The Gulf Oil Spill Essay Example

they will redirect the leaked oil away from the spill site. The process of drilling these relief wells is more complex than the initial well drilling, as the drill bit must work at an angle once it reaches the seabed. The estimated cost for these relief wells is about $100 million. Another technology being utilized is chemical dispersants. The idea of combating an oil spill by dumping large quantities of chemicals into the ocean may seem like a terrible idea. However, the dispersants being used by BP on the oil, which are sprayed from helicopters and planes, are actually similar to common detergents.

The dispersants break up heavy oil, similar to how dishwasher liquids work in commercials. At the leak source, submersibles inject more dispersants into the oil as it jets out, preventing some of it from reaching the surface. Skimming systems can separate oil floating on water, allowing it to be siphoned out and even sold on the market like regular oil. Skimming devices can range from small to massive, but despite technological advancements, there is currently no skimming system large enough to handle a spill the size of the Gulf without months of work. Another method of cleaning oil spills is through the use of fire, which is the oldest known technology for oil cleaning. Fire is considered a quick solution as gasoline burns off rapidly, although it can also lead to explosions at times.

Contrarily, 'sweet crude' welling is a viscous and dense substance that poses challenges in achieving even combustion. Despite the Coast Guard's attempts to burn sufficient amounts of oil to prevent it from reaching Louisiana's coastline, this approach failed (Morrison, 2010).

Another method involves deploying booms and barriers, which do not clean up oil spills but act as floating obstacles to hinder oil spread. Nevertheless, these booms proved ineffective in rough seas where waves carried oil over them, despite an adequate supply brought by the Coast Guard. Microbes have also been utilized using trillions of them to consume petroleum. However, the degradation of oil by fungi, bacteria, and other organisms typically takes weeks, months or even years. The pace of this process is influenced by the availability of oil droplets; hence dispersants are employed to break down the oil.

According to Biello (2010), the availability of other nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen also affects it. The criticism of the policy of placing a moratorium on new Gulf drilling is a devastating blow to energy production in America. The addition of a six-month moratorium results in years of delay due to fierce competition for drill leases worldwide. The proposed changes in liability for new drilling activities may have serious consequences for oil companies (A Chilling Response to Gulf Oil Spill, 2010). This article has influenced my approach to energy use as it reminds me that as humans, we have been given the power over other things on earth and we must use them wisely while taking care of the environment. Considering the damage caused by oil spills and the environmental effects of petroleum energy, people should switch to environmentally friendly energy sources.