Gulf of Mexico Oil Gulf of Mexico Oil SpillSpill

The ecological and economical scare.The ecological and economical scare.

The CauseThe Cause On April 22On April 22ndnd, a BP (British oil company) oil rig called the Deep Water , a BP (British oil company) oil rig called the Deep Water

Hudson was deep-sea drilling for oil (5,000 feet underwater) off the coast of Hudson was deep-sea drilling for oil (5,000 feet underwater) off the coast of Louisiana and blew up, spilling thousands of tons of oil into the Gulf of Louisiana and blew up, spilling thousands of tons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.Mexico.

The Deep Water Hudson rig had been newly constructed due to a previous The Deep Water Hudson rig had been newly constructed due to a previous rig being dried up of its oil supply. This new rig was drilling deep into the rig being dried up of its oil supply. This new rig was drilling deep into the Gulf to find oil.Gulf to find oil.

People are claiming the explosion is due to a poor cementing job, which People are claiming the explosion is due to a poor cementing job, which resulted in natural gas combining with the oil underground to seep through resulted in natural gas combining with the oil underground to seep through cracks in the cement, climaxing in the explosion.cracks in the cement, climaxing in the explosion.

(Another cause of oil spills other than rig explosions are ships carrying large (Another cause of oil spills other than rig explosions are ships carrying large amounts of oil colliding with an object, and therefore allowing tons of oil to amounts of oil colliding with an object, and therefore allowing tons of oil to leak from the ship into the water.)leak from the ship into the water.)

Oil Spill Effect on Oil Spill Effect on Shores/MarshesShores/Marshes

• The wetlands of Louisiana that have become target to the oil flow are covered in grasses called Spartina grass, with vast amounts of dead grass underwater. Called “a big sponge,” there’s no way to wash oil out of a Spartina marsh; it has to be self-cleansed over time.

• The oil hitting the marshes is not as toxic as it is extremely sticky. This however proves an issue because the oil could coat the grasses, killing them.

• If the marshes are wiped out, Louisiana’s fast-eroding coast will now be subject to the harsh ocean waves that the marshes previously acted as a natural barrier from.

• Rocks on the shore along with the shore itself are being covered in oil washed up by the waves, and it proves awful timing as wildlife such as birds and sea turtles are coming to the sandy beaches, along with the marshes, to reproduce.

Effect on WildlifeEffect on Wildlife• Oil is damaging for birds because it coats their feathers and destroys the natural chemistry Oil is damaging for birds because it coats their feathers and destroys the natural chemistry

that allows them to stay buoyant, along with keeping them warm and able to fly. When they that allows them to stay buoyant, along with keeping them warm and able to fly. When they preen and attempt to cleanse themselves of the oil on their feathers, the oil they can be preen and attempt to cleanse themselves of the oil on their feathers, the oil they can be swallowing will poison them.swallowing will poison them.

• Dolphins, who must surface to breathe, are being poisoned from the inhalation of oil fumes.Dolphins, who must surface to breathe, are being poisoned from the inhalation of oil fumes.

• Tiny shrimps, just hatched and only a few millimeters long, will be swimming at the oil-Tiny shrimps, just hatched and only a few millimeters long, will be swimming at the oil-covered ocean surface.covered ocean surface.

• Alligators, who are nearing nesting season, could be at risk of consuming oil as they feed.Alligators, who are nearing nesting season, could be at risk of consuming oil as they feed.

• Fish swimming in ocean areas engulfed in oil are being covered with and poisoned by the Fish swimming in ocean areas engulfed in oil are being covered with and poisoned by the oil.oil.

• It is hatching and “raising” season for many animal species that reside in the Gulf of Mexico. It is hatching and “raising” season for many animal species that reside in the Gulf of Mexico. Doing so could be a risk to bringing sensitive young animals in contact with toxic oil, along Doing so could be a risk to bringing sensitive young animals in contact with toxic oil, along with the risk of the parents diving into oily water searching for food.with the risk of the parents diving into oily water searching for food.

Effect on the EconomyEffect on the Economy

• Louisiana produces 10% of all seafood that is sold throughout the United Louisiana produces 10% of all seafood that is sold throughout the United States. Fish, shrimp, and other commonly consumed seafood have not States. Fish, shrimp, and other commonly consumed seafood have not been as abundant as prior to the spill; many have been killed by the toxic been as abundant as prior to the spill; many have been killed by the toxic oil. oil.

• The above issue proves an issue for people, such as those who live around The above issue proves an issue for people, such as those who live around the bayous, because their income relies on them catching and selling the bayous, because their income relies on them catching and selling seafood. With the oil closing in on bayou areas (that are abundant with seafood. With the oil closing in on bayou areas (that are abundant with marine wildlife/seafood), many fear unemployment and a drastic slope marine wildlife/seafood), many fear unemployment and a drastic slope involving income.involving income.

• Due to the oil spill, about 25% of fishing areas in the Gulf of Mexico have Due to the oil spill, about 25% of fishing areas in the Gulf of Mexico have been temporarily placed off limits for fishing, in efforts to conserve what is been temporarily placed off limits for fishing, in efforts to conserve what is left of the marine wildlife, along with ensuring that no contaminated seafood left of the marine wildlife, along with ensuring that no contaminated seafood is sold. This, of course, therefore hinders the fishing economy.is sold. This, of course, therefore hinders the fishing economy.

Oil is Spreading FastOil is Spreading Fast

What is Being Proposed/What Can Be Done to Prevent Oil Spills Recently BP has been attempting to send sea-robots 5,000 feet underwater to

engage the blowout preventer and turn off the flow – however, the blowout preventer is failing to operate properly.

Another suggested solution is to drill a second well that will intercept the original well and inject a special heavy fluid that would hopefully cut off the flow of oil. This however can take several months to constuct.

Yet another possibility is designing an underwater collection device shaped like a dome that would trap the oil as is came out, and then funnel it for collection. It is being created now, but success is unknown; these collection devices have only been used in shallow water previous to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Deploy floating barriers to trap oil. Spray chemical dispersants on the oil on the water’s surface to break it down –

however these chemicals have been proven to be a possible threat to marine wildlife. A common approach is burning oil that lies on the surface. Since water is polar and

lipids and oils are nonpolar, the oil lays on the ocean surface, separated from the water. It is due to this that burning oil off the surface of the water is possible.

Our Solution

Have a dome constructed around the oil rig so that the oil that escapes is contained and cannot spread; this oil can then be funneled and collected.

While the dome is being constructed, we have to find another way to control the oil that has and currently is escaping from the rig. One of the main concerns is that the oil has dispersed throughout large areas and appears unavoidable for marine life. Instead of spraying harmful chemicals that attempt to disperse the oil further, we could have chemists create a non-polar substance that would attract/cause the oil to condense, and therefore be in isolated areas rather than spread out in the ocean. Moreover, collection becomes more effective.

The reason that vast amounts of drilling occur is because of the demand for oil/gasoline. In general, we can try to conserve gasoline by walking short distances rather than driving. If we all participate in this effort the need for oil will be decreased, and therefore not as much drilling is required. Hopefully, rig explosions would then be less common.