Kevin Costner dives to save 'Waterworld' from BP oil spill

Hollywood's acclaimed star Kevin Costner of movie "Waterworld", in which he acts as a mariner trying to find dry land in a future where most of the earth is submerged underwater due to polar ice melt, is back as a savior, this time attempting to save the Gulf of Mexico which is submerged under oil.

BP recently contacted Ocean Therapy Solutions, a company owned by Kevin Costner, to buy 32 centrifugal devices that the company claims are capable of separating oil from water at the rate of 200 gallons per minute. Costner stated that he has spent $20 million to develop the centrifuge devices.

The company states in its website that the company's largest machine V20 can purify up to 210,000 gallons of oil water per day - three V20 machines are currently deployed in the gulf.

AP reports that the technology was developed by INL scientist David Meikrantz, who initially sought to use the machines to separate the components of nuclear substances.

Kevin Costner testified before the House of Representatives Science and Technology Committee asking the members to legislate centrifugal-devices stating "We've legislated life preservers. We legislated fire extinguishers, we legislated lifeboats and first aid kits. It seems logical that as long as the oil industry profits from the sea, they have the legal obligation to protect it, except when they find themselves fighting for life and limb."