Zero hedge has a great pictorial layout on what the seabed surface is like; from the contours to the make up of the floor. Lots of good stuff here; I had no idea of these huge escarpments.

It looks like a lot of the oil may form a large pocket between the escarpments. I keep hearing about large down deep deposits of oil in the sea water in depths below one thousand feet. Had no idea there was a deep canyon out there covering half the gulf.

Is the oil just going to sit there for a time killing all of the life in the deeper zones the slowly rise and move out to the gulf stream?

Anyway lots to see at the link; helped me picture the gulf and I hope it helps others.