Offshore Oil Production And Transport Poses Threats

Question 1

What is the name of the offshore BP oil rig?

Answer 1

Deepwater Horizon

Question 2

For how many days did oil gush out on to the sea bed?

Answer 2

87

Question 3

What was the upper estimate for the amount of oil that leaked on to the sea bed?

Answer 3

4.9 billion barrels (56 million a day)

Question 4

How many million gallons of oil leak from the sea bed naturally annually?

Answer 4

2 million gallons (47,500 barrels)

Question 5

How deep was the oil rig?

Answer 5

1500m

Question 6

Where was the rig?

Answer 6

40 miles off the Louisiana Coast

Question 7

List at least 3 responses to the spill

Answer 7

Skimming surface oil
Burning surface oil
Beach cleaning
Dispersants
Artificial Barrier Islands

Question 8

Explain dispersants

Answer 8

chemicals sprayed from air and boat break oil into smaller particles to prevent oil sticks

Question 9

Explain beach cleaning

Answer 9

Oil mixes making contaminated sand, this is removed and ‘washed’ by very hot water and can then be returned to the beach, oil is taken for processing

Question 10

How much of the Gulf was affected?

Answer 10

180,000km squared

Question 11

How much of the coastline was polluted?

Answer 11

1,600km squared

Question 12

Which animals’ mortality increased?

Answer 12

Birds
Fish
Turtles
Dolphins

Question 13

What was the estimated cost of human repairs?

Answer 13

$70 billion

Question 14

How much did British Petroleum have to pay Gulf coast residents and businesses to settle the law suits?

Answer 14

$20 billion

Question 15

How much money did British Petroleum contribute towards the clean up?

Answer 15

$32 billion

Question 16

What was the cause of the explosion?

Answer 16

Failed ‘blow out’ device designed to prevent high pressure oil and gas blasting up the drill pipe

Question 17

What happened to fishing and tourism?

Answer 17

Stopped which caused a loss of income

Question 18

What was the main source of regional employment?

Answer 18

Fishing of shrimp, oysters and important fish

Question 19

How was tourism affected?

Answer 19

Media images of contaminated beaches and oil covered wildlife meant few people wanted to vacation there

Question 20

What were the immediate impacts of the explosion?

Answer 20

11 workers killed and 17 injured