On Monday, the effects of last weeks offshore explosion are starting to show a ripple effect. Crude oil is continuing to spill at a current rate of 1000 barrels a day in the Gulf. Officials are stating it could take up to a month to get it control.

On April 20th the Deepwater Horizon caught fire creating an explosion. After it sank, eleven rig workers were presumed dead or missing. The Deepwater is leased to BP and owned by Transocean. It was drilling at a depth of 5.000 feet and was insured at five-hundred and sixty million dollars.

There is an area of forty-two miles by eighty miles according to the Coast Guard, less than forty miles away from offshore. Ten miles away another oil rig was evacuated for safety.

The explosion was so deep, so it will be harder to control the spill and cap it. The distance from shore will keep the oil from reaching the coastlines.

The President’s decision to use new places for offshore drilling is making lawmakers rethink of the distance between the shore line and rigs. There was also a climate bill featuring oil executives that three senators were pushing after delays in the plans.

Now lawmakers want an investigation into safety issues by contacting the Commerce and Energy Departments. Some regulators are now suggesting to transfer safety issues for rigs over to a separate department.

Image Credit: