How BP (NYSE:BP) Would Respond to Storm

The first named tropical storm, Tropical Storm Alex, could disrupt the cleanup efforts of BP (NYSE:BP) in the Gulf of Mexico if it starts to move in that direction.

It isn't clear that the storm will hit the spill area, but if it did, it could arrive in the Gulf of Mexico in the early part of the week. Preparations are being made for that scenario if it happens.

For the Discoverer Enterprise, the first system put in place to capture oil, they would have to be disconnected about 114 hours before the heavy winds hit, while the smaller Helix Q4000 vessel would be removed 56 hours before the storm came.

The most negative aspect of the storm if it does gravitate towards the spill would be the delaying of the arrival of Helix Producer, a vessel which would be able to withstand much harsher weather conditions.

Once the additional vessel is in place and a third system operating, an estimated 53,000 barrels of oil could be captured on a daily basis, which, depending on the actual amount of oil flowing into the Gulf, could capture the bulk of it.