Essay about Oil Spill Response - 5775 Words

Oil Spill Response Abstract This paper describes equipment and techniques for responding to oil spills. Various techniques for the containment, cleanup and recovery of oil spills are examined; advantages and disadvantages of each are considered. Along with providing insight for oil spill response, this paper discusses environmental factors which can contribute to the success or failure of a cleanup operation. Introduction: Oil is the life blood of our modern industrial society. It fuels the machines and lubricates the wheels of the world’s production. But when that vital resource is out of control, it can destroy marine life and devastate the environment and economy of an entire region†¦. The plain facts are that the†¦show more content†¦Once a bird settles on the oil mass its feathers become soaked with oil. This result in death by drowning through loss of buoyancy, ingestion of oil, loss of body heat, and inability to fly-- which would result in starvation or make them targets for predators. When surface feeding fish swim into the floating oil, their bodies and gills become coated with oil, which in most cases would result into death. If death does not result from such contact, their bodies absorb the taste and odor of the oil, which would make them unfit for human consumption for a long time. As the oil moves towards the land it could bring death to marine life that inhabit the shallow, near shore areas (Stanley, 1969). The possible effects of pollution upon our recreational areas must also be considered. The usefulness of beaches for recreation suddenly ends. Snow-white cruisers and sailboats will show a dark smear at the waterline; small children after playing on the beach come home with oily feet; swimmers are coated with oil patches which cling to their skin and their hair (Stanley, 1969). In addition to aesthetic and ecological concerns, one must also consider the economical concerns. Coastal regions can suffer economically from damage done by oil spills to recreation areas, harbors and vessels, and commercial shellfish grounds. During summer months, beaches along the coasts of most maritime countries are crowded with people on weekend outings and vacations. Thus, there is considerableShow MoreRelatedOil Spill Response And Cleanups Help The Economy1166 Words   |  5 PagesWhile oil spill response and cleanups help the economy by creating jobs, oil companies should take better precautions to m ake sure oil spills do not happen. Oil spills can be dangerous to not only the environment but also to animals and people as well. Another major effect of oil spills are that they are highly expensive, costing up to billions of dollars, estimated, to clean up. While oil companies try their best to prevent these tragedies from happening, there are multiple things they could doRead MoreThe British Petroleum Oil Spill and Lack of Response Essay examples1453 Words   |  6 PagesThe British Petroleum Oil Spill and Lack of Response Last year, news spread of an oil spill off the Gulf Coast. These events occur periodically and usually register much media attention. As British Petroleum (BP) executives could not shut off the crude oil or prevent the damage it caused, people took notice. Millions of dollars in tourism, commerce and sales were lost. Thousands of wildlife acres and ecosystems were also compromised. There were more questions than answers. What BP did to alleviateRead MoreOil Spill: Emergency Response Case Study1039 Words   |  4 Pagesshould read the scenario below and respond in the form of an essay, which should consist of several paragraphs and appropriate priority or task lists. Responses should be supported fully and completely. A well-thought-out response can be accomplished in 300-500 words (one or two pages, double spaced). Any published material used to support a response should be cited per the APA style guidelines. SCENARIO: You are back at your plant the Monday after the Dangerous When Wet leaking tanker incidentRead MoreDear Ceo And Board Of Trustees Essay1289 Words   |  6 PagesPoore November 19, 2016 â€Æ' CEO Paper November 23, 2016 Dear CEO and Board of Trustees Introduction As you are aware, on April 20, 2010, explosions occurred in the Gulf of Mexico sinking the Deepwater Horizon oil rig and tragically killed 11 people This oil spill is now considered the worst oil spill in United States history. During the search and rescue, an underwater camera was discovered which revealed a leak in the BP pipeline. Because the well is located approximately 5,000 feet beneath the deepRead MoreImpact Of Ecosystem On The Deepwater Horizon Spill1583 Words   |  7 PagesThe oil and refined products are a mixture of various hydrocarbons and other compounds whose physical and chemical properties vary; during an oil spill, the composite determines the behavior and impact on the environmental elements such as physical, biological, ecosystem, and the economical impact. During this Case Study I will continue to discuss the characteristics of each affected ecosystem including organisms commonly found in the Deepwater Horizon Spill affected area, potential threats basedRead M oreOil Spills And The Natural Resources Essay1694 Words   |  7 PagesEvery year there are thousands of oil spills that occur across the nation; both minor and major spillages. The oil from the spills typically arise in 3 areas: rivers, bays, and the ocean. Nearly all the accidents involving oil spills are a result of tankers, barge, pipelines, refineries, drilling rigs and storage facilities. When looking at the sources of the oil spills its estimated that oil tankers make up around 10 percent of the global marine oil pollution, natural resources is about 5 percentRead MoreCanadian Waters Are Safe For Maritime Transportation945 Words   |  4 PagesCanada’s oil sands are a major resource within Canada’s energy sector, accounting for 97 percent of Canada’s total oil reserves. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is committed to developing Canada’s oil sands and heavy oil resources in a sustainable and responsible way through advances in science and techno logy (Oil Sands I Natural resources Canada). Canada’s oil reserves consist of oil contained in the oil sands deposits of Alberta and in other non-oil sands deposits. Most of Canada’s oil reservesRead MoreBp : The Third Largest Energy Company Essay1547 Words   |  7 Pagesto prevent an oil spill, is a device known as a blind shear ram, which was activated but failed to plug the well. After approximately 36 hours, Deepwater Horizon sank on April 22, 2010. The oil spill was the largest marine oil spill in history. The spill started April 20 and continued to leak oil for 87 days. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused a grave amount of damage to the surrounding areas both environmentally and economically. The well contained over 110 million barrels of oil and was greaterRead MoreThe Exploration Of The British Petroleum Essay1664 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction British Petroleum is among the largest producers of oil and gas in the world. Headquartered in London, England it is one of only seven â€Å"supermajors† in the production of petroleum, in fact its performance in 2012 made it the sixth largest producer in its field and by market capitalization. It is also considered a vertically integrated company which operates in all areas of oil production including exploration, refining, distribution, and marketing. It has also recently expanded intoRead MoreThe Effects of Ocean Pollution on the Environment1650 Words   |  7 Pagesthe severe dumping, it will be easier to find ways to help minimize the pollution that is going into the ocean. Pollution comes in many forms. In the ocean we dump a variety of substances, including human wastes, chemicals from fertilizers, oil, and trash such as plastic which all contribute to the growing issue of our ocean pollution. In addition to, our usable waters are finite. More than 97.5 percent of the water on this planet is undrinkable salt water; the remaining 2.5 percent has two-thirds