US oil spills in the 21st century
Gasoline, a product of crude oil, is the number one fuel source for cars on the road in the United States today. Since the beginning of the 20th century drilling for oil has been a major part of the American economy. Oil towns along America’s oceans and rivers have boomed because of new developments in deep water drilling and oil pipeline technologies. These profits have come at a price. The real threat of an accident causing oil to flow freely into the waters around the drills has been a concern for companies since drilling began. Even though advancements were made throughout the 20th century to reduce the risk of a spill the first 11 years of the 21st century have seen spills ranging from relatively minor to one of the worst oil spills in history.
When a wellhead was damaged because of an oil gusher on the sea floor it caused an explosion that killed 11 men and injured 17 others working on the BP Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil flowed into the gulf from April 20th 2010 until July 15th 2010 making this spill the largest marine oil spill since the industry began. When the well was finally capped it is estimated that 4.9 million barrels of crude oil was spilled into the gulf with an average of 62,000 barrels a day tapering off to 53,000 barrels a day by the time the well was capped. Wildlife, fishing, and tourism in the area all experienced a huge negative impact because of the accident. More than a year later beaches and costal areas along the gulf are still feeling the effects of this disaster and continue clean up.
Prior to the BP disaster an oil barge collided with rocks just south of Westport, MA. A twelve foot gash in the hull of the tank barge Bouchard No. 120, that resulted from the collision, caused around 98,000 barrels of Number 6 fuel into the surrounding waters of Buzzards Bay. The crash occurred on April 27th, 2003 and the following day a large amount of oil was found on Barneys Joy beach in Dartmouth. The shifting wind conditions dispersed the oil so after the initial contamination washed ashore surrounding beach communities as far as 90 miles away continued to be effected by the spill for more than two weeks. The spill cleanup has already cost $36 million dollars plus $9 million in fines and the company responsible is expected to endure further costs due to class action lawsuits by area land owners and others.
The most recent oil spill resulted when a pipe line under the Yellowstone River burst due to rising flood waters and other factors. Reports about this recent spill are still coming in but so far clean up crews have found around 200 debris piles, or oil mixed with organic matter from the river, whose size range anywhere from 1 square meter to 20 square meters scattered along the shore and floating down the river.
Currently scientists and researchers are working to find more efficient ways to clean up spills and help prevent them from happening.
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October 9, 2011
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Posted by Max Fisher
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