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This document summarizes information presented by government agencies on the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It discusses the roles of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and issues surrounding BP's safety practices. Key points include that the EPA declared it a spill of national significance, monitored dispersant use and environmental impacts, and had previously fined BP $50 million for ignoring safety protocols. The BOEM is responsible for offshore drilling oversight but had faced criticism for its dual regulatory and revenue collection roles. The spill significantly impacted marine life through poisoning, decreased reproduction and habitat damage, and its effects on tourism and wildlife recovery were long-lasting.
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Eegr400 group project
- 1. Morgan State University School Of Engineering Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering EEGR 400 Introduction to Professional Practice Government Group Members Nirosha Peiris Richard Bowling DeMar Montgomery Daniele Manikeu Chukwuemeka Igwilo 1
- 2. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Representing the Government Agencies •BOE •EPA •HHS •FDA 2
- 3. Drilling in Deepwater? •Geography / Climate of Deep Waters •Improved Technology to drill deep waters •Economy 3
- 4. The Gulf of Mexico Deep Water – 1,000 to 4,999 feet Ultra Deep Water – 5,000 feet or more 4
- 5. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) •Lisa Jackson is the Administrator of the EPA •Declaration as a Spill of National Significance •1990 Oil Pollution Act 5
- 6. Use of Dispersant • Chemical used to break up the oil • Authorized to be used by the National Contingency Plan • EPA will monitor water and air for potential impact • Use of Dispersant has ceased 6
- 7. EPA view of BP • Did not install deep- water valve • 200 feet under sea floor • Did not install remote-control shutoff switch • $500,000 for remote-control switch 7
- 8. EPA • 2005 Massive Explosion • BP ignored protocol • 15 killed , 170 injured • Fined $50 million by EPA and $87 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration 8
- 9. Bureau of Ocean Energy , Management, Regulation & Enforcement aka Mineral Management service 9
- 10. Description The Bureau of Ocean Energy Services (BOE ) formerly called Minerals Management Service (MMS), a division within the Interior Department is an agency that monitors offshore drilling. • The MMS, which has about 1,700 employees, has two responsibilities when it comes to industries such as oil or natural gas. It must act as a regulator while also collecting royalties from the companies. Some critics say those are opposite pulls and make the agency ripe for mismanagement. • In a letter sent last year to the Department of the Interior, BP objected to what it called "extensive, prescriptive regulations" proposed in new rules to toughen safety standards. BP said "We believe industry's current safety and environmental statistics demonstrate that the voluntary programs…continue to be very successful." 10
- 11. Background • The disaster began April 20 with an explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon drill rig, which was completing the well for BP at the time of the blast. The 11 killed all died in the blast and fire, which raged for two days before the rig sank, rupturing the well a mile below. Transocean, the rig's owner, Halliburton, the cement contractor, and BP have pointed fingers at each other since the rig sank. BP was responsible for capping the ruptured well it owned and cleaning up the more than 200 million gallons of oil that spilled. The well was sealed temporarily in mid-July and capped permanently on September 19. • The rig was spilling around 210,000 gallons of oil a day into the Gulf of Mexico. 11
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- 13. Could anything have been done to prevent the Gulf of Mexico disaster? 13
- 14. Ethics Issues • MMS claimed that the chances of a blowout were less than one percent • MMS noted that delays in construction were costing BP more than half a million dollars a day • MMS reported a significant increase in the number associated with cementing. – In retrospect, BP & Halliburton should have taken note Opportunity Cost BP chose to drill the fastest possible way- using a well design known as “long string” Congressional investigators and industry experts contend that BP cut corners on its cement job 14
- 15. Shortcomings • Failure to circulate heavy drilling mud outside the casing before cementing • Inordinate Oversight 15
- 16. Introspection • We are not saying that the BOE should not take any responsibility for the blowout, indeed, we think that tougher safety measures could have been required for the industry; including certification of equipment meant to prevent well blowouts. Also, tougher inspections of deep-water operations and more requirements around key steps in well drilling. 16
- 17. Oil Spill Map 17
- 18. Impact on Marine & Wild Life •Hypothermia •Poisoning and Internal Damage •Increased Predation •Decreased Reproduction •Fouling of Habitat 18
- 19. Future of Tourism, Wild, & Marine life • Beaches Effected • Steps taken for cleanup • Length of time taken to recover 19
- 20. • References • NYTimes • National Geographic • ABC • CNN.com 20
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