On the 20th of April, 2010, a sea-floor oil gusher, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, run by British Petroleum company exploded due to a malfunction, resulting in the deaths of 11 platform workers and the injury of 17 others. Apart from the deaths and injury, the explosion of the oil rig, caused the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, also referred to as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It is the largest marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry, as lots of gushing crude oil was emitted from the wellhead (an estimated amount of 53000- 62000 barrels of oil per day). The oil spill caused a lot of damage to the wildlife and marine habitats and also caused the fishing and tourism industries in the Gulf of Mexico to lose business. Many dead fish and turtles have been found along the shores and beaches around the area, as well as birds, including pelicans, with oily and wet wings, faltering their flight. Moreover, the water in the affected area was brown and sticky, affecting the tourism and restaurants in the Gulf, which had seafood on the menu. Most of the marine life was badly affected by the oil in their habitat, and few dared to have seafood at restaurants in the Gulf. Other than the affected marine life, the oil wasted was also in large quantities, which meant a heavy loss of financial capital from the British Petroleum. The BP, being held responsible, has taken a few actions so far. They had shut down the oil well since the 15th of July and they are undergoing operations to remove the drill pipe. Also, after the leak had been spewing for nearly three months, the BP capped the well. They have also launched the test to assess possible damage to the well pipe which runs nearly four kilometers under the sea floor. I feel that these measures taken are helping to solve the problem, and it is good that the BP is implementing these solutions. I hope that the problem will be solved soon, the Gulf waters will return to normal, and that the marine life do not die.
No comments:
Post a Comment