Oil Spill Blog

The recent oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico has caught everyone’s attention around the globe. With the situation getting worse by the day creating, it has raised concern from everywhere. The catastrophe began with the sinking of the rig followed by the explosion. Later, it was discovered that there were two leaks which were actually leaking 5,000 barrels of oil per day greatly threatening the ecosystem as well as the livelihood of those who depend on the marine resources.

Have you ever wondered as to how the crew goes about containing and cleaning an oil spill of such high volume? There are various factors, such the spontaneous response of the crew, the intensity of oil spill, the techniques used in oil spill cleanup, and weather conditions, which affect the whole process.

In case of any oil spill, the containment and skimming method for oil spill cleanup greatly depends on how early the crew manages to reach the site. Use oil spill booms to prevent the oil from spreading and enable easy skimming of oil with the help of boats is one method used. These orange booms work as a barrier and stop the oil from spreading. But these booms often prove futile during unfavorable weather conditions.

Any new inventions, such as waste hair balls, straw gobs, and dried mushroom-bit, which may seem innovative and effective, will not help in immediate recovery as most of them are not approved by the government and they cannot meet the immediate logistic needs as well. Dispersants are also used as an oil spill remediation method. But the drawback with such dispersants is that most of them are kerosene-based and hence toxic.

Of all the techniques, bioremediation can be termed as the most reliable and safe method for oil spill cleanup. Since water and air are warmer throughout the year in the Gulf of Mexico, it will only speed the bioremediation process.

One such EPA-approved bioremediation product that not only aids in oil spill containment, but also in removing oil stains from clothes, shoes, boat, and land, is Oil Gone Easy S-200.

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It is generally erroneously believed by nearly all that big tanker oil spills are the major contributor to the oil pollution that occur in the world’s oceans. But, did you know that spills resulting from engine oil changes on land, leak nearly nine times the amount of oil spilled from tankers into the sea?

While global awareness is concentrated more on the devastating marine oil spills, including the very recent spill that happened in Gulf of Mexico, less attention – indeed practically no attention is paid to the deleterious effects of small spills.

From the environmental experts’ perspective, mini oil spills that occur on land contribute a considerable percentage to the petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants that reach the oceans. Though unbelievable, it is a fact that the mini spills that occur on land in North America over a period of eight months, when put together, create a volume of oil that almost equalizes with the Alaskan Exxon Valdez spill that happened in 1989. Can you guess the exact volume of oil? It is something you would never have dreamed of. Yes, it is an astonishing 10.8 million gallons or 250,000 barrels of petroleum.

The land-based oil spills that occur accidentally, which we actually tend to ignore are actually the ones that require special attention. It is solely because these oil pollutants reach the water bodies when it rains. A research by the National Research Council states that, even an oil spill as small as five quarts can degrade the quality of millions of gallons of water.

With such devastating effects, this problem definitely calls for a timely solution. To safeguard our environment from the threat posed from such spills and oil stains on pavement a lot depends on us. For instance, if there are any accidental spills at home, immediate remediation or removing oil stains using eco-friendly products, such as Oil Gone Easy S-200 should be initiated. By adopting such eco-friendly methods of effective oil stain removal, you’ll reduce the chances of this environmental hazard to a great extent.

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Freshwater bodies are not just the main source of drinking water, they also serve as nesting grounds and food sources for various organisms. Oil spills could pose a serious threat to freshwater ecosystems as the fresh water organisms are exposed to high risk.

Fresh water ecosystem includes two habitats, standing water, and the flowing water. Oil spills affect standing water more severely than flowing water as the currents offer a natural cleaning mechanism.

When an oil spill occurs, not only are the aquatic creatures smothered to death, the aquatic vegetation is also susceptible to deadly effects of oil spills. Oil spilled into the rivers clings to plants and grasses. Animals that feed on these plants are also affected, causing a serious damage to the food chain.

In addition, birds and mammals either get killed or injured soon after they come into contact or will be slowly poisoned by long-term exposure to oil that is trapped in shallow water bodies or stream beds. Thus oil spills have a catastrophic effect on the local ecology.

The Freshwater Spills Information Clearinghouse (FSIC) serves as a point of entry for freshwater oil spill planning and response information. It includes research data and document abstracts, geographic information system data relevant and organizational links.

The effectiveness of Freshwater Spills Information Clearinghouse depends on how much the research community posts historic and current information electronically. But there has been a lack of information specifically related to oil spills on freshwater bodies. This has been highlighted in meetings such as the Freshwater Spills Symposium and also by groups such as the Great Lakes Spill Protection Initiative (GLPSI).

FSIC also posts available environmental, economic, and cultural sensitivity data electronically and will work along with the Great Lakes Information Network’s (GLIN’s) geographic information system (GIS). Organizations that play a major role are also linked. Increased awareness and higher profile for FSIC will bring in more of these groups into the network.

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