BP Ecological Effect
The Ecological Effect of the BP Oil Spill on the Environment
Introduction:
The BP oil spill, (also known as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill the BP oil disaster, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and the Macondo blowout) was an oil spill that happened in the Gulf of Mexico on the BP owned and operated Macondo Prospect on April 20, 2010. This oil spill is considered the largest and most devastating oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. The cause of this oil spill according to “the U.S. government's September 2011 report pointed to defective cement on the well, faulting mostly BP, but also the well operator, Transocean, and the contractor, Halliburton.”(1) This caused an explosion that sank the entire …show more content…
Deepwater Horizon oil rig, which claimed eleven lives, and left a sea floor oil gusher flowing for eighty seven days until it was stopped on July 15, 2010. This dumped 4.9 million barrels (210,000,000 US gallons; 780,000 cubic meters) ±10% intro the ocean covering an area of 2,500 to 68,000 sq mi (6,500 to 180,000 km2.) (4) (5) In the end, BP was charged by the United States Department of Justice with federal charges with BP pleading guilty to eleven counts of manslaughter, two misdemeanors, and a felony count of lying to the congress. In addition, BP also agreed to four years of government monitoring of their safety and ethic practices, and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) temporally banned BP from new oil contracts with the United States government. BP also agreed to pay $4.525 billion dollars in fines and other payments by the Department of Justice, “but further legal proceedings not expected to conclude until 2014 are ongoing to determine payouts and fines under the Clean Water Act and the Natural Resources Damage Assessment. As of February 2013, criminal and civil settlements and payments to a trust fund had cost the company $42.2 billion.” (7) After this tragedy, a massive response arrived to protect the beaches, wetlands, and estuaries from the spreading oil “utilizing skimmer ships, floating booms, controlled burns and 1.84 million US gallons (7,000 m3) of Corexit oil dispersant.” (9) The spill caused massive damage to the marine and wildlife habitats around the Gulf of Mexico, as well as affecting the fishing and tourism industries around the area.
Why I chose this topic: The reason why I chose this topic is because it is already somewhat forgotten in the eyes on the people being three year old news, but the effect it had on the environment is still persistent. This was the worst oil spill in the entire history of the world, and I would like to understand the effects the oil spill and learn how to analyze the event. This event destroyed the habitat of hundreds of thousands animals. It was estimated that more than 8,000 birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals were found injured or dead only six months after the spill. The long term damage caused by the oil and the two million gallons of chemical dispersants used on the spill still may not be known for years. I feel as if the ecological effect of the oil spill goes unnoticed or gets very little light shined on it, and the general people don’t know the true effect it had on the environment. Using research I have found online and other resources, I have researched different elements such as the environmental effects the oil spill had on different organisms such as fish, birds, mammals, and coral. I also compared and contrasted the BP oil spill with that of the Exxon Valdez in 1989.
Environmental Effects: interacting perfectly in their natural environment. The disruption by the disaster disrupted the entire chain of species inhabited in the area. The marine ecosystem and the costal territory are all threatened by such a disaster. The spill, which is estimated to be more than 130 miles long and 70 miles wide, will impact the coastlines of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida, and threaten hundreds of species in the Gulf of Mexico, including endangered and rare species. The ways it was affected by the disaster limited “the growth principle of ecological and environmental systems, restraining the species in their natural habitat, their supply of food, water and other essentials for their survival. This way the supply of resources changes and causes major drawbacks to the already established patterns in the area.” (11) This frail habitat was already subject to varying climate change, and the addition to the toxic, difficult to remove oil, just put more extreme burden on the ecosystem.
Impact on Marine Species: The greatest impact was on the marine species.
“The spill area hosted 8,332 species, including more than 1,200 fish, 200 birds, 1,400 mollusks, 1,500 crustaceans, 4 sea turtles and 29 marine mammals.” (12) 14 of the species were already protected by the U.S. federal government, and the spill continued to threaten 39 more species. The timing of BP’s oil spill is particularly devastating to the Gulf ecosystem because it is the peak spawning and nesting season for many species of fish, birds, turtles and marine mammals. Many species remain in long-established breeding areas during this time, some of which are in the direct path of the oil spill.”(14) Since the oil contained 40% methane by weight, this created “dead zones” where oxygen is depleted due to the nature of methane. In March 2012, a definitive link between the death of a gulf coral community and the oil spill was proven. “A survey of one site near the well in the Gulf of Mexico uncovered "compelling evidence" of pollution damage. Coral communities more than 1,220 meters (4,000ft) below the surface of the ocean appeared stressed and discolored.” (13) Healthy coral could be found around the outside of a 12 mile radius of the Macondo site, but at sites within the 12 mile radius, coral colonies showed signs of stress, tissue loss, and discoloration. This is a very worrying fact because “Corals and other species at the furthest depths of the ocean often serve as barometers for overall ocean health and are critical components of the food chain.” (17) This means that without one of the key components such as coral, all the organisms that depend on it will be in danger. Other marine organisms were greatly affected by the spill such as fish, aquatic invertebrates and sea mammals. These organisms were affected through surface exposure, ingestion, absorption and, change in the ecosystem. If the species survived the initial exposure, they can lose their ability to protect themselves against disease. Also, fin erosion,
enlarged livers, increased heart rates and other physical effects can occur in fish, after being exposed to the toxins. Some species at risk include the North Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna which is already on the brink of extinction due to overfishing; the Blue Fin Tuna spawns in the Gulf of Mexico between mid-April and mid-June. Several species of sea turtles, including some endangered species, live migrate and breed in the Gulf of Mexico. Some shark species which begin their spawn season in the gulf are known to raise their young in the grassbeds south of the Chandeleur Islands, which is very close to the center of the spill. Whales and dolphins are also affected by the oil spill in the way that whales and dolphins must swim to the water’s surface to breath, but because the surface is layered in oil slick, the oil slick itself as well as the air toxins created by the oil poses serious threats to the population. Also the food source of these organisms could be contaminated by the oil, increasing the toxicity of whatever organism consumes it.
Impact on Birds: The BP tragedy also greatly affected many shorebirds, waterfowl, and marsh birds tremendously. “The gulf coast provides millions of acres of coastal wetlands and marshes that are critical habitat for migrating birds, including the brown pelican, Louisiana’s state bird, and numerous designated “Important Bird Areas” where endangered birds are known to take refuge.”(16)
Six months after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon more than 7,000 birds were gathered from around the site, and almost 3,000, which are around 40 percent, showed visible signs of oiling.
From this image, you can see the range that the oil spill affected, dead birds being found as far as Texas then going all along the southern coast to Florida. Although obviously it would be hard to count all the birds affected, but this map is based on the number of birds that were reported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Also, the number is of the amount of dead birds collected in the area, so although some may have died due to causes not related to the BP oil spill, it was clear a large proportion of the deaths and injuries were in fact because of the oil spill. This was determined when comparing the amount of deaths from before and after the accident. The species that were affected the most by the Gulf Oil Disaster, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are:
As of May 12, 2011 the top bird species collected in the spill area were:
Laughing gull - 2,981
Brown pelican - 826
Northern gannet - 475
Royal tern - 289
Black skimmer – 253
The way oil affects birds is the oil makes the birds’ feathers to mat and separate which in turn causes the birds to lose buoyancy and the ability to regulate their body temperature. Also contact of the oil to their skin or face can cause skin and eye lesions. Birds also need to preen their feathers to keep them warm and dry, and also to protect themselves from parasites, but birds may ingest the oil when preening their feathers. Also, like all the other animals affected by the oil, their food source may become contaminated by oil. Ingesting oil can lead to ulcers, pneumonia, liver damage, and other life-threatening conditions, and potentially death.
Long Term Impacts:
Although the oil might not be visible doesn’t mean it’s all gone. Some scientists have found oil at the Gulf floor, and the oil that was washed on shore onto the land will likely persist for years to come. The most major impact that affects the most is the unbalanced food web. The disaster happened at the peak of the breeding season for many species of fish and wildlife. The toxicity of the oil may have killed off many of the recently fertilized eggs and larvae, wiping out entire generations. Without the new generation population dips and cascading food web effects become more evident as time passes. As the organisms lower on the food chain start building up toxins in their body, when they are preyed upon, the next level of the top of the food chain become weak from the build-up.
A decline in recreation was also noted due to the BP oil spill. Many of the gulf coast states rely tremendously on “commercial fishing and outdoor recreation to sustain their local economies. According to NOAA, commercial fisheries brought in $659 million in shellfish and finfish in 2008, and just over 3 million people took recreational fishing trips in the Gulf that year. After the spill, recreational fishing from the Atchafalaya Delta to Mobile Bay was shut down from May to August, and state park closures dealt a serious blow to the parks' summer revenue.”(10)
The already diminishing wetlands were also affected by the oil spill. The wetlands already suffered from 80% wetland loss from the 1950s to the middle of last decade. Wetland loss destroys habitats and removes natural flood protection and environmental services from coastal communities. So the oil spill greatly weakened an already weak ecosystem, and would continue to degrade until comprehensive costal restoration is put in place. “A new report from the National Wildlife Federation determined that 3,000 miles of beaches and wetlands along the Gulf Coast were contaminated by oil and that “oil contamination or efforts to clean it up can damage wetlands, killing vegetation and thereby causing accelerated erosion and conversion of land to open water.” (17) Another crazy fact is that even three years after the spill, tar balls could still be found on the Mississippi coast, and at the slow rate the oil is breaking down, it has been said that the oil can stay there for centuries.
Comparison Between other oil spills:
This is not the first time that a disaster like this has happened, but it is definitely the most extreme and detrimental disaster in petroleum history. Some people might remember the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska in 1989, but the difference is the tanker of the Exxon Valdez only contained a finite amount of oil while the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico was pouring thousands of barrels of crude oil for days. Another difference is The Exxon Valdez contained a much heavier crude oil than the so-called "sweet, light crude" pouring into the Gulf. It was also a lot colder in Alaska, making the heavy oil even more viscous and more difficult to remove. BP's lighter oil is easier to handle, but it also contains more volatile compounds that can hurt plants and animals.
Table comparing BP Oil Spill vs. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
BP Oil Spill
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Source of Oil
Deepwater Horizon oil platform - broken well pipe
Exxon Valdez oil tanker
Date Spill Began
April 20, 2010
March 24, 1989
Total Estimated Oil Spilled
An estimated 172 million gallons
10.8 million gallons
Key Wildlife Species Affected
Brown pelican, reddish egret, royal tern, snowy plover, sperm whale, blue fin tuna, sea turtle.
Salmon, sea otters, seals and sea birds
How Many Wildlife Died?
TBD
100,000-250,000 seabirds
2,800 sea otters
12 river otters
300 harbor seals
247 bald eagles
22 orcas billions of salmon and herring eggs
Long Term Effects
TBD
Still not completely recovered after 20 years:
Barrows Goldeneyes
Black Oystercatchers
Harlequin Ducks
Killer Whales
Sea Otters
Clams
Mussels
Sediments
Intertidal Communities
Still not Recovering after 20 years:
Pacific Herring
Pigeon Guillemots
Human Services Still Impaired:
Commercial Fishing
Recreation
Tourism
Subsistence
Cause of Spill
Oil well explosion
The tanker struck a reef
Source: National Wildlife Federation
Many of the long term statistics are still being determined but comparing the BP Disaster with the Exxon Valdez you can somewhat determine that magnitude of destruction that happened in the Gulf and understand the severity of the situation. Conclusion: The BP oil spill was the worst in history. It killed hundreds of thousands of animals and affected the ecosystem of many more. One company’s mistake caused the destruction of many delicate ecosystems. This spill not only caused harm to the marine and terrestrial animals, but also to people too. Things such as fishing and parks had to be closed down during this time losing people jobs and money. The ecological impact that the oil had on the ecosystem, and the resonating effect it will have on the generations to come will soon be measurable over some time. I hope people will learn from this mistake so this disaster will never happen again in the future.
Reference:
1. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE)/U.S. Coast Guard Joint Investigation Team (14 September 2011). "Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation Team Releases Final Report"(Press release). U.S. Government. Retrieved 2011-10-06.[dead link]
2. http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2013/05/16/10740091/bp-oil-spill.jpg
3. http://myinternetcorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/bp_oil_spill_area.jpg
4. On Scene Coordinator Report on Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (Report). September 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
5. "BP / Gulf Oil Spill - 68,000 Square Miles of Direct Impact" (Press release). SkyTruth. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-13.
6. BP suspended from US federal contracts over 'lack of business integrity' | Environment | The Guardian
7. Thompson, Richard (5 April 2013). "BP to begin presenting its defense Monday in Gulf oil spill trial". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
8. BP Fighting A Two Front War As Macondo Continues To Bite And Production Drops - Forbes
9. The Use of surface and Subsea Disperants During the BP Deewater Horizon Oil Spill. Draft (Report).National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
10. http://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Protect-Habitat/Gulf-Restoration/Oil-Spill/Effects-on-Wildlife.aspx
11. http://livinggreenmag.com/2013/03/19/energy-ecology/environmental-impact-of-the-bp-oil-spill/
12. Biello, David (9 June 2010). "The BP Spill's Growing Toll On the Sea Life of the Gulf". Yale Environment 360. Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
13. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/mar/26/bp-oil-spill-deepwater-horizon
14. http://www.usclimatenetwork.org/resource-database/offshore-disaster-ecological-impacts-of-the-bp-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill
15. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hQs39sPXyB4#!
16. http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/news-and-blogs/news/gulf-oil-spill/ecological-impacts/
17. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/04/20/468361/five-reasons-we-cant-forget-about-the-bp-oil-disaster/?mobile=nc
18. http://media.nola.com/2010_gulf_oil_spill/photo/alaskaoil-062710jpg-4268138a9e7ac734.jpg
19. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/05/could-the-gulf-coast-oil-spill-eclipse-exxon-valdez.html
Introduction:
The BP oil spill, (also known as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill the BP oil disaster, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and the Macondo blowout) was an oil spill that happened in the Gulf of Mexico on the BP owned and operated Macondo Prospect on April 20, 2010. This oil spill is considered the largest and most devastating oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. The cause of this oil spill according to “the U.S. government's September 2011 report pointed to defective cement on the well, faulting mostly BP, but also the well operator, Transocean, and the contractor, Halliburton.”(1) This caused an explosion that sank the entire …show more content…
Deepwater Horizon oil rig, which claimed eleven lives, and left a sea floor oil gusher flowing for eighty seven days until it was stopped on July 15, 2010. This dumped 4.9 million barrels (210,000,000 US gallons; 780,000 cubic meters) ±10% intro the ocean covering an area of 2,500 to 68,000 sq mi (6,500 to 180,000 km2.) (4) (5) In the end, BP was charged by the United States Department of Justice with federal charges with BP pleading guilty to eleven counts of manslaughter, two misdemeanors, and a felony count of lying to the congress. In addition, BP also agreed to four years of government monitoring of their safety and ethic practices, and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) temporally banned BP from new oil contracts with the United States government. BP also agreed to pay $4.525 billion dollars in fines and other payments by the Department of Justice, “but further legal proceedings not expected to conclude until 2014 are ongoing to determine payouts and fines under the Clean Water Act and the Natural Resources Damage Assessment. As of February 2013, criminal and civil settlements and payments to a trust fund had cost the company $42.2 billion.” (7) After this tragedy, a massive response arrived to protect the beaches, wetlands, and estuaries from the spreading oil “utilizing skimmer ships, floating booms, controlled burns and 1.84 million US gallons (7,000 m3) of Corexit oil dispersant.” (9) The spill caused massive damage to the marine and wildlife habitats around the Gulf of Mexico, as well as affecting the fishing and tourism industries around the area.
Why I chose this topic: The reason why I chose this topic is because it is already somewhat forgotten in the eyes on the people being three year old news, but the effect it had on the environment is still persistent. This was the worst oil spill in the entire history of the world, and I would like to understand the effects the oil spill and learn how to analyze the event. This event destroyed the habitat of hundreds of thousands animals. It was estimated that more than 8,000 birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals were found injured or dead only six months after the spill. The long term damage caused by the oil and the two million gallons of chemical dispersants used on the spill still may not be known for years. I feel as if the ecological effect of the oil spill goes unnoticed or gets very little light shined on it, and the general people don’t know the true effect it had on the environment. Using research I have found online and other resources, I have researched different elements such as the environmental effects the oil spill had on different organisms such as fish, birds, mammals, and coral. I also compared and contrasted the BP oil spill with that of the Exxon Valdez in 1989.
Environmental Effects: interacting perfectly in their natural environment. The disruption by the disaster disrupted the entire chain of species inhabited in the area. The marine ecosystem and the costal territory are all threatened by such a disaster. The spill, which is estimated to be more than 130 miles long and 70 miles wide, will impact the coastlines of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida, and threaten hundreds of species in the Gulf of Mexico, including endangered and rare species. The ways it was affected by the disaster limited “the growth principle of ecological and environmental systems, restraining the species in their natural habitat, their supply of food, water and other essentials for their survival. This way the supply of resources changes and causes major drawbacks to the already established patterns in the area.” (11) This frail habitat was already subject to varying climate change, and the addition to the toxic, difficult to remove oil, just put more extreme burden on the ecosystem.
Impact on Marine Species: The greatest impact was on the marine species.
“The spill area hosted 8,332 species, including more than 1,200 fish, 200 birds, 1,400 mollusks, 1,500 crustaceans, 4 sea turtles and 29 marine mammals.” (12) 14 of the species were already protected by the U.S. federal government, and the spill continued to threaten 39 more species. The timing of BP’s oil spill is particularly devastating to the Gulf ecosystem because it is the peak spawning and nesting season for many species of fish, birds, turtles and marine mammals. Many species remain in long-established breeding areas during this time, some of which are in the direct path of the oil spill.”(14) Since the oil contained 40% methane by weight, this created “dead zones” where oxygen is depleted due to the nature of methane. In March 2012, a definitive link between the death of a gulf coral community and the oil spill was proven. “A survey of one site near the well in the Gulf of Mexico uncovered "compelling evidence" of pollution damage. Coral communities more than 1,220 meters (4,000ft) below the surface of the ocean appeared stressed and discolored.” (13) Healthy coral could be found around the outside of a 12 mile radius of the Macondo site, but at sites within the 12 mile radius, coral colonies showed signs of stress, tissue loss, and discoloration. This is a very worrying fact because “Corals and other species at the furthest depths of the ocean often serve as barometers for overall ocean health and are critical components of the food chain.” (17) This means that without one of the key components such as coral, all the organisms that depend on it will be in danger. Other marine organisms were greatly affected by the spill such as fish, aquatic invertebrates and sea mammals. These organisms were affected through surface exposure, ingestion, absorption and, change in the ecosystem. If the species survived the initial exposure, they can lose their ability to protect themselves against disease. Also, fin erosion,
enlarged livers, increased heart rates and other physical effects can occur in fish, after being exposed to the toxins. Some species at risk include the North Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna which is already on the brink of extinction due to overfishing; the Blue Fin Tuna spawns in the Gulf of Mexico between mid-April and mid-June. Several species of sea turtles, including some endangered species, live migrate and breed in the Gulf of Mexico. Some shark species which begin their spawn season in the gulf are known to raise their young in the grassbeds south of the Chandeleur Islands, which is very close to the center of the spill. Whales and dolphins are also affected by the oil spill in the way that whales and dolphins must swim to the water’s surface to breath, but because the surface is layered in oil slick, the oil slick itself as well as the air toxins created by the oil poses serious threats to the population. Also the food source of these organisms could be contaminated by the oil, increasing the toxicity of whatever organism consumes it.
Impact on Birds: The BP tragedy also greatly affected many shorebirds, waterfowl, and marsh birds tremendously. “The gulf coast provides millions of acres of coastal wetlands and marshes that are critical habitat for migrating birds, including the brown pelican, Louisiana’s state bird, and numerous designated “Important Bird Areas” where endangered birds are known to take refuge.”(16)
Six months after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon more than 7,000 birds were gathered from around the site, and almost 3,000, which are around 40 percent, showed visible signs of oiling.
From this image, you can see the range that the oil spill affected, dead birds being found as far as Texas then going all along the southern coast to Florida. Although obviously it would be hard to count all the birds affected, but this map is based on the number of birds that were reported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Also, the number is of the amount of dead birds collected in the area, so although some may have died due to causes not related to the BP oil spill, it was clear a large proportion of the deaths and injuries were in fact because of the oil spill. This was determined when comparing the amount of deaths from before and after the accident. The species that were affected the most by the Gulf Oil Disaster, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are:
As of May 12, 2011 the top bird species collected in the spill area were:
Laughing gull - 2,981
Brown pelican - 826
Northern gannet - 475
Royal tern - 289
Black skimmer – 253
The way oil affects birds is the oil makes the birds’ feathers to mat and separate which in turn causes the birds to lose buoyancy and the ability to regulate their body temperature. Also contact of the oil to their skin or face can cause skin and eye lesions. Birds also need to preen their feathers to keep them warm and dry, and also to protect themselves from parasites, but birds may ingest the oil when preening their feathers. Also, like all the other animals affected by the oil, their food source may become contaminated by oil. Ingesting oil can lead to ulcers, pneumonia, liver damage, and other life-threatening conditions, and potentially death.
Long Term Impacts:
Although the oil might not be visible doesn’t mean it’s all gone. Some scientists have found oil at the Gulf floor, and the oil that was washed on shore onto the land will likely persist for years to come. The most major impact that affects the most is the unbalanced food web. The disaster happened at the peak of the breeding season for many species of fish and wildlife. The toxicity of the oil may have killed off many of the recently fertilized eggs and larvae, wiping out entire generations. Without the new generation population dips and cascading food web effects become more evident as time passes. As the organisms lower on the food chain start building up toxins in their body, when they are preyed upon, the next level of the top of the food chain become weak from the build-up.
A decline in recreation was also noted due to the BP oil spill. Many of the gulf coast states rely tremendously on “commercial fishing and outdoor recreation to sustain their local economies. According to NOAA, commercial fisheries brought in $659 million in shellfish and finfish in 2008, and just over 3 million people took recreational fishing trips in the Gulf that year. After the spill, recreational fishing from the Atchafalaya Delta to Mobile Bay was shut down from May to August, and state park closures dealt a serious blow to the parks' summer revenue.”(10)
The already diminishing wetlands were also affected by the oil spill. The wetlands already suffered from 80% wetland loss from the 1950s to the middle of last decade. Wetland loss destroys habitats and removes natural flood protection and environmental services from coastal communities. So the oil spill greatly weakened an already weak ecosystem, and would continue to degrade until comprehensive costal restoration is put in place. “A new report from the National Wildlife Federation determined that 3,000 miles of beaches and wetlands along the Gulf Coast were contaminated by oil and that “oil contamination or efforts to clean it up can damage wetlands, killing vegetation and thereby causing accelerated erosion and conversion of land to open water.” (17) Another crazy fact is that even three years after the spill, tar balls could still be found on the Mississippi coast, and at the slow rate the oil is breaking down, it has been said that the oil can stay there for centuries.
Comparison Between other oil spills:
This is not the first time that a disaster like this has happened, but it is definitely the most extreme and detrimental disaster in petroleum history. Some people might remember the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska in 1989, but the difference is the tanker of the Exxon Valdez only contained a finite amount of oil while the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico was pouring thousands of barrels of crude oil for days. Another difference is The Exxon Valdez contained a much heavier crude oil than the so-called "sweet, light crude" pouring into the Gulf. It was also a lot colder in Alaska, making the heavy oil even more viscous and more difficult to remove. BP's lighter oil is easier to handle, but it also contains more volatile compounds that can hurt plants and animals.
Table comparing BP Oil Spill vs. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
BP Oil Spill
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Source of Oil
Deepwater Horizon oil platform - broken well pipe
Exxon Valdez oil tanker
Date Spill Began
April 20, 2010
March 24, 1989
Total Estimated Oil Spilled
An estimated 172 million gallons
10.8 million gallons
Key Wildlife Species Affected
Brown pelican, reddish egret, royal tern, snowy plover, sperm whale, blue fin tuna, sea turtle.
Salmon, sea otters, seals and sea birds
How Many Wildlife Died?
TBD
100,000-250,000 seabirds
2,800 sea otters
12 river otters
300 harbor seals
247 bald eagles
22 orcas billions of salmon and herring eggs
Long Term Effects
TBD
Still not completely recovered after 20 years:
Barrows Goldeneyes
Black Oystercatchers
Harlequin Ducks
Killer Whales
Sea Otters
Clams
Mussels
Sediments
Intertidal Communities
Still not Recovering after 20 years:
Pacific Herring
Pigeon Guillemots
Human Services Still Impaired:
Commercial Fishing
Recreation
Tourism
Subsistence
Cause of Spill
Oil well explosion
The tanker struck a reef
Source: National Wildlife Federation
Many of the long term statistics are still being determined but comparing the BP Disaster with the Exxon Valdez you can somewhat determine that magnitude of destruction that happened in the Gulf and understand the severity of the situation. Conclusion: The BP oil spill was the worst in history. It killed hundreds of thousands of animals and affected the ecosystem of many more. One company’s mistake caused the destruction of many delicate ecosystems. This spill not only caused harm to the marine and terrestrial animals, but also to people too. Things such as fishing and parks had to be closed down during this time losing people jobs and money. The ecological impact that the oil had on the ecosystem, and the resonating effect it will have on the generations to come will soon be measurable over some time. I hope people will learn from this mistake so this disaster will never happen again in the future.
Reference:
1. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE)/U.S. Coast Guard Joint Investigation Team (14 September 2011). "Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation Team Releases Final Report"(Press release). U.S. Government. Retrieved 2011-10-06.[dead link]
2. http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2013/05/16/10740091/bp-oil-spill.jpg
3. http://myinternetcorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/bp_oil_spill_area.jpg
4. On Scene Coordinator Report on Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (Report). September 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
5. "BP / Gulf Oil Spill - 68,000 Square Miles of Direct Impact" (Press release). SkyTruth. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-13.
6. BP suspended from US federal contracts over 'lack of business integrity' | Environment | The Guardian
7. Thompson, Richard (5 April 2013). "BP to begin presenting its defense Monday in Gulf oil spill trial". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
8. BP Fighting A Two Front War As Macondo Continues To Bite And Production Drops - Forbes
9. The Use of surface and Subsea Disperants During the BP Deewater Horizon Oil Spill. Draft (Report).National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
10. http://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Protect-Habitat/Gulf-Restoration/Oil-Spill/Effects-on-Wildlife.aspx
11. http://livinggreenmag.com/2013/03/19/energy-ecology/environmental-impact-of-the-bp-oil-spill/
12. Biello, David (9 June 2010). "The BP Spill's Growing Toll On the Sea Life of the Gulf". Yale Environment 360. Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
13. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/mar/26/bp-oil-spill-deepwater-horizon
14. http://www.usclimatenetwork.org/resource-database/offshore-disaster-ecological-impacts-of-the-bp-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill
15. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hQs39sPXyB4#!
16. http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/news-and-blogs/news/gulf-oil-spill/ecological-impacts/
17. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/04/20/468361/five-reasons-we-cant-forget-about-the-bp-oil-disaster/?mobile=nc
18. http://media.nola.com/2010_gulf_oil_spill/photo/alaskaoil-062710jpg-4268138a9e7ac734.jpg
19. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/05/could-the-gulf-coast-oil-spill-eclipse-exxon-valdez.html