www.eoearth.org/oceanoil
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
April 20, 2010
Dr. David Blockstein, Senior Scientist
The National Council for the Science and the Environment
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Owned by
British
Petroleum (BP
OIL)
Exploded
April 20,
2010
Sank two
days later
In 5,000 feet
of water
Largest marine oil spill in
history
Oil gushed for 86 days
into the ocean
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Deepwater Horizon offshore oil platform (well) had
an explosion, then a fire and sank two days later,
in 5,000 feet of water
50 miles southeast of Mississippi River delta, in the
Gulf of Mexico.
126 workers were rescued, but 11 workers died.
Many attempts to stop the gushing of oil into the
ocean
86 days after the explosion, the oil was stopped by
capping it off.
Credit: U.S. Coast Guard
Firefighters combat the fire
Credit: Transocean
Before
After
What Happened?
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The sinking of the platform ruptured a pipe (riser)
causing crude oil to gush out
Oil covered the ocean, the size of South Carolina
Oil came ashore in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and
Florida, killing wildlife in Louisiana
Seafood could not be eaten or sold
Beaches closed, tourists stayed home, jobs were lost,
businesses closed, concerns with health,…
Oil gushed for 86 days, covering the ocean the size of South Carolina
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The need for oil and gas is increasing
Supplies from war torn countries became
more difficult to get and cost more….
We looked for sources in the U.S.
The Gulf of Mexico has been a major
supplier of oil and gas to America for
nearly 50 years
We have already gotten the oil from easy,
near-shore, shallow waters, now-
Energy companies now
focused on oil and gas
resources in deeper,
more difficult waters of
1,000 feet and beyond.
The Gulf of Mexico is peppered with
thousands of oil platforms
Map of the northern Gulf of Mexico showing the nearly 4,000
active oil and gas platforms.
Credit: NOAA
Remotely controlled robots; 3&4-D seismic
info.; 1 billion dollars per deep oil field.
Left to right…….
1.Onshore platform
2. Fixed platform
3. Jackup rig
4. Semi-submersible
5. Drill ship
6. Tension leg platform.
Credit: BOEMRE
An immediate challenge is to gain a better understanding of the deepwater environment
and the issues that arise from operating at these depths.
One mile
deep
5 stories tall
380 tons
Controlled burns
Aerial application of chemical dispersant to surface oil from the
Deepwater Horizon oil platform. Credit: U.S. Coast Guard.
Construction of sand berms
Method to contain……. in the ocean
U.S. Environmental Services'
workers moving
OIL CONTAINMENT BOOM
onto a supply boat in Venice,
La., April 29, 2010.
Credit: Washington Department
of Ecology
Early Response Dome to capture and recover escaping oil
Oil captured
and pumped
one mile to oil
tanker on
surface of water
Note
Stopping the spill: the five-month effort to kill the Macondo well
Attempted –
Top Kill
Junk Shot
Move to Collection
All failed or were ineffective
BOW Blow out preventer
five stories, 380 tons
What finally worked?
3 stages 1. Cap was placed on top of the BOP after a 20 foot pair of shears had
cut the riser from the BOP, stopping the oil for the first time. June 3, 2010
2. Relief well was completed at a depth of 17,977 feet. After 2 failed
attempts. Sept. 15, 2010
3. Cement was pumped into the well to permanently seal it.
Relief well: a well drilled to intersect an oil or gas well that has undergone a blowout.
Why do we even use oil?
 Oil is the world’s most important energy source
 Plays vital role in society around the world
 Needed for economic growth – industry, agriculture, transportation,
heat, cooking, food storage, products, medicine…
 Equipment, autos, homes, etc., designed to use oil, not other sources
 Other sources are not yet able to supply enough energy for the world’s
needs.
Impact from the oil spill
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The trip to the mall got more
expensive because…….
Gas prices went up around
the world
Food got more expensive
Water birds, turtles, marine
life killed or harmed
Businesses closed,
People lost jobs,
Beautiful beaches unsafe…
Vacations canceled
Major food source was
harmed
Fish, shrimp, oysters could not be eaten,
or sold
Benefits of the ocean
Provides 50% of the air you breathe
Food source
Medicines
Transportation
Recreation
Biodiversity and future life
Jobs
Recreation
Oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill pools against the Louisiana coast along Barataria Bay.
Credit: Associated Press
Oil reached the beaches of NW Florida
Water filled boom, which broke
during Hurricane Alex. Oil collected
in pools on Grand Isle Beach,
Louisiana.
There is no “away”……….
How YOU
can help make the USE of petroleum go away……….
Educate yourself on wise energy consumption
Make choices that lessen the use of oil – transportation, idling
motor, conservation, efficiency, etc.
Know the difference between good science and “junk science”
Be prepared to vote with an informed opinion on energy choices
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