2. Main Ideas
Anatomy of a spill
Major oil spills
Consequences
Wildlife damage
Clean up/ Prevention
3. What is an oil spill?
the release of
a liquid petroleum
hydrocarbon into
the environment
Mostly marine
Human activity
Petroleum seeps
Fractures, fissures,
outcrops
4.
5. Exxon Valdez
1989
Tanker ran aground on Bligh Reef – Alaska
10.9 million gallons of 53 mil release in 3 hrs.
8 of 11 tanks damaged
Major storm march 26
6. Hurricane Katrina
> 100 oil
platforms
destroyed
4 medium spills
134 minor spills
Largest – Bass
Enterprises
7. Deepwater Horizon
Exploded drilling rig – April 20, 2010
Methane gas
11 dead
Lasted 3 months
4.9 mil BBLs
210 mil gallons leaked
Capped July 15
Contaminated 16,000 mi. of coastline
9. Wildlife Damages
Animals may not avoid oil spills
Oil coats animal’s bodies
Oil that sticks to feathers and fur causes:
Hypothermia
Decreased Buoyancy
Increased predation
Malnutrition
Damage scent
Internal health problems
10. Hypothermia
Destroys insulation and waterproof
features
Lanugo – wooly fur insulation
Buoyancy
Oiled feathers at weight
Drowning of birds
Fur seal pups
Unable to stay afloat with oiled fins
11.
12. Increased Predation
Inability to fight off predators
Matted feathers
Oiled flippers
Malnutrition
Causes low body temperature
Metabolism tries to combat cold, body
weight diminishes
Prey contamination
13. Damage Scent
Coversscent of
seal pups
Rejection
Abandonment
Starvation
Internal Health
Ingestion
causes ulcers
Stomach bleeding
Inflammation and infection
19. Prevention
Offshore Oil Spill Prevention and Response
Reassessing training protocols, equipment
and procedures
Plans for avoidance, control and shutdown
of offshore operations
Federally mandated
Drilling blowout preventer
Pipe rams and Shear rams
20. Expected Learning Outcomes
What is an oil spill?
What are 2 ways it affects wildlife?
How can oil be cleaned from land?
What is a BOP?