A huge oil spill from an underwater pipeline connected to an offshore rig, operated by Amplify Energy Corp, contaminated the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Orange County, California. The pipeline failure sent at least 126,000 gallons of oil into the ocean, creating a 13-sq-mile slick. The spill fouled beaches and a protected marshland, potentially closing them for weeks along with commercial and recreational fishing in a major hit to the local economy. Dead fish and birds washed ashore in some areas as cleanup crews raced to try to contain the spill that extended from Huntington Beach to Newport Beach. Initial investigation suggested that a pipe was split open at a depth of about 98 feet possibly by an anchor of a ship that hooked it and caused a partial tear. An oil spill like this one can be a disaster on many levels. It can have short-or-long-term impacts on the marine environment and aquatic life.
Oil is among the most important energy sources in the world and because of its uneven distribution, it is transported by ships across the oceans. Oil is also extracted from the seabed using offshore drilling rigs. Operation of these rigs and tankers has often resulted in accidents in the past with oil leaking for months and years into the water.
What is oil spill?
Oil spill refers to the leakage of petroleum onto the surface of a large body of water, though they can also occur on land. Marine oil spill happens during the transportation of oil in tankers or when accidentally released from refinery, underwater pipeline and from offshore oil drilling rig. The spilled oil initially floats and later seeps into the water. The oil is stirred by waves and currents and carried away and spread to a larger area. This will affect underwater ecosystem, contaminating or killing fish and smaller organisms that are essential links in the global food chain. When an oil slick from a large spill reaches a beach, it can stick on to rock and sand. This will affect coastal organisms. If the oil spreads to coastal marshes, mangrove forests or other wetlands, it will not only damage the plants and trees, but also make the area unsuitable as a wildlife habitat.
Impact on marine life
- Oil on ocean surfaces prevents sunlight from penetrating the surface, and it also reduces the level of dissolved oxygen. This can interrupt marine life. Inadequate oxygen can cause suffocation in fish and other animals.
- Crude oil ruins the insulating and water-proofing properties of feathers and fur, and thus oil-coated birds and marine mammals may die from hypothermia.
- Other effects on sea birds include impaired ability to fly, kidney damage, dehydration and metabolic imbalances.
- Oil spills also affect the fishing industry. Major oil spills are frequently followed by the immediate suspension of commercial fishing to prevent the catch and sale of fish or shellfish that may be contaminated.
Did you know?
The 2010 BP Oil Spill (BP British Petroleum) is considered the largest marine oil spill in history On April 20, 2010, an explosion on the British Petroleum’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico triggered a discharge of million barrels of crude oil, 66 km off the coast of Louisiana for over 87 days. This spill became the defining image of the environmental perils associated with offshore oil drilling.
Picture Credit : Google
