ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

British Petroleum Oil Spill



British Petroleum Oil Spill

Brief Overview Of the Incident

There was an oil spill in the deep water horizon which is also said to be termed as the Bp Oil spill. It was an oil spill that took place in the Gulf of Mexico and that to at the Macondo prospect which was said to be BP-operated. Oil spill is termed as the largest marine oil spill when it comes to the petroleum industry and is said to be estimated amidst 8 percent to 31 percent of leakage of volume of Ixtoc I oil spill. The spill did not only harm the marine life but also took eleven human lives in the process. There was also a sea floor oriented oil gusher which had said to flow uncapped for the next 3 months in the year of 2010. The gushing oil's wellhead was not sealed until 87 days of leakage. The discharge was equivalent to 4.9 million barrels in totality which is equivalent to 780,000 m3. Immediate actions were taken when it comes to the protection of the estuaries and the wetlands when it comes to the oil that was spreading at a faster pace. They protected via the floating booms, skimmer ships, controlled burns along with the dispersal of 1.84 million of Corexit oil dispersant which was said to be equivalent to 7,000 m3. There were numerous attempts that were said to be made when it comes to capping or sealing the gushing oil but it failed miserably. However on the 19th of September it was said to be sealed completely (www.telegraph.co.uk).

British Petroleum also reported the media that the volume that had been leaked was equivalent to 267,000 US gallons of oil that was leaked or spilled which if converted can sum up to1, 010,000 L. When the leak was said to be delivered the Department of Transportation in the US ordered British Petroleum to have a testing of the pipelines via the utilization of a tool known as smart pig. There were many lines of oil which had not been checked since the year of 1992. It was after the leakage that the company was said to be concerned of the safety standards and not before that. British Petroleum was then said to develop the action plan which was exhibited in the form of an outline in the letter that was mailed to Thomas Barrett who was an pipeline safety administrator when it comes to the Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and Department of Transportation's Pipeline which is also known as (PHMSA). British Petroleum's employee known as Steve Marshall came up with detailed and elaborated measures when it comes to the removal of residue of oil or pigging from the oil pipelines and also for dismantling and draining of procedures. Steve Marshall also highlighted the fact that a special force kwnown as the 27 member task force was said to be appointed in order to ensure the fact that the situation is ...