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BP Oil Spill
The BP oil spill, also known as the Deepwater Horizon spill, occurred in late April 2010 when a oil well exploded in the Gulf of Mexico and killed 11 people. The disastrous spill gushed millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf and is considered an environmental catastrophe and one of the worst offshore oil spills in U.S. history.
887 Questions
How do you stop the gulf oil flow?
It isn't easy. The BP oil spill results from uncontrollable flow (a blow out) from a well. The oil flows from a reservoir about 13,000 ft below the sea floor. The oil is flowing at very high pressure. The well's opening is about 5,000 ft below the surface of the water.
BP understood that they could stop the oil from coming out of the well, if they drilled another well (called a relief well) that intersected the blown out well. They also knew that it would be faster if they could stop it from the top. They were able to stop it from the top by attaching a "stand alone riser", which is a pipe with some big valves, to the well. This stopped the well from flowing but it wasn't the permanent answer.
The permanent answer was to drill the relief well, and pump a lot of cement in the bottom of the blown out well. This way the oil can not leave the reservoir and no more oil can flow from the well.
How does the 'top kill' procedure stop oil leaks?
It is basically injecting liquids into the well which have a higher density than water, most likely mud, under pressure into the well to reduce pressure, finishing off with cement after the well is shut off and the mud is in place. This should stop the leak permanently.
Have they found any solution to the 2010 oil spill?
Yes. The conventional means of shutting in the well is by drilling relief wells. Two wells are being drilled. It takes about 3 months to drill a well. Nothing is 100% certain, but this means of shutting in a well has always worked.
The other solution (a top kill) is faster to implement, but can not be considered as proven method. BP is getting ready to perform a "top kill" where drilling mud will be introduced into the blow out preventer at high rates through the choke and kill lines.
All other activities (containment booms, control burns, skimming, dispersant spraying) do not stop the spill, only reduce its size and impact.
See related link.
Can Oil be refined from Gulf water?
I think your question is whether the skimmed oil is sent to a refinery. Yes- the oil water mixture will require separation and the reclaimed oil will require dehydration. At that point, it can be used sold as crude oil.
Is the BP oil spill still leaking?
Yes it is. There is a live feed up if you care to look. (See the Related Link below.)
As of May 29th, BP announced that 3 consecutive attempts at a 'top kill' had failed. The 'top kill' process involves pumping heavy fluids into the blowout preventer to restrict oil flow, and then permanently sealing it with cement.
On June 3, BP implemented its next contingency plan, which was the Lower Marine Riser Package (LMRP) Cap containment system. This plan involved cutting a part off the blow out preventer to leave a cleanly cut pipe which can then be capped. This effort did cap the oil well, however it only managed to contain 472,000 gallons of oil, which still leaves hundreds of thousands of gallons still spewing into the ocean.
What is the area of the BP oil spill?
50 miles off the coast of Louisiana (the middle of the Gulf of Mexico).
All oil spills are bad. I think the real question is how bad is this spill for the environment.
The Lower Marine Riser Package (LMRP) was installed June 3rd as has begun collecting some of the spilling oil. The cap has not been fully tested underwater, so it is thought that some oil is still leaking from the spill.
Early reports of the spill going into the loop current and causing environmental damage in South Florida's coral reefs, has not occurred as of May 26th. The latest reports is the environmental damage is primarily in marshes of Louisiana.
A full evaluation of the damage is only possible months after a spill has been cleaned up as well as possible.
See related link.
Where exactly is the oil leak located in the Gulf of Mexico?
The broken oil well pipe is located in a place called the Macondo Prospect oil field which is located approximately 40 miles (64 kilometers) off the southeastern coast of the US state of Louisiana. The broken part of the well is located approximately 5,000 ft (1500 meters) or not quite 2 miles below the surface of the ocean.
The oil spill is drifting mainly into the coastal areas of Louisiana but it may also drift into the coastlines of the other Gulf states of Alabama, Missippi and Florida.
What are the solutions to the gulf oil spill?
Sack all the management of BP and change the engineers in charge of the job. There are others who have the answers to this monumental problem.
Were hermit crabs affected by the Mexican Gulf oil spill?
Yes, hermit crabs [superfamily Paguroidea] have been affected by the oil spill of April 20, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. Some tropical varieties may live on land. But most tend to favor saltwater habitats that range from shorelines to shallow reefs to sea bottoms. All three have been affected by the Gulf oil spill disaster.
Which companies are involved in the Mexican Gulf oil spill?
BP oil and gas company.That's who owns the rig.
All shrimping companies and boats.
The seafood industry.
Could the Mexican oil spill have been prevented?
The Mexican oil spill could have been prevented. All oil spills could have been prevented if it weren't for careless people! An automatic switch should have been installed on the inside of the pipe.
Very Little if the Politicians keep asking the pointless questions just thinking about their own re-election. So Stupid. Don't they realize that all they are doing is WASTING TIME! FIX THE LEAK . . . FIRST - You Ego-Maniac US Politicians!
Who was hurt in the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?
Seventeen [17] employees were hurt in the events that began the oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010. Another eleven [11] were injured fatally.
How many workers were killed or wounded in the oil spill of 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico?
Eleven [11] platform workers were killed, and 17 other employees were injured, during the events that began the oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010.
When did the gulf stream oil spill begin?
There was no 'gulf stream oil spill' per say. Rather, the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill has reached the Gulf. This spill started on 2010 April 20, reaching the gulf stream approximately in August.
What is being done to fix the Oil Rig in the Gulf of Mexico?
The drilling rig is a semi-submersible platform (not anchored to the sea floor). It has been destroyed by fire and is lying in 5,000 feet of water at the ocean's bottom. As it plunged into the ocean, it drifted and is a good distance (I believe around 1,400 ft) from subsea wellhead. The drilling platform will never be repaired.
Who got killed in the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?
11 platform workers were unfortunate enough to get killed.
What is the name of the platform from which there was the US oil spill?
The Deepwater Horizon is the name that's linked with the events that led to the oil spill of April 20, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico.
How many gallons of oil were spilled in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill?
Estimates vary. The most commonly accepted figures say 60,000-70,000 barrels of oil a day since it blew on April 20, 2010. That makes more than 2.5 MILLION gallons of oil each day. In the 95 days since the oil leak began (as of July 14th, 2010), that makes for approximately 245 MILLION gallons of oil poured into the Gulf - and it will increase every day until the leak is capped or the water pressure becomes more than the pressure of the oil spewing out.
So far no method of stopping the leak or catching the leaked oil has proven effective.
There have been two major oil spills in the Gulf Of Mexico:
June 3, 1979 : Ixtoc I oil spill.
April 20, 2010: BP Deepwater Horizon (Macondo Blowout) Oil spill.
Minor spills:
September 16, 2004: Taylor Energy wells. Hurricane Ivan caused 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.
The BP oil spill was initiated by a methane leak which ignited and exploded on the oil rig.
The valve gave out on April 20th, 2010 but the oil rig ship sank two days later (April 22nd, 2010). The oil leak continues to the present day.
