Investigation 15A OIL SPILLS AND THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
Objectives:
Society is highly dependent on oil as a source of energy for transportation, as an ingredient in commercial products ranging from lubricants to paints, and as petrochemical feedstocks used to produce a wide variety of materials, such as plastics, explosives, fertilizers and synthetic fibers. Oil spills are an ever-present threat to ecosystems where oil is extracted from subsurface reservoirs or transported. Of the many inadvertent oil spills to affect U.S. ocean waters and marine ecosystems, the BP Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion and sinking in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 has been the greatest.
After completing this investigation, you should be able to:
•List some of the factors that contributed to the 2010 Gulf Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
•Describe some of the environmental impacts of an oil spill in coastal areas.
•Explain why it is difficult to document ecological recovery following an oil spill.
The Gulf of Mexico's underlying oil reservoir is a major source of petroleum for the United States. According to The U.S. Energy Informtion Administration (EIA), in 2013 the Gulf of Mexico federal offshore oil productions area accounted for 17% of the total U.S. crude oil prodiction, supplying 1.26 million barrels per day. The oil is extracted from reservoirs in the rock layers beneath the Gulf sea floor by drilling platforms or "rigs". About 4000 oil and gas rigs operate in the Gulf. About 5 percent of U.S. natural gas supplies originate in the Gulf. Over 45% of total U.S. petroleum refining capacity is located along the Gulf coast.
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
On 20 April 2010 the Deepwater Horizon, a modern, specially designed, dynamically positioned, semi-submersible deepwater drilling platform leased to BP, was completing a preliminary well in over 1500 m (5000 ft) of water. The rig had drilled in 2009 what was then the world's deepest well at 10,685 m (35,055 ft). As operations were underway to temporarily seal the BP well located 65 km (40 mi.) off the Louisiana shore from the mouth of the Mississippi River, an eruption occurred on the platform as petroleum, mud, gas and water shot 70 m (240 ft) into the air and ignited. Eleven workers were killed in the incident. After two days of uncontrollable burning, the rig sank leaving the riser pipe from the well bent and ruptured on the Gulf bottom.
Attachment:- Investigation 15A & 15B.docx
Attachment:- Lab 7B.docx
Attachment:- Lab 12B.docx