@Dr_Dredd No, unfortunately, even lightning would have no chance of reaching the blowout preventer. It is under a mile of water. Some dimwit proposed using a tactical nuclear device to fuse the sea floor into glass above the well, but there hasn’t been much enthusiasm for this suggestion. I mean, what could possibly go wrong, besides the sea floor rupturing and the entire oil pocket coming ashore reeking of radioactive waste!
@mammal I gave @troubleinharlem a GQ on this one. I see nothing at all silly or supercilious about the question. It is a very legitimate concern with a hurricane looming. Hopefully, the wave action would further disperse the oil and make any resulting fires small, but a large batch washing ashore while burning in not inconceivable. Short of what might happen with a tactical nuke, that would be my worst-case scenario, and it is possible. So far, Murphy hasn’t missed a single day on this job site. If anything can possibly go wrong, it will.