Possible Solutions for Oil Spills: A Background Paper
By: Talia Bin Yussuf
1. Abstract
Oil spills are a universally recognized issue, as they obtain the potential to damage
marine life all over the world. This is why discovering efficient solutions to oil spills is
exceptionally important. Although many solutions have been proposed none of them seem to
satisfy the requirements of total efficiency, as some unsuccessful examples have been shown
below. Currently one global solution has not been selected although numerous suggestions
have been made. However a suitable solution has to be chosen soon to increase the rate at
which polluted marine zones are being cleaned up.
2. Description and Definition of the Issue
Oil spills are the release of Oil (Petroleum) into the environment and this is caused by
human activity. This occurs mainly in marine environments but it does also occur on land.
The crude oil breaches the feathers of birds and fur of animals and reduces the insulation that
the fur and feathers provide. The birds are incapable of flying until the oil is cleaned off their
wings.
As Oil spills have a great destructive impact on their surrounding environments.
Solutions for oils spills have become a worldwide issue of vast importance. Although many
solutions have been presented and used many of them have negative effects on the
environment such as air pollution.
3. Glossary of the Issue
Bioremediation: the use of microorganisms or biological agents to break down or remove
oil.
Oil Skimmer: a machine that separate oil from particles flowing on it or from another
liquid.
BP: a British multinational oil and gas company reasonable for a few oil spills and
solutions.
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration): A federal agency focused
on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere.
4. History of the Issue
2009. Norwegian Oil Spill. Kallak Torvstrøfabrikk, a Norwegian company produced a series
of products, which were Peat moss based, and they were used to clean an oil spill off the
shore of Norway.
Oil Corrals (Underwater Cones). BP, a British multinational oil and gas company suggested
a giant underwater cone to separate the leak from the rest of the water. However an amateur
Engineer, Eric Lewis, proposed the use of a permeable, malleable, cone instead to reduce the
effect of the pressure of the deep sea. Yet this would result in some of the oil leaking out.
Berms. Louisiana officials dropped sand bags in the water, and U.S. National Guard teams
were sent to a tiny barrier island to build a sand berm to prevent the oil from moving any
closer to the inland.
5. Current Status
Global and fully efficient solutions to oil spills has yet to be identified. However
Individual nations have taken it upon themselves to accept many solutions from sole
engineers or large businesses, although not all of them are successful.
For Example, An oil spill occurred in 2010, which was caused by BP in the Gulf of Mexico.
Over 2 years later the marine surroundings are still suffering the long-term effects of the oil
spill as well as the nearly 2 million gallons of chemical dispersants used to supposedly solve
the problem of the spill. More than 8,000 birds, sea turtles and marine mammals died 6
months later. This oil spill has also caused a drastic decline in the economy of the gulf coast
states as commercial fishing was greatly relied upon by citizens and governments. As stated
by the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), commercial fisheries
caught $659 million in shellfish and finfish in 2008 and over 3 million people took
recreational fishing trips in the Mexican gulf during that same year.
Scientists predict a further decrease in fish and wildlife populations and are observing for
fluctuating populations. Another one of the predicted long-term impacts is the development
of unbalanced food webs as the Oil Spill struck at the peak of the breeding season for many
species of fish and wild life. The oil’s harmfulness my have hit the egg and larvae organisms
destroying their generation completely, therefore population inclines may be evident in the
future.
6. Conclusion
Although many solutions for oil spills have been discussed and used many of them have
negative long-term impacts on their surroundings and wildlife whether they are marine
surroundings or land. A few universally efficient oil spill solutions have to be identified soon
as to begin to undo the damage caused by our own kind, However some solutions may
actually worsen the state of some of these oil spills (as show by the BP oils spill in the Gulf
of Mexico) so these possible solutions need to be thoroughly tested and examined, perhaps
using the aid of some of the organizations mentioned in the glossary.
7. Work Cited
. "11 Extreme Oil Spill Solutions." The Daily Beast. The Daily Beast, 11 2010. Web. 30
Dec
2012.
<http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/05/12/11-extreme-oil-spill-
solutions.html>.
. "BP - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p.. Web.
30 Dec 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP>.
. "Oil Spill - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p..
Web. 30 Dec 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_Spill>.
. "How Does the BP Oil Spill Impact Wildlife and Habitat? - National Wildlife
Federation."
National
Wildlife
Federation
<https://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Protect-
.
N.p..
Web.
30
Dec
2012.