exxon valdez spill (alaska)

Ship spilled 10.8 us gallons. Beach applications of dispersants were tried in several locations. Corexit 7664 was applied on Ingot Island, followed by a warm water wash. No significant change in oil cover or the physical state of the oil was observed as a result of the treatment. Some ecological impacts were observed in the treated areas. It appeared that the effects were largely due to the intensive washing more than to the use of Corexit 7664, and were evident in intertidal epibenthic macrobiota.

australian spill ☺☻♥♦♣♠•◘○◙♂♀♪♫☼►◄↕‼¶§▬↨↑↓→←∟↔▲▼

alaska spill

The EPA, ADEC, and the US Coast Guard gave Exxon a September 15 cleanup deadline. Since Valdez was the most accessible city close to the spill, Exxon mobilized its response headquarters in the community and began a massive cleanup effort. During the summer of 1989 over 10,000 workers were employed by Exxon and its management company, VECO-Norcon. Each worker had to be supplied with equipment, transportation, food, lodging, logistical support, and supervision.

alska spill 1

The ship was carrying 54.1 million U.S. gallons (about 200 million litres) of oil, of which 10.9 million U.S.gallons. The EPA, ADEC, and the US Coast Guard gave Exxon a September 15 cleanup deadline. Since Valdez was the most accessible city close to the spill, Exxon mobilized its response headquarters in the community and began a massive cleanup effort. During the summer of 1989 over 10,000 workers were employed by Exxon and its management company, VECO-Norcon. Each worker had to be supplied with equipment, transportation, food, lodging, logistical support, and supervision.

info

When oil, gas and condensate began seeping into the Timor Sea PTTEP estimated it would take 50 days to plug the well which is located about 250 kilometers off the Kimberley region of the West Australian coast line. Three previous attempts by PTTEP Australasia to plug the leak, 2.5 kilometers below the sea bed by pumping it full of heavy mud have failed.Environmental groups are already calling attention to the accident in the Timor Sea off Australia’s coast. Right now, the spill has just a bit part in the Senate energy fight. But if environmentalists can push it to center stage, it could recall the fallout from another accident: The 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska’s Prince William Sound. That Alaskan spill is widely seen as slowing momentum at the time to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR. It remains off-limits today.The spill off the western Australian coast spewed oil into the ocean for 10 weeks, eventually engulfing a platform and the attached drilling rig in flames.

It was necessary to release the birds in Portugal as the oil spill, the worst in Spain’s history, has affected the environment.

spanish environment... ←╦♥Θ▀╤=

Since the start of the crisis three weeks ago, hundreds of birds have arrived at the center covered in oil and suffering from hypothermia and dehydration. The IFAW ER Team first stabilizes the birds with fluids and food fed by tube, and once they are strong enough they are washed and dried, before being put into recovery pools to regain their waterproofing. The center is currently caring for 334 birds.It was necessary to release the birds in Portugal as the oil spill, the worst in Spain’s history, has affected Spain’s entire northwest coastline. Twenty-two fully rehabilitated birds were transported seven hours by truck to Bahia de Setubal in Portugal, just outside of Lisbon, where they were released into one of Portugal’s national marine reserves. The released birds included razorbills, guillemots, puffins, loons, scoters and gulls.

Australian spill

This is a disaster of not only local, but regional and international proportions. And, while the weather conditions in and around the Timor Sea are relatively stable at present, the impending arrival of the seasonal monsoonal cycle in the coming months will substantially change the nature and location of the impact of this massive spill.

This spill cost Spain $50 million for the clean up. The spill spilled

research question 3

How do oil spills effect the environment and people? What happened at the Spanish oil spill November 2002? How can you help stop oil spills? What are oil spills? How do oil spills happen? ~ Vinnie D.

The tanker, owned by a Liberian-registered company and flying a Bahamas flag of convenience, was still carrying some 67,000 tons of heavy fuel oil in its hold compartments when it split in two on Tuesday and dived down more than 3.5 kilometers to the depths of the ocean. The spill threatens the region's economic and environmental well-being, which is largely dependent on the sea for its livelihood. Spain has warned that the eight-kilometer slick, propelled by strong southwesterly winds, was headed toward the Galician coast.

research question (new)

My new research question is how people can make oikl spills not happen and explain the oil spill in Spain in November 2002. I will also talk about the effects on the environment and the animals. I will tell how people can help also.

spain pics2

spanish spill facts 1 ► in 2002 ▄

The ship's oil containers seemed to remain intact, but the toxic fuel was likely to seep out eventually.
The tanker ruptured last Wednesday during a storm. The salvage company estimated it had lost between 1.3 million and 2.6 million gallons of fuel so far. Most of the crew was airlifted off the ship last week.Spanish soldiers and volunteers were cleaning up some 40 miles of coastline between Cape Finisterre and the city of A Coruna, a town about 370 miles northwest of Madrid. In total, 915 kilometres of coastline (the entire Atlantic coastline of Galicia) have been closed to fishing and shellfish gathering, affecting 90,000 people whose livelihood depends directly on these activities. The Spanish government has promised financial compensation for losses sustained by the fishermen, in an area which is famous for its shellfish, octopus and crabs.

oil spill off spanish coast ╒Φ╗

ikonos spill

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spill picture ╒Θ╗

chemical picture

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penguin picture

research question

My research question is how oil spills effect the environment, the animals, and people.

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chart 3

Major spills

2002	Spain		Prestige carrying 20 million gallons (70,000 metric tons) of fuel oil broke up off the Spanish coast.
2001	Ecuador		Ecuadorean-registered ship Jessica, spilled 175,000 gallons of diesel and bunker oil into the sea off the Galapagos Islands in what was seen as one of Galapagos' worst environmental disasters.
2000	South Africa		Some 1,400 tonnes of heavy fuel oil leaked from the bulk carrier Treasure off Cape Town prompting massive rescue of Jackass penguins on Dassen and Robben Islands.
2000	Brazil		A ruptured pipeline spewed about 340,000 gallons of heavy oil into Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.
2000	South Africa		Some 1,400 tonnes of heavy fuel oil leaked from the bulk carrier Treasure off Cape Town, affecting penguins on Dassen and Robben Islands.
1999	France		The stern of the Maltese tanker Erika sank off the northwest of France after splitting in two. It was carrying 25,000 tonnes of viscous fuel oil.
1999	France		The stern of the Maltese tanker Erika sank off the northwest of Brittany after splitting in two, spilling 25,000 tonnes of viscous fuel oil.
1997	Sea of Japan		Japan Russian tanker Nakhodka spilled 19,000 tonnes of oil after breaking in two in the Sea of Japan.
1996	UK		UK Liberian-registered Sea Empress hit rocks near Milford Haven, Wales, spilling 72,000 tonnes of oil.
1994	Portugal		Panamanian tanker, Cercal, spilled about 2,000 tonnes of crude into the sea after striking a rock near Leixoes harbour, in Oporto.
1994	UAE		15,900 tonnes of crude oil leaked into the Arabian Sea after the Panamanian-flagged Seki collided with the UAE tanker Baynunah 10 miles off the UAE port of Fujairah.
1994	Thailand		About 105,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the sea four miles off the eastern Sriracha coast after oil tanker Visahakit 5 and a cargo ship collided.
1994	United Arab Emirates		UAE 15,900 tonnes of crude oil leaked into the Arabian Sea after the Panamanian-flagged Seki collided with the UAE tanker Baynunah 10 miles off the UAE port of Fujairah.
1994	Thailand		About 105,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the sea four miles off the eastern Sriracha coast after oil tanker Visahakit 5 and a cargo ship collided.
1993	UK		The tanker Braer hit rocks near the coast of the Shetland Islands shedding its cargo of 85,000 tonnes of crude in the worst oil wreck in British waters for 26 years.
1992	Indonesia		Liberian-registered tanker Nagasaki Spirit collided with container Ocean Blessing in the Malacca Straits spilling some 12,000 tonnes of crude.
1992	Spain		Greek tanker Aegean Sea ran aground and broke in two near La Coruna spilling most of its 80,000 tonne cargo of oil.
1992	Indonesia		Liberian-registered tanker Nagasaki Spirit collided with container Ocean Blessing in the Malacca Straits, spilling some 12,000 tonnes of crude.
1992	Uzbekistan		Fergana Valley
1991	Italy		The Haven spilled more than 50,000 tons of oil off Genoa in Italy.
1991	Iraq		Iraq released about 460 million gallons of crude oil into the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War.
1991	700 nautical miles (1,300 km) off Angola		A Liberian-registered supertanker, ABT Summer, leaked 260,000 tonnes of oil after an explosion off Angola causing an oil slick 17 nautical miles by three.
1991	Persian Gulf		Iraq released about 460 million gallons of crude oil into the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War.
1991	Mediterranean Sea near Genoa, Italy		Amoco Haven tanker disaster
1990	USA		The tanker, American Trader, leaked 300,000 gallons of crude from a gash in the hull causing an oil slick 14 miles long polluting Bosa Chica, one of southern California's biggest nature preserves.
1989	Morocco		After explosions and a fire Iranian tanker Kharg-5 was abandoned spilling 70,000 tonnes of crude oil, endangering the coast and oyster beds at Oualidia.
1989	USA		Exxon Valdez grounded and spilled 10 million gallons (38,800 tons) of crude oil into Prince William Sound in Alaska.
1988	700 nautical miles (1,300 km) off Nova Scotia, Canada		Odyssey
1983	South Africa		Fire broke out on the Spanish tanker Castillo de Bellver and 175.6m gallons of light crude burnt off the coast at Cape Town. Fire broke out on the the Castillo de Bellver and its cargo of 252,000 tonnes of oil burnt.
1983	Persian Gulf		Nowruz oil field
1983	Saldanha Bay, South Africa		Castillo de Bellver
1979	Trinidad		160,000 tons of crude oil spilled after a collision off Tobago between the Atlantic Empress and the Aegean Captain.
1978	France		Wrecked tanker Amoco Cadiz spilled 220,000 tons gallons off the Brittany coast.
1978	France		About 67.2m gallons of crude spilled after the Amoco Cadiz ran aground near Portsall in France's worst ever tanker accident. The resulting slick eventually covered 125 miles of Breton coast.
1977	Northern Pacific		Liberian-registered Hawaiian Patriot caught fire in the Northern Pacific spilling 30.4m gallons.
1976	USA		The Argo Merchant ran aground off Nantucket spilling 7.7m gallons of oil and causing a slick 100 miles long and 60 miles wide.
1976	A Coruña, Spain		Urquiola
1972	Oman		After a collision with Brazilian tanker Horta Barbosa the South Korean tanker Sea Star spilled about 35.3m gallons of crude into the Gulf of Oman.
1970	Sweden		At least 15.3m gallons (Imperial) of oil spilled in a collision involving the Othello in Tralhavet Bay.
1970	Sweden		15.3m gallons of oil spilled in a collision involving the Othello in Tralhavet Bay.
1967	UK		The Torrey Canyon spilled 119,000 tons of crude off the Scilly Islands (Cornwall) in the UK.

chart 2

What Year?	Where did it occur?	What tanker was it?	How much oil did it spill (in tons)?
1983	The Persian Gulf	Nowruz Oil Field	600,000
1983	South Africa	Castillo De Belluer	250,000
1988	The Monongahela River	Storage Tank	3,800,000
1993	Off The Shetland Islands	Braer	26,000,000
1996	Off SW Wales	Sea Empress	18,000,000
2001	Galapagos Islands	Jessica	240,000

chart

Not Recovering Animals	Recovered Animals	Recovering Animals	Recovering is unknown
Common Loon	Bald eagle	Black oystercatcher	Cutthroat trout
Cormorant	River otter	Common murre	Dolly Varden
Harbor Seal		Marbled murrelett	Kittlitz murrelet
Harlequin Duck		Mussel	Rockfish
Killer Whale		Pacific Herring
Pigeon Quillemont		Pink Salmon
		Sea otter
		Sockeye Salmon

more effects

oil spills effect whales a lot actually they are most the most that are killed by oil spills. Many people don't notice but they effect little things like larvae and plankton.

starting pic

cartoon pic

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info

Oil is a mixture of hydrocarbon compounds, which are the decayed remains of marine animals and plants that lived in shallow inland seas, died, and drifted to the bottom. For the past 600 million years, under intense pressure and temperatures, these remains changed into the complicated hydrocarbons called petroleum. Crude oil is a mixture of gas, naphtha, kerosene, light gas, and residuals, which have different health effects.Since the 1960s there have been about twenty oil spills of more than 20 million gallons. Major oil spills have occurred off the coast of Mexico, the Middle East, off South Africa, in the North Pacific, and in Alaska, as well as in the pipeline in Usink, Russia. The largest oil spill to date resulted from the Gulf War in 1991, when over 240 million gallons of oil poured into the Persian Gulf, most of it deliberately. The next largest oil spill, from the Ixtox-1 well off Mexico, involved a blowout of 140 million gallons.The largest spills do not necessarily receive the most media coverage, either because of their location, the lack of human health or ecological effects, the lack of documentation of these effects, or a lack of media interest. For example the 1980 Nowruz field spill in Arabia (80 million gallons) and the 1992 Fergana Valley spill in Uzbekistan (80 million gallons) barely received any attention. In contrast, two smaller spills received enormous media attention: the oil tanker Amoco Cadiz released 68.7 million gallons off the coast of France in 1978, and the tanker Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons into Prince William Sound in Alaska in 1989.

more effects

"Birds die from oil spills if their feathers are covered in oil. The bird will then be poisoned because it will try to clean itself. Animals may die because they get hypothermia, causing their body temperature to be really low. They may die from really low body temperature. Oil may also cause the death of an animal by entering the animal’s lungs or liver. The animal will then be poisoned by the oil. Oil also can kill an animal by blinding it. The animal will not be able to see and be aware of their predators. If they are not aware of other animals, they may be eaten.Seabirds are strongly affected by oil spills. A seabird may get covered in the oil. The thick black oil is too heavy for the birds to fly, so they attempt to clean themselves. The bird then eats the oil to clean its feathers and poisons itself. If workers have found sea birds that are not dead because of oil, they will take the birds to a cleaning center or captivity where they are kept in a facility because they can not live in the wild on their own. Animals that are in captivity because of an oil spill will be cleaned by professionals and volunteers. When a bird is in captivity, the oil will be flushed from its eyes, intestines, and feathers. The bird will be examined for any more injuries like broken bones, and it will take a medicine to prevent any more damage."

side effects

"Coral reefs are important nurseries for shrimp, fish, and other animals as well as recreational attractions for divers. Coral reefs and the marine organisms that live within and around the reefs are at risk from exposure to the toxic substances within oil as well as smothering. At low temperatures, oil tends to persist for long periods because of the low rates of evaporation. The frozen ground prevents it from seeping in, and this has the effect of making it travel for long distances. Disturbance of the thin layer of vegetation covering a frozen soil can precipitate catastrophic meeting of the underlying ice and result in extensive thermokarst erosion. Tundra environments are particularly susceptible to disturbance, and effects remain visible for many years. Many of the Arctic plants are very susceptible to pollutants, especially lichens which are the main food of reindeer."

how you can help ☻

"Leave the oil alone so that it breaks down by natural means. If there is no possibility of the oil polluting coastal regions or marine industries, the best method is to leave it to disperse by natural means. A combination of wind, sun, current, and wave action will rapidly disperse and evaporate most oils. Light oils will disperse more quickly than heavy oils. Use dispersants to break up the oil and speed its natural biodegradation. Dispersants act by reducing the surface tension that stops oil and water from mixing. Small droplets of oil are then formed, which helps promote rapid dilution of the oil by water movements. The formation of droplets also increases the oil surface area, thus increasing the exposure to natural evaporation and bacterial action. Dispersants are most effective when used within an hour or two of the initial spill. However, they are not appropriate for all oils and all locations. Successful dispersion of oil through the water column can affect marine organisms like deep-water corals and sea grass. It can also cause oil to be temporarily accumulated by subtidal seafood. Decisions on whether or not to use dispersants to combat an oil spill must be made in each individual case. The decision will take into account the time since the spill, the weather conditions, the particular environment involved, and the type of oil that has been spilt."

major spills

Most major oil spills happened from 1967 to 2002 starting in the UK the Torrey Canyon spilled 119,000 in the Scilly Islands. The most resent one was in 2002 it happened in Spain, it spilled 20 million gallons! The oil broke up on the Spanish coast. There are to many to tell about.