British Petroleum: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Gulf of Mexico

11 people died on the oil rig explosion. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill (also referred to as the BP oil spill, the BP oil disaster, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and the Macondo blowout) began on April 20th 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico.

Underwater…. A sea-floor oil gusher flowed for 87 days, until it was capped on 15 July 2010. The US Government estimated the total discharge at 210 million US gallons Creating an oil slick that covered 25,000 square miles. Equal to 318 Olympic size swimming pools

It flowed for 87 days. 87, and no one could figure out how to stop it.

This was the biggest oil spill in history!

6,000 total miles of coastline have been affected, including the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Almost 11.5 million pounds of oily residue was removed from these beaches

Over 8,000 animals (birds, turtles, mammals) were reported dead just 6 months after the spill, including many that are already on the endangered species list. 1,700 sea turtles and 930 dolphins and whales were found stranded with oil related issues for years after the spill. Immediate impact on the wildlife includes oil-coated birds and sea turtles, mammal ingestion of oil, and dead or dying deep sea coral.

President Obama announced that his administration would create a $20 billion spill response fund.

Responders used 5.5 million feet of boom, a barrier placed in water, to collect and absorb oil. Local fishermen were hired to use booms on their boats to help with the clean up efforts.

BP also used planes to spray dispersants over the oil spill BP also used planes to spray dispersants over the oil spill. Dispersants helps break oil into small droplets following an oil spill. Small droplets are easier to disperse throughout a water volume, and small droplets may be more readily biodegraded by microbes.

One method of treating the oil spill is "in-situ burning" or burning oil in a contained area on the surface of the water, which has negative effects on the environment.

BP is responsible for close to $40 billion in fines, cleanup costs, and settlements as a result of the oil spill in 2010, with an additional $16 billion due to the Clean Water Act. http://content.time.com/time/interactive/0,31813,2006455,00.html

CLEAN UP Over 30,000 people responded to the spill in the Gulf Coast working to collect oil, clean up beaches, take care of animals and perform various other duties. As of 2012, the Gulf was still polluted with oil.

New technology that will help in future oil spills are called sorbents New technology that will help in future oil spills are called sorbents. Sorbents are materials that soak up oil from the water by attracting oil and repelling water. Works like a sponge for oil.