Oil Spills

Where is oil used? Developed Nations: Non-Developed Nations: Transportation- 34% Agriculture, Residential, Commercial- 33% Industry- 30% Non-Developed Nations: Agriculture, Residential, Commercial- 47% Industry- 33% Transportation- 17%

How is petroleum transported? Pipelines (pipelines can be in the way of migratory paths and the animals will have no where to go) Trucks Boats Train

So what is the risk to these types of transportation? Petroleum is a potentially dangerous substance If it gets spilled, it could be harmful to what? Animals Trees Ecosystem as a whole

How can you clean up oil spills? Booms- floating barriers Skimmers- boats that removes oil from sea surface

In-situ burning- burn off the oil before it reaches the coast line (potential problems?) Dispersants- chemicals that allow the oil to enter the water column

Gelling Agents- chemicals that react with the oil to form a solid

Exxon Valdez- Oil Spill Occurred in 1989 … in 2001 there was still oil found along the spill area Spill occurred along the coastline of Alaska 2,100 kilometers of coastline was affected It cost the company $7 billion to cleanup and for fines

Lake Wabamun Oil Spill Lake Wabamun is located west of Edmonton near Highway 16 Occurred August 3, 2005 43 CN rail cars went off the track 824,000 L of oil was spilled into the lake

Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster The rig was in the final phases of drilling a well in which casing is cemented in place, reinforcing the well. On April 20, 2010, an explosion occurred on the rig and it caught fire. Eleven people were missing after the incident. Seven workers were airlifted to the Naval air station in New Orleans and were then taken to the hospital. Support ships sprayed the rig with water in an unsuccessful bid to douse the flames. Deepwater Horizon sank on April 22, 2010, in water approximately 5,000 feet (1,500 m) deep, and has been located resting on the seafloor approximately 1,300 feet (400 m) northwest of the well. The oil slick being spread from the Deepwater Horizon accident threatens the habitat of hundreds of bird species.

Workers secures inflatable oil containment booms on the deck of an offshore service vessel.

An airplane, visible at top left, flies above the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This satellite image was taken April 26.

Fire boats battle the blazing remnants of the oil rig.

If you were in charge of cleaning up an oil spill, how would you do it?? Here’s your chance….