How do oil spills happen?

Answer 1

This depends on what oil spill is being referred to: See related questions:

To be honest really they "said" that it started off with an cement job when the oil rig exploded.

The Exxon Valdez Captain was drunk,then he hired someone who did not know how to drive the tanker (the ship) and the employee coast guard who was supposed to be watching the radar was stoned causing the ship to wreck.
There was a big hole in the tube that they use to get oil from and the oil started pouring out.
Methane gas from the drill rushed out, ignited and exploded. The resulting explosion killed 11 people on the rig. A fire broke out on the oil rig.

Because of the fire or the explosion, a wellhead was damaged, which began leaking oil directly into the ocean.

The fail safes that are supposed to protect the environment and people in this type of situation failed.

The oil spill is the result of a well blowout and unfortunately, we still do not have all the answers as to why the well blew out. Halliburton had finished cementing in a production casing and abnormal pressures were detected in the marine riser. There have been a number of reports that a gas bubble rapidly rose in the drill pipe, but this is speculative at present. Many more details will be available after a full inquiry is made.

The blowout and fire occurred on April 20, 2010. See link for a discussion of events.
a pipe burst deep underwater and keeps gushing oil from the well.
Methane gas from the drill rushed out, ignited and exploded. The resulting explosion killed 11 people on the rig. A fire broke out on the oil rig.

Because of the fire or the explosion, a wellhead was damaged, which began leaking oil directly into the ocean.

The fail safes that are supposed to protect the environment and people in this type of situation failed.

The oil spill is the result of a well blowout and unfortunately, we still do not have all the answers as to why the well blew out. Halliburton had finished cementing in a production casing and abnormal pressures were detected in the marine riser. There have been a number of reports that a gas bubble rapidly rose in the drill pipe, but this is speculative at present. Many more details will be available after a full inquiry is made.

The blowout and fire occurred on April 20, 2010. See link for a discussion of events.

Answer 2

it starts in the ocean by broken up coral and dead sea plants

Jk sometimes machinery can break down which causes the oil to spill so nice try

the person that at first wrote this maybe next timed

Answer 3

There have been hundreds of oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico. These are the causes for a few of them:

June 3, 1979 : Ixtoc I oil spill.

Drilling of an exploratory well. Removal of drill bit after losing mud circulation caused a blowout. Position of the drill bits prevented the blowout preventers from working. The gas exploded when it contacted the motor.

April 20, 2010: BP Deepwater Horizon (Macondo Blowout) Oil spill.

Blowout causing an explosion caused the collapse of the drilling rig, breaking the piping that connected the drill to the well, 5000 ft below sea level.

Oil started gushing into the gulf because when BP went to drill they used a drill with a part that needed to be replaced and they knew that the drill was in that condition but instead of replacing it they went on with the drilling because they did not want to lose any time or anyone's job.

Minor spills:

September 16, 2004: Taylor Energy wells. Hurricane Ivancaused leaks to 26 wells near Louisiana.

June 8, 1990: Mega Borg SE of Galveston. Explosions in a tanker's pump room caused fire and oil spills while transferring oil.

October 23, 2007: Kab 101 - Storms caused damage to Kab 101 causing collisions, leaks resulting in evacuation of oil rigs.

July 27, 2010: Barataria Bay. A tugboat struck an abandoned wellhead, causing it to spurt oil.

See related link.

Answer 4

Because BP did not secure the pipe they were sending oil through properly and it burst and spread oil through the oceans. It is still ongoing now.

This happened because BP were careless and decided to blow/drill a VOLCANO. That's right the so called OIL SPILL is actually a VOLCANO!! for more info leave me a message

Truth Seeker111

Answer 5

Oil spills often occur because of an accident or negligence. Sometimes oil tankers hit objects and break open or an oil well blows out underwater.

Answer 6

Exxon Valdez tried a different route to California and he had to make a lot of turns so the 10.9 million of the 53 million gallons of oil tipped over. It caused a lot of poisoning fish.

Answer 7

The oil spill started after a gas explosion on a offshore oil drilling platform from a gas pocket.

Answer 8

This depends on which oil spill. See related questions.

Answer 9

Oil from the well shot up and out of the drill column under high pressure, expanded on the drilling rig and exploded. There was also a fire.

Answer 10

The cause is an accident.