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You may remember seeing produced by Exxon Mobil in which calm, collected oil professionals with fancy titles wistfully paint a future picture of guaranteed energy security thanks to innovative technology. Yet it seems that the in the world (Exxon Mobil made $30.5 billion in profit in 2010) can’t figure out how to pour concrete over pipeline. I’m pretty sure the ancient Romans invented concrete thousands of years ago.

The L.A Times today that the Exxon Mobil pipeline rupture that spilled 42,000 gallons of oil into the Yellowstone River near oil-refinery town Laurel, Mont., has spread 15 miles from the initial leak鈥�5 miles farther than Exxon initially announced. Some claim it has gone as far as 150 miles. Though no official reason for the leak has been released, officials speculate that higher than normal water levels may have scoured the pipe. The New York Times yesterday that the pipe was buried six to 13 feet below the river bank in 1991.

First off, why can’t Exxon Mobil, with its 3D imaging technology, determine the precise location of the pipe. 鈥淪ix to 13 feet鈥� is a big gap. Second, with all of that technology, why can’t it predict river flow dynamics and how those changing dynamics may compromise the pipeline? If it can conjure up the black magic to find deepwater oil reserves, it can poke around a river in Montana.

See some oily news video .

– Peter Beland

Photo by via Flickr