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Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill April 20, 2010 Dr. David Blockstein, Senior Scientist The National Council for the Science and the Environment www.eoearth.org/oceanoil Slide 2 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 Slide 3 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. Slide 4 Before After Firefighters combat the fire Credit: Transocean Credit: U.S. Coast Guard Slide 5 Slide 6 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, Slide 7 Oil gushed for 86 days, covering the ocean the size of South Carolina Slide 8 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. Slide 9 Map of the northern Gulf of Mexico showing the nearly 4,000 active oil and gas platforms. Credit: NOAA Slide 10 Remotely controlled robots; 3&4-D seismic info.; 1 billion dollars per deep oil field. Slide 11 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. Slide 12 One mile deep Slide 13 5 stories tall 380 tons Slide 14 Controlled burns Slide 15 Aerial application of chemical dispersant to surface oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil platform. Credit: U.S. Coast Guard. Slide 16 Construction of sand berms Slide 17 U.S. Environmental Services' workers moving OIL CONTAINMENT BOOM onto a supply boat in Venice, La., April 29, 2010. Credit: Washington Department of Ecology Method to contain. in the ocean Slide 18 Dome to capture and recover escaping oil Oil captured and pumped one mile to oil tanker on surface of water Early Response - Note Slide 19 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 Slide 20 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. Slide 21 The well will remain sealed and abandoned, along with the first two unsuccessful relief wells Slide 22 Slide 23 Why do we even use oil? Oil is the worlds 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 worlds needs. Slide 24 Slide 25 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 Slide 26 Provides 50% of the air you breathe Food source Medicines Transportation Recreation Biodiversity and future life Jobs Recreation Benefits of the ocean Slide 27 Slide 28 Slide 29 Water filled boom, which broke during Hurricane Alex. Oil collected in pools on Grand Isle Beach, Louisiana. Slide 30 Slide 31 Slide 32 There is no away. Slide 33 Slide 34 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 Slide 35 www.eoearth.org/oceanoil