BP Makes "Giant" Oil Find in Gulf of Mexico

[DD]

I worked on an offshore research vessel about 15 years ago. I was the computer guy for my boat. We were a part of a fleet of vessels that laid cable on the bottom of the ocean and created a 4D map of the ocean floor. We mostly worked offshore in LA or TX. There is tons of that going on out there every day, 24 hours a day. It is really nothing new. If you have never been on a boat off the coast of LA, then you probably would not believe all the stuff going on. There are boats, ships, and structures (production platforms, rigs, well heads, etc) everywhere. It looks like a city at night. That is not even counting the commercial fisherman.

This block is south of Cameron, LA which is just at the TX and LA border. It is in the normal oil field. It is not anywhere close to us. If you have have ever been to the beach in Cameron or Holly Beach then you will quickly see that you are not missing much. Holly Beach is nestled between Mud Lake and the muddy Gulf. There is a highway that runs between Cameron and Port Aurthur. It is much like 30A except it goes right along the waters edge. It is great for fishing and laying out on the rocks (that are there to keep the road from washing away). You can actually do a Google Maps street view of the area.

I am sure they would never turn our coast into something like that. Oil is LA and TX primary industry and tourism is ours. It just doesn't make sense to jeopardize our primary source of income.

Holy Beach vacation homes were wiped out during Hurricane Gustav or Ike (can't remember). We were there last fall and visited. It is now a ghost town, not that there was much there to begin with. One house remains and happens to belong to my sisters best friend.

And yes, you are right oil is their industy. It used to be fishing and shrimping also, but Katrina and Rita along with the foreign markets has taken most of that. My sister and I inherited timber land throughout SW LA and I say bring on the donkies and drills!!!

I also hope they stay over there. They have no beaches to really ruin.

Holly Beach was wiped out by Hurricane Rita. They are beginning to slowly rebuild, but it will never be the sleepy little hunting camp it used to be again. Thankfully, I did get to spend lots of time there when it was an experience in LA culture!
I loved it, but it was and still is one pretty nasty beach. Too much oil drilling just off shore and 5 rivers dumping into the Gulf nearby. I can imagine that even before the drilling it wasn't a pristine beach.
Good times though.