On April 20, 2010, an explosion occurred on British Petroleum’s offshore drilling rig (a machine that drills holes into the earth’s surface to drill oil and construct wells) in the Gulf of Mexico, located around 65 km off the coast of Louisiana. The explosion triggered a massive spill of crude oil, which flowed into the Gulf for 87 days before it was capped. An estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil were discharged into the ocean, making it the largest accidental marine oil spill in history. This was the Deepwater Horizon spill of 2010. 

This spill created not just environmental aftereffects but also economic consequences for the businesses and industries connected to marine life, like tourism and fishing. With more than 2000 km of coastline getting affected due to the oil coating, the spill caused widespread harm to coral reefs, marshlands, and critical ecosystems that serve as habitats for many marine species like dolphins, sea turtles, and fish. The oil also impacted plankton populations, a crucial component of the marine food web. The aftermath of the spill is continuing even 15 years after the incident, as the ecosystem and the people involved in the cleanup struggle to get back to their original state.

Problematic spills

Oil spills have long been one of the most catastrophic environmental disasters, inflicting severe damage on marine and terrestrial ecosystems, local economies, and human livelihoods. An oil spill occurs when petroleum or its derivatives are released into the environment, typically into water bodies, and spread quickly due to the chemical properties of oil. The effects can last for years, with consequences ranging from the destruction of wildlife habitats to long-term contamination of marine food chains. 

The insulating ability of fur on mammals and the water-repelling qualities of a bird’s feathers are affected by the oil coating. The mammals and birds can die from hypothermia due to the same. Dolphins and whales can inhale oil, leading to an impact on their immune and reproductive systems. When the oil mixes with the water and sinks, schools of fish might experience impacted growth, enlarged livers, fin erosion, and reduced reproductive capabilities. They are no longer safe for human consumption as well in such scenarios. 

Birds affected due to an oil spill.
| Photo Credit:
Stockcake

Mopping up the aftermath

The ecological and economic consequences of oil spills are long-lasting and difficult to completely reverse. However, several approaches have been developed to reduce the damage caused by spills, both through prevention and remediation efforts.

The most effective way to address the impact of oil spills is to prevent them from happening in the first place. The oil industry has made efforts towards improving safety standards and the integrity of offshore drilling equipment while ensuring investment in better oil spill containment systems. Additionally, companies are required to conduct regular safety audits, implement risk assessment programs, and ensure that emergency plans are in place. Despite efforts to prevent spills, accidents will always be a possibility. A quick and effective response is critical to ensuring minimum damage. 

Workers clean up an oil spill along Sentosa’s Tanjong Beach area in Singapore.
| Photo Credit:
AP

Modern spill containment technologies include booms (floating physical barriers that stop the oil from spreading), skimmers (modified boats that skim the oil off the top of the water), and absorbents designed to contain and remove oil from water. In recent years, companies have increasingly focused on developing and deploying new techniques, such as the use of chemical dispersants, which break down the oil and prevent it from forming large slicks on the surface of the water.

Long-term restoration efforts are important to ensure that ecosystems impacted by oil spills recover well. This includes rehabilitation of marine habitats, vegetation replantation, and rebuilding of coral reefs. Governments and industries must have emergency plans to ensure preparedness in case of an oil spill. The quickness of any contingency activity is of utmost importance in scenarios like this. Thus, spill response training exercises can also be useful to ensure better handling during emergencies and accidents.

Volunteers clean a bird following an oil spill that was caused by an incident involving two tankers damaged in a storm in the Kerch Strait, Russia.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters

Cleaning factors

Several other factors might affect the cleaning procedure of an oil spill. The type of oil, the shoreline, the ecosystem around it, and, of course, the weather conditions on that particular day will all add up to how well the cleanup crew can work at the accident site. The ability of natural recovery to restore the environment also plays an important role in the process. Using the same to our advantage and enhancing it is also a good method to improve the cleaning process. Thorough and continuing ecological, biological, and chemical studies and analyses of the site also need to be ensured to help speed up the process.

The oil industry has learnt many lessons from past unfortunate incidents, leading to improvements in spill response technology and stricter regulations. However, continued vigilance, technological improvements, and international cooperation are necessary to address the ongoing risks associated with oil spills and protect our ecosystems and economies from their harmful effects. There are also multiple smaller spills that are often overlooked around the world, which can be regulated better to ensure the aftermath is limited as much as possible. The Deepwater Horizon spill, Exxon Valdez disaster, and Sakura oil spill serve as reminders of the devastating consequences of oil spills, highlighting the need for better prevention, quicker response, and more effective remediation strategies.

niranjana.ps@thehindu.co.in