New Winners and Losers in Gulf Oil Spill

Winners and losers in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill:

Offshore drillers are again under pressure on concerns that there may be a partial shutdown in drilling activity in the Gulf of Mexico:

- Hercules ,

- Diamond Offshore ,

- Noble

- and ENSCO are again weak today.

So are smaller exploration and production (E&P) firms with a primary presence there:

- McMoran ,

- W&T Offshore ,

- Stone Energy

- and Energy XXI .

But attention has moved this morning to those who might be involved in the cleanup.

Superior Energy Services owns a subsidiary, Wild Well Controls, that makes a dome that can be placed over the leak. It's called the Subsea Oil Recovery System, and it is supposed to collect hydrocarbons and pump them onto ships.

At a conference call last week, SPN officials acknowledged they had been contacted by BP: "We are involved, and that's really all we can say."

Look at Clean Harbors , which specializes in emergency cleanups, and has gone from $56 to $68 in just the last four trading sessions.

Hornbeck Offshore Services owns several dozen offshore supply vessels; it moved from $20 to $25 but is down today.

One problem for investors: the Gulf of Mexico is a very fragmented market. Traders and analysts tell me that there are many mom and pop boat, tug and barge operators that are now gearing up for the cleanup.

Gulf Oil Spill — News & Analysis:

• Cost of US Oil Spill Could Exceed $14 Billion
• Oil Blowout Device Maker Has $500 Million for Liability
• Crisis in the Gulf — Special CNBC Coverage

Interactive:

• Track the Spill

Slideshow:

• Ten Worst Oil Disasters of All Time

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