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Four years ago methane caused an oil rig exploded into flames causing the semi-submersible rig called Deepwater Horizon to sink to the sea floor after failing to extinguish it. After the predicament it was discovered that an oil leak deep underwater spilled out toxic chemicals that harmed the marine life. Up to today the BP spill is considered one of the worst oil spills that ever occurred, pumping out an estimate of 1,000 to 5,000 continuously for 3 months.
The oil quickly spread throughout the Gulf of Mexico. To prevent continuous spread containment booms were used to protect wildlife. Booms were only a few inches tall but because of the properties of oil to float it can successfully separate water and oil for further cleanup. Booms only work under calm seas. Under heavy waves the oil flows above the boom making them useless.
Other than booms dispersants called corexit were sprayed by an over passing plane. A dispersant is used to prevent the clumping of oil increasing surface area to then be then degraded by microorganisms. Corexit however was still under experimentation and has been studied to have toxic effects such as genetic mutation and cancer posing a greater threat to marine life.
After the oil spill was capped ships called skimmers were used to pool the oil together to be then burned. Some of the oil was collected to be then refined and used.
Not only were many sea creatures harmed and the food chain disturbed. Many bird life such as sea gulls feed on fish. nwf.org says that even though the oil isn’t visible on the surface, the oil has likely washed up on beaches. The oil spill effects still reside today even after 4 years. Commercial fishing and also recreational has slowed down of what has once been $700 million industry.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_the_Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill
http://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Protect-Habitat/Gulf-Restoration/Oil-Spill/Effects-on-Wildlife.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_dispersants
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill_response
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boom_%28containment%29
