smullen said, “I’m letting the document you have speak for itself. In scientific circles, an order of magnitude means something is 10 times larger. In this case, an order of magnitude higher would mean the volume of oil coming from the well could be 10 times higher than the 5,000 barrels a day coming out now. That would mean 50,000 barrels a day, or 2.1 million gallons a day.

God gave Adam and Eve dominion over the earth and the authority to rule over the animals. “God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Man, have we ever messed up creation. And have we ever messed up spiritually. There are two truisms, and they are absolute: God always judges nations’ sins, and God does have a point at which there is no return, when judgment is sure and imminent. I’ve written about national sin and judgment twice recently. Just a few weeks ago, I posed the question, “Has America’s point of no return been reached?” In that article, I explored the biblical concept of national sin and judgment; and under what condition that judgment occurs. America was the blessed nation, the city upon a hill, and in the article I wrote in September, I explored the background to America’s original commission and its peril in going away from it.

It is impossible to understand all the ramifications of this unfolding tragedy. It is clear that there are many. It is not for me to say whether this disaster is a judgment or not. However, knowing that America was founded on a golden commission, that we have abandoned it for sin, destruction, perversion, idolatry, profanity, immorality, and violence on a national scale, and knowing that God always judges these things when the point of return has been reached, it is logical to assume that our troubles from this disaster have only begun!

We as Christians can be Light and Salt in a fallen world. Pray for the leaders who are dealing with this disaster, that they themselves would pray, not for success in cleaning up the oil or that businesses don’t suffer, but for repentance! And pray that if repentance does sweep over the states and the nation, that it is not too late.