Zebin Dholasaniya

ISM- Period 7
"Oil Spills: Impact on the Ocean." Water Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Oc-Po/Oil-Spills-Impact-on-the-Ocean.html>.

There are several different ways in which oil waste can collect in waterways and in the ocean:
- Accidental oil spills and leaks by oil and gas companies
- Careless use and disposal of oil and oil products
About 706 million gallons of oil enters the ocean every year.
- Oil drilling and exploration leakage and spills account for only 8%
o
Offshore drilling operations: 2.1%
o
Transportation accidents: 5.2%
Offshore oil spills or leaks may occur at different stages of oil extraction:
- May occur during production, handling, and storing of oil from offshore wells
- May occur when flowlines, underwater pipelines, or tankers are transferring oil from
underwater
Oil spills into the ocean, spreads by waves, water currents, and winds, effects open coastal
areas, marine, and wildlife habitats
Examples of oil spills:
- Persian Gulf Oil Spill of 1991 largest accidental oil spill with 240 gallons of oil spilled into
the ocean near Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
- Blowout of the Ixtoc I in Mexico in 1979 second largest oil spill of 140 gallons of oil spilled
into the Gulf of Mexico
- The wreck of the Exxon Valdez tanker in 1989 oil spill of 11 million gallons of oil into Prince
William Sound offshore Alaska
Oil waste effect on coastal fishing and fisheries
- Poisons marine substrate, disrupts food chain, and in turn damages reproductive system
Way in which oil spills effect marine animals: exposure or ingestion of oil
Effects wildlife by causing injuries including damages to thermal insulation and impairing
reproductive systems and behaviors
Various techniques for cleaning and recovering oil spilled into waters
- Skimming, filtering, or situ combustion to remove and contain oil
- Separating oil into smaller droplets to limit immediate wildlife damage
- Biodegradtion
- Immediate cleaning and rescuing of wildlife species
The Oil Pollution Act of 1900 strengthened oil spill prevention, planning, response, and
restoration efforts.

This source provides specific statistical data regarding oil spills, offers examples of oils spills that
have occurred globally, gives basic information regarding the cause and effect of offshore oil leaks,
and lists the techniques that are used to clear up oil spill messes.