In 1989, the exxon valdez crashed onto the shore of prince william sound in alaska. The deepwater horizon oil spill constituted an ecosystemlevel injury in the northern gulf of mexico. So far these risks have mainly been acknowledged in terms of qual. Christine hale, larissa graham, emily maungdouglass, stephen sempier, ladon swann and monica wilson. Graduate student thomas azwells research focuses on a better understanding of the environmental impacts of oil spills and innovating better technologies for oil spill response, remediation and restoration after serving as the environmental lead for the deepwater horizon study group during the investigation of the gulf spill, thomas has begun developing environmentally sound approaches to. However, in most cases, environmental recovery is relatively swift and is complete within 210 years. It focuses on the environmental impacts of oil production and associated pollution in. Where oil has been eliminated from the scene, the longterm environmental impacts are generally confined to community structure anomalies that persist because of the longevity of the component species. Petroleum contamination is a growing environmental concern that harms both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
The accident contaminated 1,300 miles of coastline with 250,000 barrels, or 11 million gallons, of oil. The april 20, 2010 british petroleum company plc deepwater horizon oil spill in the gulf of mexico has revealed an urgent need to further investigate the environmental and human health impacts of oil spills and the mitigation measures taken during the removal process. When an oil spill occurs, many elements of the environment may be affected. Oil spill research land, oil spill, and waste management. The effects of oil spills can have wide ranging impacts that are often portrayed by the media as long lasting environmental disasters.
As previously described, when oil is present in the environment, it is either dispersed in the top layer of the water littoral zone or remains on the surface and, consequently, on. The deepwater horizon dwh oil spill was the largest environmental disaster and response effort in u. Major oil spills have resulted in environmental pollution in many resourcebased countries. Other publications in the series include oil spills in coral reefs and oil and sea turtles.
The impact of oil spills can also ruin the ecology and economy of a particular area with longterm effects for decades. Chapter five discusses in greater detail how oil spills impact wildlife. Risks and impacts introduction since 2010, the use of land and water transport networks to connect the oil and gas fields in the western united states and canada with refineries and ports on the east, west and gulf coasts has grown exponentially. Vertical infiltration of oil in the unsaturated water zone of soil has also been studied both. Background and governance congressional research service summary oil is a primary source of energy in the united states. Depending on the environmental conditions, the spilled oil may linger in the environment for long periods of time, adding to the detrimental effects. Oil spills are caused by the petroleum hydrocarbon from tankers, offshore platforms, wells, and drilling rigs or by refined petroleum products, such as diesel and gasoline. Potential environmental impacts of the oil and gas industry source. Bp deepwater horizon oil spill and its economic impact. Deep oil spills facts, fate, and effects steven murawski. Offshore technology explores the effects of oil spills, from the environmental damage caused by spills to their impacts on local communities.
Although there have been numerous oil spills in history, these two spills were chosen because they were the largest in volume and time. Introduction to coastal habitats and biological resources for spill response pdf, 10. Environmental impacts of oil spills our environment at. Similarly, the lempertkeeneseastrand oil spill prevention and response ospr act of 1991 established the oil spill response program in california and directed the administrator of ospr to develop a research program designed to examine the effects of oil and oil spill response technologies on the environment. Gulf of mexicos waters, plants, animals, and habitats. Usually, the process of getting this oil from deep below earths surface doesnt cause largescale problems. In the uk our drinking water supplies come from rivers and groundwater. Like the previous oil spills, the bp oil spill spilled about 780,000 cubic meters, with a huge impact to the environment. Delta by generating the best available estimates of oil discharge, and by assessing its impact on mangrove vegetation.
Feb 08, 2019 the ultimate goal of the techniques discussed is to minimize environmental impacts from oil spills. Restoring habitat after oil spills and other environmental. A visualization of potential oil spill impacts to the gulf of mexico ecosystem, which is home to a variety of habitats and species. Impacts and management of oil spill pollution along the. Pdf oil spills and sustainable cleanup approach researchgate. Simple theoretical models have been developed for the movement of oil on permeable and impermeable surfaces.
Introduction to coastal habitats and biological resources for. Environmental impacts and recovery after the hebei spirit oil spill in korea. Jun 24, 2010 as the oil spill disaster in the gulf of mexico crosses the two month mark, veteran marine biologist professor rick steiner, writes for channel 4 news counting the cost to the environment. Environmental management in oil and gas exploration and.
The spill occurred when two cargo ships collided about two miles away from the chennai shoreline. The same environmental conditions that contribute to oil spill risks lack of natural light, extreme cold. Although numerous oil spills have impacted the world, this study focuses on two oil spills in the gulf of mexico, the ixtoc i oil spill 1979 and the deepwater horizon oil spill 2010 dwh, and the exxon valdez oil spill in alaska 1989. The deepwater horizon oil spill and the gulf of mexico fishing industry congressional research service 3 region.
Understanding oil spills and oil spill response pdf epa. Pdf environmental impacts of the deepwater oil and gas. The deepwater horizon oil spill and the gulf of mexico. Seabirds are particularly vulnerable to oil spills, which can prevent them from flying or regulating their temperature. Environmental pollution, types, causes, impact and management. How does the physical environment affect the impacts of an oil spill on a shoreline. This is because marine oil spills can have a serious economic impact on coastal activities. By limiting the devastation caused by disturbances to the vegetation, and the marine environment, such as pollution by crude oil, overfishing, and habitat loss, the productivity and biodiversity of the marine ecosystems would increase.
Legal and sustainable development impacts of major oil spills. Health effects of nonoccupational exposure to oil extraction. Ecological impacts of the deepwater horizon oil spill. Pdf environmental impacts of the chennai oil spill. Nov 10, 2010 intensive environmental monitoring and research following the spill engendered a new understanding of the near and longterm impacts of oil spills on individual organisms, populations, and.
Environmental impacts of the deepwater oil and gas industry. The impacts of the deepwater horizon oil spill stretched beyond the. Coker department of civil engineering university of ibadan ibadan environment according to federal environmental protection agency fepa act of 1990, under. A scientific appraisal of typical oil spill effects reveals that, while damage occurs and can be profound at the level of individual organisms, populations are more resilient. The major focus of this research was on the oil spills near the gulf of mexico. If oil spills were minimized, then habitat and environmental impacts could be reduced. Causes, consequences, prevention, and countermeasures. The dwh spill was the largest environmental disaster and response effort in u. The production loss in salmon aquaculture and the regional income impact is computed and. Marine oil spills pose a great and severe threat to our coastal environment as shown in fig. Introduction to coastal habitats and biological resources. Oil spills can damage the environment and the wildlife and marine life that depend on it. Domestic oil production has increased in recent years, and vast quantities of oil continually enter the country via vessel or pipeline, moving throughout the country to various destinations. Originally published in 2002, this report was updated in 2014 to include.
Environmental impacts, exploration, production, refining, oil, natural gas. Regional economic impact of oil spills springerlink. Impacts and effects of oil spillage in niger delta nigeria. Background and governance congressional research service 1 introduction oil is a dominant source of energy in the united states, accounting for approximately 37% of total energy consumption in 2016. Apr 26, 2016 oil extraction may cause extensive environmental contamination and this may affect the health of population living in surrounding areas. Pdf legal consequences of major oil spills dominic e. In some cases, nonpetroleum oil spills can produce more harmful effects than petroleum oil spills. Oil covered birds are a universal symbol of environmental damage wreaked by oil spills. In 1997, recreational vessels were responsible for 535 reported oil spills, comprising 6. Oil spill environmental forensics case studies addresses releases of natural gasmethane, automotive gasoline and other petroleum fuels, lubricants, vegetable oils, paraffin waxes, bitumen, manufactured gas plant residues, urban runoff, and, of course, crude oil, the latter ranging from light bakken shale oil to heavy canadian oil sands oil. Oil injures fish and wildlife, and may smother or destroy sensitive habitat, altering migration. Spills and discharges of oil and toxic chemicals are other impacts that recreational boats and the cruise industry can have, although such impacts are not necessarily significant. The deepwater horizon dwh oil rig exploded on april 20, 2010, initiating the discharge of over 800 million liters of oil into the gulf of mexico over approximately three months table 1 and figure 1. The environmental consequences of the gulf war in 1991 affected the air, the marine environment, and the terrestrial ecosystem.
Air pollution, health, and environmental effects oil spills have potential to cause air pollution episodes depending on a number of factors. Read, purchase, or download a free pdf of this report at. The 2010 deepwater horizon incident in the gulf of mexico is an example of the extensive environmental and economic damage caused by an oil spill. Sea plants are very important for the survival of marine animals. For instance, oil spills can have a major impact on the temporary animal and fish loss of habitat. Oil is toxic and harmful to plants and animals and a threat to their habitats. Rapid growth in unconventional oil and gas uog has produced jobs, revenue, and energy, but also concerns over spills and environmental risks. The ecological effects of oil spills in the baltic sea core. Accidents that impact the environment, such as large oil spills, leaks, fires and explosions on plants. Larissa graham, christine hale, emily maungdouglass, stephen sempier, tara skelton, ladon swann, and monica wilson.
The following information is a guide to the potential harm that an oil spill can cause. Natural variation and the huge range of factors that influence bird population statistics makes it difficult to assess the impact and recovery of a single event such as an oil spill. What agency researchers learn is made available to support epa regional offices, states, and others involved in oil spill emergency response planning. The accident released about 75 metric tons of heavy fuel oil. Domestic oil production has increased in recent years, and vast quantities of oil continually enter the country via vessel or pipeline, moving throughout the. Acute toxicity, mechanical injury, and persistence oil has three main environmental impacts.
By contrast, the health effects among people residentially exposed to oil. The ultimate goal of the techniques discussed is to minimize environmental impacts from oil spills. This work was supported by the project entitled oil spill environmental impact assessment and environmental restoration pm59291 funded by the ministry of oceans and fisheries of korea. The latter model has been verified by laboratory experiments. Impacts of humancaused environmental disasterssuch as oil spills or nuclear accidentsare often realized immediately, but may also result in lasting change over decades or longer 1,2. Conclusions and recommendations related chapters glossary bibliography biographical sketch summary this chapter aims to present the main environmental impacts of the oil and gas industry throughout the stages of exploration and discovery of new deposits, hydrocarbon production and oil refining.
The health effects of exposure to oil related contamination have been mainly studied after oil spills among cleanup workers and residents of the affected coastal areas. Environmental impact and mitigation of oil spills 2011. Students will be aware of the dangers of oil spills and will be able to explain why oil spills have such a devastating effect on the environment. Chennai, a coastal city in india with a population of over 7 million people, was impacted by a major oil spill on january 28th 2017. The report was commissioned by milieudefensie friends of the earth netherlands. Environmental impacts of the chennai oil spill accident. All types of oil share chemical and physical properties that produce similar effects on the environment. Environmental impacts of the oil and gas industries the sensitivity of exploration activities including the definition of no go times or conditions. Environmental impacts of the oil and gas industries. In fact, beginning with the ixtoc 1 spill off campeche, mexico in 19791980, there have been a series of large spill events originating at the sea bottom and creating a myriad of new environmental and well control challenges. The framework can be used to clarify the complexity of oil spill impacts, identify lessons that may be transferable from other oil spill disasters.
It provides a simplified synopsis of the relevant principles of international environmental law through which victims. Oil spills have many adverse effects on the environment. While safety is a priority for oil and gas companies, spills. However, efforts for spill containment and recovery are considered to be only moderately. Potential environmental impacts of oil spills in greenland. Factors such as oil biodegradation, ocean currents and response measures dispersants, burning reduced coastal oiling. Such perceptions are understandable as they are often fuelled by distressing images of oiled birds and other wildlife. Oil extraction may cause extensive environmental contamination and this may affect the health of population living in surrounding areas. This paper explores the impact of oil production by oil corporations on the niger delta region environment over time, with particular attention paid to the case of ijaw oil producing community. Emerging spill risks include increased maritime activity in the arctic, deepwater exploration and development, and the rapid expansion of rail transport of crude oil. Impacts and management of oil spill pollution along the nigerian coastal areas peter c. The extent of air pollution, health effects and environmental effects depend on factors such as, a amount of oil spill, b composition and characteristics of the crude and natural gas, c. This volume explores the physics, chemistry, subsurface oil deposition and environmental impacts of deep oil spills.
We introduce a probabilistic framework, based on a general food web approach, to analyze ecol. Various scenarios and forecasts had been made before the war about the possible and probable impacts under different conditions. Depending on the magnitude of the spill and its location, the effects can vary, ranging from minimal to serious ones. Causes and effects of oil spill on our environment earth. Some species of shore birds might escape by relocating if they sense danger in time, but sea birds that swim and dive for their food are most likely to be covered in oil following a spill. Oil spills have raised environmental concerns for decades. When an oil spill happens there will be no entry of oxygen in the sea. Much oil spread at 11000 m depth, contaminating and affecting deepwater habitats. Some of the important aspects of oil spills which have significant impact on the arctic evironment have been investigated. Vast areas of the gulf of mexico were contaminated with oil, including deepocean communities and over 1,600 kilometers of shoreline. Oil destroys the insulating ability of furbearing mammals, such as sea otters, and the waterrepelling abilities of a birds feathers, exposing them to the harsh elements.
Badejo abstract nigeria has a coastline of approximately 853km facing the atlantic ocean. Jul 16, 2019 this article introduces the eu horizon 2020 research project grace integrated oil spill response actions and environmental effects, which focuses on a holistic approach towards investigating and understanding the hazardous impact of oil spills and the environmental impacts and benefits of a suite of marine oil spill response technologies in the cold climate and iceinfested areas of the. Oil spills ranging from just a few gallons to millions of barrelsoccur in the u. They can also cause physical, mental, and financial stress to people as individuals. We assessed spill data from 2005 to 2014 at 31 481 uog wells in colorado, new mexico, north dakota, and pennsylvania. This paper provides a summary of the legal and sustainable development principles at play where oil spills occur. On a basic level, oil spill effects will damage waterways, marine life and plants and animals on the land. Detecting impacts of these disasters relies on dedicated funding and longterm monitoring. Oil spills trigger the application of several interrelated national, regional, and international laws and regulations that provide windows of redress for victims.
Consequently, the effects of oil pollution are sufficiently well understood to allow for broad indications of the scale and duration of damage for a given incident. Spilt oil can pollute streams, rivers and, if it soaks through the soil and rock, groundwater. The model is implemented with the data of a potential oil spill interacting with the salmon aquaculture industry in northern norway. Marine oil spillsoil pollution, sources and effects. Environmental impacts and recovery after the hebei spirit. Drilling during drilling, a drilling mud is continuously circulated between the well and the platform through a riser pipe. Dec 01, 2016 the study was part of a larger usgs program 33 to characterize the broad ecological impacts of wastewater from all energy resources, not just fracking. The impact of the exxon oil spill lasted for decades. Hence, there is a growing need to understand the risks posed by oil spills to these unique and sensitive areas. The ecological and environmental impacts of oil spills are very far reaching and varied in their effects based on the nature of the material released, the volume released, the amount of energy in the physical environment to influence hydrocarbon breakdown or mixing with water or sediment, and providing a means of transport. Oil spills, damaged land, accidents and fires, and incidents of air and. Oil spill environmental forensics case studies book pdf. Depending on the circumstances, oil spills can be very harmful to marine birds, sea turtles and mammals, and also can harm fish and shellfish. Environmental effects of the deepwater horizon oil spill.
The epas role in oil spills is determined by law under the federal statute through the oil pollution act and the national oil and hazardous substances pollution contingency plan. Oil spills have a number of effects on the environment and economy. However, there is little firm evidence that seabirds suffer longterm effects from individual oil spills. Longterm environmental impact of oil spills sciencedirect.
Evaluating signals of oil spill impacts, climate, and species. It is coauthored by hans langeveld biomass research and simon delany delany environmental. Environmental impacts of the chennai oil spill accident a case study article pdf available in science of the total environment 626. But even at a larger social level, like a community, oil spills can threaten the order of things. Ultimately, the impact of oil on marine organisms depends on the fate of the oil. This article demonstrates an approach of coupling an environmental model to io analysis which aims to quantify the regional economic impact of an environmental accident. The international tanker owners pollution federation ltd 1999. We use the products of oil all the time in our everyday lives.
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