Yes.
Specific to the BP spill, I feel that it is a very remote possibility at this point. There was an article recently that oil was found "inland" in Florida, but to go any distance inland is very difficult as the fresh water streams and rivers all flow outwards to the Gulf and Atlantic Ocean.
I don't know of any case where an offshore oil spill (tanker accident, offshore blow-outs) contaminate groundwater. There have been some oil spills as a result of war (Iran-Iraq War, Nigerian civil war, Angola, Gulf War) where some groundwater conamination could be possible.
Groundwater contamination does occur from oil and other hazardous chemicals seeping into the ground and ultimately contaminating the aquifer. There are numerous cases of leakage from leaking storage tanks, settling pits, pipelines and water injection wells (all related to the oil industry) causing groundwater contamination. Gasoline station storage tanks leakage can cause groundwater contamination.
Of course, within the US, any activity that results in contamination of drinking water sources, will be immediately shut down. Gas stations are under strict federal regulations as to the specifications of gasoline storage tanks.
In a way. Oil storage tanks used by many industries can leak. This can contaminate ground water. I would refer to it as an industrial oil leakage rather than a factory oil spill.
Oil does not mix with water, not even salty sea water.
It would depend on the extent of the oil spill. If it is a major spill in the ocean then it would cost a bomb.
Yes,it can be stopped.They will have to cap the spill, clean the oil from the water, and clean all the effected animals.
oil spill
oil spill
the current of the water
the last oil spill was the oil spill in the Gulf Of Mexico
About a mile under
it can harm
the oil spill effected Europe a Lot because the people had a scarce amount of clean water
There have been many oil spills that have leaked into water sources. See related questions.