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Since the storm, BP says it has been notified of possible leftover oil from Louisiana to Florida. Mike Utsler with BP says some of it's from other sources, but some of it is weathered oil from the 2010 disaster. The company provided samples of weathered oil from the blown-out well (above, right) and fresh tar balls for comparison (above, center and left).
Utsler sees this as an opportunity to get closer to finishing the job.
"In these same areas that we've been working for these 29 months, like Elmer's (Island), Fourchon (Beach), Grand Isle, the opportunities that Isaac has presented...is an opportunity, we believe, to go in and aggressively deep-clean those areas," Utsler said at a news conference in New Orleans Tuesday afternoon.
Utsler says they weren't able to get this oil in the last 29 months because it was buried too deep for them to reach, until Isaac washed away its cover.
"Isaac's pulled that sand away, and removed it from where it had been deposited over these two years, now giving us line-of-sight exposure to these buried tar mats," he explained.
According to Utsler, the oil was buried by Tropical Storm Bonnie in 2010 and subsequent storms. He said as it resurfaces, the company won't shy away from its obligation.
"If materials are identified that are Deepwater Horizon, we will be obligated as responsible party to come back and address those," he said.
