Expeditions: Deepwater spill survey: Sampling water columns under a night sky lit up by a large jet of burning methane

Expeditions: Deepwater spill survey: Sampling water columns under a night sky lit up by a large jet of burning methane: "After several days of waiting, we received approval to begin sampling within five nautical miles of the well head, but not closer than 500 meters, and nowhere to the east side of the well head. We were given a period of 24 hours and told that the clock was now started. Our entry into this scene of industrial disaster reminded me of seeing the band Pink Floyd while in college, waiting in line all night to get tickets to the inner circle."

But instead of good music and a laser show there was a flame taller than any I have ever seen, and it sounded like a jet engine across the water. Fortunately, our mandatory breathing masks kept us from feeling the effects of organic vapors that persist near the well head (and at the concert too I recall). We quickly agreed as a science party that we would sample for the next 24 hours straight, despite all having been awake for almost 12 hours already—this chance probably would not come again.