Scientists have spent a decade researching the impact of the oil spill, one of the largest environmental disasters in us history, on marine life in. Oil spill environmental forensics case studies includes 34 chapters that serve to present various aspects of environmental forensics in relation to realworld oil spill case studies from around the globe. With the pipe that had once channelled oil 1,400 metres up from the sea floor now broken, some 4. Oil spill environmental forensics case studies 1st edition. In particular, the bp deepwater oil spill was one of the disasters that led to great loss of marine life. Oil washed up on beaches and marshes along 1,100 miles of the gulf coast. The gulf oil disaster and the future of offshore drilling. In total, nearly 5 million barrels of crude oil were spilled into the gulf of mexico, affecting marine life, tourism, and personal livelihoods.
This aerial image of the oil spill was taken on may 6, 2010, just a few weeks after the initial disaster. Horizon oil spill, which submitted 316 pages on these issues to the national commission on the bp deepwater horizon oil spill and offshore drilling. Deepwater horizon and the gulf oil spill environment the guardian. Environmental justice and the bp deepwater horizon oil spill. What is the best book to read about the deepwater horizon. Essentially the occurrence of these disasters causes detrimental effects to the environment.
This volume explores the physics, chemistry, subsurface oil deposition and environmental impacts of deep oil spills. Deepwater horizon oil spill environmental costs britannica. Noaa studies documenting the impacts of the deepwater. A hole in the world the deepwater horizon disaster is not just an industrial accident it is a violent wound inflicted on the earth itself. As the bp oil spill civil trial begins this week, the federal government will attempt to prove whether british petroleum bp andor any of its contractors such as transocean rig, the owner and operator of the deepwater horizon oil rig, and halliburton hal, which was responsible for pouring the cement plugs in the well, were grossly negligent and thus financially liable in causing. An ecosystem services approach to assessing the impacts of the. In april 2010, bps deepwater horizon drilling rig in the gulf of mexico exploded and sank. The deepwater horizon oil spill constituted an ecosystemlevel injury in the northern gulf of mexico. The presumed blowout preventer bop failure is an important but secondary issue.
Mats of oil from the deepwater horizon oil spill wash ashore along pensacola beach on june 23, 2010. A decade on, the continuing tragedy of deepwater horizon and fears. The environmental impact of the deepwater horizon oil spill disaster in the gulf of mexico a decade ago was much worse than previously believed, according to a new study. Ten years on, the call about the deepwater horizon explosion is etched in. In the article, the deepwater horizon oil spill marine mammal injury assessment, abts ryan takeshita, ph. Bps deepwater oil spill case study analysis business ethics. Five years after bp spill, new rules for offshore drilling aim to boost safety weeks after the bp spill in the gulf of mexico in 2010, a pelican mired in oil struggled to survive in louisiana. Oil spill prevention and response and deepwater horizon collection after the deepwater horizon disaster in 2010, our reports provided analyses of the spill and guidance for policy making, health care monitoring, and environmental protection. Deepwater horizon oil spill national ocean service. Environmental impact of deepwater horizon oil spill. The bp deepwater horizon oil spill research paper 3850 words.
The spill was referred to as the deepwater horizon oil spill, bp oil spill, gulf of mexico oil spill, and bp oil disaster. The deepwater horizon oil spill blowout did much to change the perception of oil spills as coming just from tanker accidents, train derailments, and pipeline ruptures. Both the spill and the cleanup efforts had effects on the environment. Effects of the deepwater horizon oil spill on coastal salt. Response of deepwater corals to oil and chemical dispersant exposure. Page on its free to the public for download, but you can buy a copy if you want. Oil spill prevention and response and deepwater horizon.
The deepwater horizon spill may have caused irreversible. Authors representing academic, government, and private researcher groups from 14 countries bring a diverse and global perspective to this volume. Although the resulting oil spill has potentially grave environmental implications, recent efforts. Six years after deepwater horizon, tracking a long. Much oil spread at 11000m depth, contaminating and affecting deepwater habitats. Currently, over 50% of the oil from the gulf of mexico now comes from waters in excess of 1,500 meters one mile deep, where no oil was produced just 20 years ago. Why was there an explosion and fire on deepwater horizon oil rig. The blowout and oil spill on the deepwater horizon in the gulf of mexico was caused by a flawed well plan that did not include enough cement between the 7inch production casing and the 9 78inch protection casing. The 2010 deepwater horizon oil spill disaster may have had a lasting impact upon even the smallest organisms in the gulf of mexico, scientists have foundamid warnings that. What have been the longterm effects of the deepwater. Book links and an easy demonstration will help them understand how damaging an oil spill can be. Deep oil spills facts, fate, and effects steven murawski springer.
The health consequences of the deepwater horizon oil spill are health effects related to the explosion of the deepwater horizon offshore drilling rig in the gulf of mexico on april 20, 2010. Environment and environmental studies pollutants and toxics. The national commission on the bp deep water horizon oil spill and offshore drilling produced two landmark and controversial reports about the oil spill causes and consequences that are critical in understanding the governments case against bp. By far the worlds largest accidental marine oil spill to date surpassed only by the intentional gulf war spill, releasing almost 5 million barrels of oil before finally being killed five months after the. The 2010 deepwater horizon oil spill in the gulf of mexico has been described as the worst environmental disaster in the united states, releasing about 4. Factors such as oil biodegradation, ocean currents and response measures dispersants, burning reduced coastal oiling. In 2010, deepwater horizon created what has been regularly called the worst environmental disaster in the united states. The deepwater horizon oil spill blowout did much to change the perception of oil spills as coming just from. Deepwater horizon an overview sciencedirect topics. Health consequences of the deepwater horizon oil spill.
Deepwater horizonthe lasting impact of americas largest. Analysis of environmental and economic damages from. Osofskys fall 2010 course environmental justice and the bp deepwater. I could write a book on the outsiders analysis of the horror that followed the cracking of deepwater horizon. Remnants remain five years after a bp oil rig exploded in the gulf of mexico, killing 11 people. Deepwater horizon oil spill also referred to as the bp oil spill, the bp oil disaster, the gulf of mexico oil spill, and the macondo blowout largest marine oil spill in history caused on april 20, 2010 an explosion on the deepwater horizon oil rig and its subsequent sinking on april 22. In addition, this oil spillage affected the shipping activities thus caused a. The deepwater horizon oil spill was one of the largest environmental disasters in history, releasing roughly 4 million barrels of crude oil into the gulf of mexico. The oil spill in the gulf of mexico during the 2010 deepwater horizon disaster had wider geographic implications than previously thought, according to a. Use this oil spill lesson plan to teach young students about the effects of an oil spill on the environment. Deepwater horizon oil spill environment the guardian.
Deepwater horizon oil spill impacted sea turtles globally. I know that there is a documentary afoot for 2016 and i know that others have worked very hard to open the bastards up to litigation, b. Five years after bp spill, new rules for offshore drilling. The april 20, 2010, explosion of the deep water horizon offshore drilling rig led to the largest oil spill in u. As the gulf of mexico recovers from the deepwater horizon oil spill, natural resource. The deepwater horizon spill was the worst oil disaster in us history. An oil discharge continued for 84 days, resulting in the largest oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry, estimated at approximately 206 million gallons 4. On april 20, 2010, the deepwater horizon oil platform operated by bp, was disconnecting from a recently discovered oil reservoir 50 miles south of louisiana when a cascade of equipment.
A million seabirds and thousands of marine mammals and sea turtles died after exposure to the oil, and the fishing and tourism industries reeled. Oil spill animated short film 2014 global awareness. In this lesson, well talk about why it happened and what sort of impact it had on wildlife and humans alike. The deepwater horizon was a semisubmersible platform searching for oil deposits. Deepwater horizon and the gulf oil spill the key questions answered. The issue compiles 20 scientific studies authored by noaa scientists and partners covering more than five years worth of data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Deepwater horizon oil spill, largest marine oil spill in history, caused by an april 20, 2010, explosion on the deepwater horizon oil riglocated in the gulf of mexico, approximately 41 miles 66 km off the coast of louisianaand its subsequent sinking on april 22. Deepwater horizon oil spill still affecting fish in gulf a decade later. The 2010 deepwater horizon oil spill was the largest offshore oil spill in u. The harm from the spill to coastal salt marsh habitat was extensive, and in some instances, permanent.
Environmental impact of the deepwater horizon oil spill. Deepwater horizon disaster had much worse impact than believed, study finds. Whats the environmental impact of the deepwater horizon. On april 20, 2010, a combination of mud, seawater and gas from methane hydrates erupted from the oil well of the deepwater horizon oil rig. Deepwater horizon disaster had much worse impact than. Federal government officials estimated that the deepwater well ultimately. Birds were particularly vulnerable to the oils effects, and many perishedfrom ingesting oil as they tried to clean themselves or because the substance interfered. The oil would eventually extend 68,000 square milesbut the spills effects reached far beyond that.
Gulf of mexico oil spill and ecosystem science conference. The select titles here are a sampling of our reports on the deepwater horizon as well as the long history of the national academies of advising the nation. Environmental impact of the deepwater horizon oil spill wikipedia. The deepwater horizon oil spill also referred to as the bp oil spill, oil leak, or oil disaster. Oil from the deepwater horizon spill floats on the water in 2010 as the sky is reflected in sheen on barataria bay, off the coast of louisiana. Pdf environmental effects of the deepwater horizon oil. A recent endangered species research special issue summarizes some of the devastating longterm effects of the deepwater horizon oil spill on protected marine mammals and sea turtles. New us oil drilling regulations aim to prevent another. Heres the absolute best explanation of how and why it happened. This article draws from that submission, which has. Factors such as oilbiodegradation, ocean currents and response measures dispersants, burning reduced coastal oiling.