BP Clean-Up Now Faces Tropical Depression Three (BP)

BP plc (NYSE: BP) may have a real “test” ahead of itself for the cap on the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster.  Yesterday, a “tropical wave” was a cause for concern, but NOAA has now alerted that this wave has become Tropical Depression Three for the 2010 Hurricane Season.  Fox Business News has reported that BP is now going to evacuate its  non-essential personnel from eight sites in the Gulf of Mexico based on the new trajectory.  The current path projections puts the storm headed right toward the disaster area in the days ahead.

For now, the report noted that the evacuation will not affect operations at the site of the oil spill.  NOAA also noted that advisories on a tropical storm or tropical depression will be issued.  If the trajectory remains static, BP will have no choice but to evacuate.   Ultimately, the question comes down to whether the cap will stand up to the added pressure of a storm.

JON C. OGG