Deepwater Horizon Oil SpillApril 20, 2010
Dr. David Blockstein, Senior ScientistThe National Council for the Science and the Environment
www.eoearth.org/oceanoil
Deepwater Horizon offshore oil platform (well)
Largest marine oil spill in history
Oil gushed for 86 days into the ocean
Owned by British Petroleum (BP OIL)
Exploded April 20, 2010
Sank two days later
In 5,000 feet of water
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.
Gulf Of Mexico Oil DisasterApril 20, 2010
Deepwater Horizon Oil Well
Before
After
Firefighters combat the fireCredit: Transocean
Credit: U.S. Coast Guard
What Happened?
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
Why is there a oil well in the ocean?
The Gulf of Mexico is peppered with thousands of oil platforms
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.
Map of the northern Gulf of Mexico showing the nearly 4,000 active oil and gas platforms. Credit: NOAA
How was a oil well put in the ocean?
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
Blow out preventer
5 stories tall380 tons
Controlled burns
The cleanup attempt…….
The attempted cleanup……
Aerial application of chemical dispersant to surface oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil platform. Credit: U.S. Coast Guard.
Other attempts to contain the oil…. ………..from the beaches……
Construction of sand berms
U.S. Environmental Services' workers movingOIL CONTAINMENT BOOM onto a supply boat in Venice, La., April 29, 2010.
Credit: Washington Department of Ecology
Method to contain……. in the ocean
Dome to capture and recover escaping oil
Oil captured and pumped one mile to oil tanker on surface of water
Early Response -
Note
Attempted –
Top Kill Junk Shot
Move to Collection
All failed or were ineffective
Stopping the spill: the five-month effort to kill the Macondo well
BOW -Blow out preventer
five stories, 380 tons
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.
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
Relief well: a well drilled to intersect an oil or gas well that has undergone a blowout.
The well will r
emain sealed and abandoned, a
long with the fir
st two unsucce
ssful re
lief wells
Why do we even use oil?
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.
Why do you care?
Why do you care? Impact from the oil spill
Fish, shrimp, oysters could not be eaten, or sold
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
Provides 50% of the air you breatheFood sourceMedicines
TransportationRecreation
Biodiversity and future lifeJobs
Recreation
Benefits of the ocean
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.
So it has gone away…..right?
Where is “away”?
There is no “away”……….
How can you
help make the USE of petroleum go away?
How YOUcan 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
www.eoearth.org/oceanoil