oil Spills
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From: Czechahoe, Tx
oil Spills
Since it's such a hot topic I found this interesting and thought I'd share it. Enjoy, discuss, fuss, feud, argue, rejoice.....whatever.
The Exxon Valdez, the tanker responsible for the worst oil spill in American history, has come back into the news this week, as the Supreme Court finally decides the price that Exxon will pay for ruining the fishing industry in Alaska. But it will likely surprise you to know that the Valdez spill was actually only the 34th largest oil spill in history.
These ten oil spills, all massively larger than the Exxon Valdez, were all smaller new stories, either because the ships were offshore, or dropped their toxic loads in less developed parts of the world. The Valdez spilled 10 million gallons off the coast of Alaska, the smallest spill in the top ten was four times larger.
Kuwait - 1991 - 520 million gallons
Iraqi forces opened the valves of several oil tankers in order to slow the invasion of American troops. The oil slick was four inches thick and covered 4000 square miles of ocean.
Mexico - 1980 - 100 million gallons
An accident in an oil well caused an explosion which then caused the well to collapse. The well remained open, spilling 30,000 gallons a day into the ocean for a full year.
Trinidad and Tobago - 1979 - 90 million
During a tropical storm off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago, a Greek oil tanker collided with another ship, and lost nearly its entire cargo.
Russia - 1994 - 84 million gallons
A broken pipeline in Russia leaked for eight months before it was noticed and repaired.
Persian Gulf - 1983 - 80 million gallons
A tanker collided with a drilling platform which, eventually, collapsed into the sea. The well continued to spill oil into the ocean for seven months before it was repaired.
South Africa - 1983 - 79 million gallons
A tanker caught fire and was abandoned before sinking 25 miles off the coast of Saldanha Bay.
France - 1978 - 69 million gallons
A tanker's rudder was broken in a severe storm, despite several ships responding to its distress call, the ship ran aground and broke in two. It's entire payload was dumped into the English Channel.
Angola - 1991 - more than 51 million gallons
The tanker exploded, exact quantity of spill unknown
Italy - 1991 - 45 million gallons
The tanker exploded and sank off the coast of Italy and continued leaking its oil into the ocean for 12 years.
Odyssey Oil Spill - 1988 - 40 million gallons
700 nautical miles off the cost of Nova Scotia.
The Exxon Valdez oil spill was a disaster, but so were the 33 oil spills that were, in fact, worse. Spills have slowed down in recent years, due to advances in logistics and tanker hulls. There are no longer any new single-hulled tankers being built...but there are still plenty that haven't yet been decommissioned.
But as long as we're dependent on the stuff, there will be accidents, as there were three in 2007 alone, one of over 3 million gallons of oil.
http://envirowonk.com/content/view/68/1/
The Exxon Valdez, the tanker responsible for the worst oil spill in American history, has come back into the news this week, as the Supreme Court finally decides the price that Exxon will pay for ruining the fishing industry in Alaska. But it will likely surprise you to know that the Valdez spill was actually only the 34th largest oil spill in history.
These ten oil spills, all massively larger than the Exxon Valdez, were all smaller new stories, either because the ships were offshore, or dropped their toxic loads in less developed parts of the world. The Valdez spilled 10 million gallons off the coast of Alaska, the smallest spill in the top ten was four times larger.
Kuwait - 1991 - 520 million gallons
Iraqi forces opened the valves of several oil tankers in order to slow the invasion of American troops. The oil slick was four inches thick and covered 4000 square miles of ocean.
Mexico - 1980 - 100 million gallons
An accident in an oil well caused an explosion which then caused the well to collapse. The well remained open, spilling 30,000 gallons a day into the ocean for a full year.
Trinidad and Tobago - 1979 - 90 million
During a tropical storm off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago, a Greek oil tanker collided with another ship, and lost nearly its entire cargo.
Russia - 1994 - 84 million gallons
A broken pipeline in Russia leaked for eight months before it was noticed and repaired.
Persian Gulf - 1983 - 80 million gallons
A tanker collided with a drilling platform which, eventually, collapsed into the sea. The well continued to spill oil into the ocean for seven months before it was repaired.
South Africa - 1983 - 79 million gallons
A tanker caught fire and was abandoned before sinking 25 miles off the coast of Saldanha Bay.
France - 1978 - 69 million gallons
A tanker's rudder was broken in a severe storm, despite several ships responding to its distress call, the ship ran aground and broke in two. It's entire payload was dumped into the English Channel.
Angola - 1991 - more than 51 million gallons
The tanker exploded, exact quantity of spill unknown
Italy - 1991 - 45 million gallons
The tanker exploded and sank off the coast of Italy and continued leaking its oil into the ocean for 12 years.
Odyssey Oil Spill - 1988 - 40 million gallons
700 nautical miles off the cost of Nova Scotia.
The Exxon Valdez oil spill was a disaster, but so were the 33 oil spills that were, in fact, worse. Spills have slowed down in recent years, due to advances in logistics and tanker hulls. There are no longer any new single-hulled tankers being built...but there are still plenty that haven't yet been decommissioned.
But as long as we're dependent on the stuff, there will be accidents, as there were three in 2007 alone, one of over 3 million gallons of oil.
http://envirowonk.com/content/view/68/1/
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Intresting stuff. This one got me though. I had to googgle it to find out how that much oil could leak and you wouldn't notice. I know how it happened now. I still don't know how you wouldn't notice it missing.
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From: Western Washington
These ten oil spills, all massively larger than the Exxon Valdez, were all smaller new stories, either because the ships were offshore, or dropped their toxic loads in less developed parts of the world. The Valdez spilled 10 million gallons off the coast of Alaska, the smallest spill in the top ten was four times larger.
NOAH estimates put the spill at 5,000 barrels/day (210,000 gal) but this estimate is based on satellite photos. The problem with this method is that the oil is being released at such a depth and with a mixture of lighter gases. In the deep, cold intense pressure of this spill, much of it is drifting off in plumes between the ocean surface and the ocean bottom and thus is not visible to the NOAH method of estimating the amount.
Numerous private scientists have estimated the rate using other means and have come up with estimates between 20,000 and 100,000 barrels per day. You can read more about this here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=126809525
and here:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/oil-leak-d...0642498&page=1
I don't care to endlessly speculate what the actual amount is because none of us really knows. But I do think that 25,000 barrels per day is probably a good estimate based on the number of scientists who concur. So, for purposes of trying to put this spill into historical perspective I will assume 25,000 barrels per day or a little over 1,000,000 gallons per day. If so, 42 days would be over 42,000,000 gallons or more than 4 times as much as the Exxon Valadez and ranks this spill in the top 10 largest oil spills worldwide.
But it might be another 4 months before a relief well can be completed and the leak capped. If BP doesn't figure out a way to capture more than 5,000 barrels a day then the spill total could climb as high as 150,000,000 gallons which would make it the 2nd largest spill worldwide (ever).
Considering how fragile the coastal marshes in that region are, and how important they are to the protection of cities like New Orleans from hurricane induced tidal surges, I really hope it doesn't come to this.
This spill could have a far greater economic impact than anyone is talking about right now if it weakens the natural defenses of coastal cities to flooding.:o
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From: Western Washington
100,000 barrels/day was the high end of one scientists estimate (20,000-100,000 barrels per day). The lowest estimate was 5,000 barrels/day but most scientists were coming in around 20,000-25,000 barrels/day. That is what I based my calculations on and it's a heck of a lot of oil.
100,000 barrels/day was the high end of one scientists estimate (20,000-100,000 barrels per day). The lowest estimate was 5,000 barrels/day but most scientists were coming in around 20,000-25,000 barrels/day. That is what I based my calculations on and it's a heck of a lot of oil.
It's draining a lot, and I don't doubt that... I'm personally pissed it is taking BP so long to do this. They are trying to save the well as there are billions of dollars still left in that hole in the ground. They could have easily collapsed the well already with explosives...
Now am I pissed at BP it happened? No... I don't blame the company, I do blame the individuals on the platform, that from the sounds of it were cutting corners.
What I'm even more pissed about is they are going to ban drilling out in the gulf now and take billions of dollars out of the american economy because of this little fiasco. Not to mention all the billions that will come out of our tax dollars for clean up and help. BP has already spent a billion on this operation already including what they gave for cleanup.
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From: Western Washington
BP claims they are sucking up 5,000 barrels/day (210,000 gal.) with a small pipe inserted into a larger pipe.
NOAH estimates put the spill at 5,000 barrels/day (210,000 gal) but this estimate is based on satellite photos. The problem with this method is that the oil is being released at such a depth and with a mixture of lighter gases. In the deep, cold intense pressure of this spill, much of it is drifting off in plumes between the ocean surface and the ocean bottom and thus is not visible to the NOAH method of estimating the amount.
NOAH estimates put the spill at 5,000 barrels/day (210,000 gal) but this estimate is based on satellite photos. The problem with this method is that the oil is being released at such a depth and with a mixture of lighter gases. In the deep, cold intense pressure of this spill, much of it is drifting off in plumes between the ocean surface and the ocean bottom and thus is not visible to the NOAH method of estimating the amount.
Looks like I am better at estimating the flow rate than BP is!
Unfortunately, if BP's history is any indication, this number will rise to at least 40,000 BPD if not higher.
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From: N.E. Ohio
So we can rank this accident in the top spills per gallon/barrel but what about the environmental impact factor and economic factor? Obviously this ranking will take time to determine but I'm gonna guess it's going to claim the number one slot! This is like a nightmare and just keeps getting worse! :-(
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From: N.E. Ohio
I honestly don't care what scientist say on this matter... I Specialize in upstream offshore deep water Engineering/Design in the oil and gas business(AKA the exact platforms like Horizon), and there is no way in hell that thing is draining 100,000 barrels a day....
It's draining a lot, and I don't doubt that... I'm personally pissed it is taking BP so long to do this. They are trying to save the well as there are billions of dollars still left in that hole in the ground. They could have easily collapsed the well already with explosives...
Now am I pissed at BP it happened? No... I don't blame the company, I do blame the individuals on the platform, that from the sounds of it were cutting corners.
What I'm even more pissed about is they are going to ban drilling out in the gulf now and take billions of dollars out of the american economy because of this little fiasco. Not to mention all the billions that will come out of our tax dollars for clean up and help. BP has already spent a billion on this operation already including what they gave for cleanup.
It's draining a lot, and I don't doubt that... I'm personally pissed it is taking BP so long to do this. They are trying to save the well as there are billions of dollars still left in that hole in the ground. They could have easily collapsed the well already with explosives...
Now am I pissed at BP it happened? No... I don't blame the company, I do blame the individuals on the platform, that from the sounds of it were cutting corners.
What I'm even more pissed about is they are going to ban drilling out in the gulf now and take billions of dollars out of the american economy because of this little fiasco. Not to mention all the billions that will come out of our tax dollars for clean up and help. BP has already spent a billion on this operation already including what they gave for cleanup.
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From: Whitehorse, Yukon
I don't care to endlessly speculate what the actual amount is because none of us really knows. But I do think that 25,000 barrels per day is probably a good estimate based on the number of scientists who concur. So, for purposes of trying to put this spill into historical perspective I will assume 25,000 barrels per day or a little over 1,000,000 gallons per day. If so, 42 days would be over 42,000,000 gallons or more than 4 times as much as the Exxon Valadez and ranks this spill in the top 10 largest oil spills worldwide.
If we use your 25,000 barrels a day estimate x 42 days (at the time of you writing this) = 1,050,000 barrels, not 42 million gallons.
Most of the experts I've watched discussing it come to a number around the 70,000 barrel a day mark (+ or minus 15%), but that was before any oil was being recovered.
If you used the conservative end of 59,000 barrels, and you minus the 5,000 they are recovering, that leaves 54,000 barrels x 54 days = 29 million barrels to date. The high end would be around 41 million. It's still a lot, and I don't believe we will ever know how much oil is actually being leaked into the ocean.
Also, the OP posted his numbers in gallons, not barrels, so for comparison sakes all things being equal, keep in mind that 1 barrel of oil is 42 gallons.
25,000 barrels a day estimate = 56 million gallons to date (54 days)
low end estimate of flow rate experts (54,000 barrels) = 122 million gallons (54 days)
high end estimate 75,500 barrels per day = 171 million gallons (54 days)
Last edited by Habibi; Jun 12, 2010 at 03:34 PM.
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From: Western Washington
Real, I think you got distracted with your numbers.
If we use your 25,000 barrels a day estimate x 42 days (at the time of you writing this) = 1,050,000 barrels, not 42 million gallons.
(stuff snipped)
Also, the OP posted his numbers in gallons, not barrels, so for comparison sakes all things being equal, keep in mind that 1 barrel of oil is 42 gallons.
If we use your 25,000 barrels a day estimate x 42 days (at the time of you writing this) = 1,050,000 barrels, not 42 million gallons.
(stuff snipped)
Also, the OP posted his numbers in gallons, not barrels, so for comparison sakes all things being equal, keep in mind that 1 barrel of oil is 42 gallons.
The reason I use barrels and gallons is because the spill rate per day is usually quoted in barrels per day while the spill volume (of historic spills) was quoted in gallons. Makes sense, eh?