ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND POLICIES

Environmental Issues and Policies



Environmental Issues and Policies

British Petroleum

Brief description of British Petroleum

BP, British Petroleum, is an energy company, engaged primarily in the oil and natural gas, which is based in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest companies in the world (since the eighth as the American magazine Forbes) and the third largest firm dedicated to oil and gas after ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell. British Petroleum oil spill in the Mexico Gulf is the largest and worst ever oil spill accident in the history of petroleum industry. (Caldwell et al, 2008, 153) The oil spill started on April 20, 2010 in consequence of Deepwater Horizon drilling rig flare-up which killed eleven people and injured seventeen others. So far approximately five million barrels of oil has gushed into the water severely affecting the marine life in the Gulf of Mexico. As per the current status the oil well is completely sealed but the task of drilling a relief well in order to eliminate the risk of oil spilling completely is still pending. (WEBER, 2010, 164)

The Main Legislation Affecting British Petroleum

Even though all concern being in use, oil spills might occur in consequence of a mishmash of procedures and situations (Venice, 2010, 66). The most of oil spills is little and by far controlled; conversely huge spills do happen rarely which involve larger endeavor in repression and crackdown operations. The foremost reasons of oil spills across the globe are:

• Regular operations such as refuel, unloading or loading

• Accidents and smashes between tankers or vessels and other transport vehicles

• Ships operating aground

• Cracked channels

• Oil exploration movements

• Involuntary stoppage of oil collection and storing apparatus.

Oil spills can encompass a severe impact on aquatic creatures like fish, shellfish, sea mammals, water birds, and aquatic plants. The instant hazard to aquatic creatures by an oil spill is that of corporeal suffocation, whereby the oil coats all exterior in a thick slick. This might ultimately bring about the fatality of creatures as a result of their lack of ability to normally nourish, reproduce, respire and progress. (Caldwell et al, 2008, 153) All creatures which get in touch with an oil slick surface are in danger, and these might include sea mammals and reptiles, marine birds, seashore aquatic life and any rigorous fishery or rearing operations in the direct vicinity such as aquaculture pens. Seabirds are chiefly vulnerable to oil spills, with many fatalities consequential from loss or harm of plumage. (Zabarenko & Colvin, 2010, 54)

The derived risk posed to aquatic creatures is the chemical composition of the oil. The mainly lethal constituents of oil are extremely volatile and soluble, so animals are most in danger straight subsequent to the spill, with the danger declining in due course (Hernandez, 2008, 128). The ability of creatures to survive oil pollution differs. (Telegraph, 2010, 11) Such as, species that have mechanisms to pass up unfavorable situations, for example intertidal flora and fauna, may simply shut their shells until the immediate threat ...