Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Ecological Impact and Remediation

This report delves into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, examining its background, purpose, and ecological consequences. It investigates the sources of pollution, including the drilling of ultra-deep wells, and details the chemical principles involved, such as the release and behavior of hydrocarbons. The report analyzes the pathways of pollution from source to receptor, focusing on the impact on marine life and ecosystems, utilizing the zebrafish model. Furthermore, it explores the role of legislation in the case and proposes recommendations for mitigating and remediating the environmental damage, drawing on similar case studies. The study highlights the challenges of oil spill response, including the use of dispersants, and emphasizes the need for improved data collection and modeling to anticipate and manage future incidents, ultimately aiming to offer valuable insights for environmental protection and sustainable practices.

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1. Introduction: what is the background to the report?
1.1. Purpose of the report:
The study intends to analyze the case of “Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico” and its effects on local
ecology. Then, the evaluation aims to demonstrate the pollution and develop the explanation regarding the strategies
of remediation. This involves the concentration to evaluate the detrimental and supportive roles of the legislations.
Lastly, the report attempts to conclude with various recommendations for the steps to be considered in answer to the
present case of Deepwater Horizon. For instance, the study tried to focus on the developments of the immediate
responses, the responsibility of the stakeholders and the changes to be done for the legislations.
1.1.1. Understanding the chosen area:
The Deepwater Horizon is situated in the Gulf of Mexico and an ultra-level of deepwater. It is an offshore
drilling rig that is semi-submersible and dynamically positioned. It was created in South Korea in 2001 by the Hyundai
Heavy Industries. It has been commissioned by the R&B Falcon which is a later resource of Transocean (Beyer et al.
2016). Further, it was registered in Majuro. Then it was leased to BP starting from 2001 till 2013’s September. During
the month of September in 2009, the rig was seen to be drilling the deepest oil well as per the history.
1.1.2. Discussing the pollution incident:
The pollution took place an oil spill took place at Deepwater Horizon. This industrial disaster took place
during 2010’s 20th April. It occurred over the Macondo Prospect that is BP operated. Moreover, it is seen as the
biggest oil spill of marine for the petroleum industry’s history. Besides, it is estimated to be 8% to amount 30% greater
in volume as compared to the previous one, the oil spill of Ixtic I, that also occurred in Mexican Gulf. It was estimated
by the Federal Government of U.S. that the overall discharge has been at about 5 million barrels (Daly et al. 2016).
Various failed attempts were taken to check the flow. At last the well has been declared to be sealed during 2010,
September 19.
1.1.3. Analyzing the focus of the current study for the client:
In the following study, the ways to the mitigation of the present ecological damage are focused. It is the step of
the EIA process as the ways are determined for avoiding, minimizing and provide remedies to the effects. They can
be deployed as a significant part of the measures of impact management. This also involves the essential
adjustments in reacting to the various impacts that are unforeseen.
2. Source
2.1. Sources of pollution:
The search for crude oil has turned to be rousingly desperate. It is a single accessible source that has been
running dry and here more challenging springs of oils has been sought out. This involves the wells that are ultra-deep
within the ocean. The disaster at Deepwater Horizon has been a horrific instance of environmental devastation. This
has resulted in the drilling of deepwater (King et al. 2015). The mobile offshore of BP during 20th April of 2010
exploded at the area that was about 40 miles away from the coast of Louisiana. The outcomes were a huge offshore
spill of oil. Till the well could be sealed 5 months after, there were 780 million litres of crude oil that were found to be
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getting leaked to the gulf. It has been polluting the ocean and the ecosystems of the coasts. This led to the death of
marine animals, seabirds, fishes in huge numbers (Forth et al. 2017).
2.2. Detailed research on the issue:
It is agreed by the scientists that the oil spills and accidents have been happening as long one continues to
drill the crude oil within these complicated conditions. It is seen that about one billion dollars were invested in the
research covering the accident and its results as conducted by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative. Though one is
unable to prevent these accidents for the future, there are smarter strategies of responses. As the rig got explode
during 2010, this was drilled at the water depth approximately about 1500 meters (Handley et al. 2017). The
scientists have only required some data for feeding in the model. The pressure loss, kind of crude oil and depth of
water of the leakage are the important data to conduct the research. This has been helpful to determine how much
natural gas are there in the crude oils. It is pointed out that the oil businesses must be forced by the law bin keeping
of tack of the data. They must release them as soon as possible as an accident happens. Further, the upgraded
information on the ocean currents is also required for getting fed to the model that are recorded published and
recorded already. Putting such detailed information refers to the fact the scientists should be able to alter the course
of episodes for the further oil spill. Through understanding the way the crude oil is behaving in water, measures can
be applied in changing the behaviors (Probst et al. 2017).
Here, for instance, the business can get the oil for gathering at various layers of waters. This can transport
the pollutants away from the wetlands, cost and additional sensitive type of ecosystems. Furthermore, it is seen that
the scientists are able to develop the crude oil make sink over the floor of the ocean. Here, the preferred option is that
the natural bacteria are able to make degradation of the oil very fast. Moreover, the secret of changing the behavior
of the oil and the route towards the ocean is the size of every oil droplets. This also involves the quantity of natural
gas dissolved within the crude oil. Having the data, along with information regarding water depth, is useful to find out
the density. In this way, one can be determined how quick that has been rising to the surface of the ocean. As the
particles from the marine organisms or dead plants, in contrast, get stuck to the oil, it gets the sink. As the explosion
took place, there were 7 million litres of the dispersant of Corexit Oil has been deployed in Mexican Gulf (Dombrowski
et al. 2016). It is seen that dispersant has been emulsifying the oil to little droplets. This is to prevent or sink that from
floating to the surface at the beginning. Nonetheless, as deployed without any necessity, the elements can easily
include the chemicals that are been distributed to the ocean. The planes of US Airforce has been spraying the Corexit
to the slick of crude oil as the BP, for the first time inserted the chemical of 1500 m underwater at the leakage site
(Rodriguez-r, L.M. et al. 2015).
Nonetheless, the researchers have not been still ensured whether Corexit has been performing any good for
dispersing the oil for the present accident. At the meantime, the harm to the biodiversity has depended on the
species. The dispersant for some animals has seemed to have resulted in more harm that the oil. As per some
models. The injection of high quantity of Corexit has been possibly not needed. Here, the droplets of the oil have
been highly sufficient (Lauritsen et al. 2017). Any model of the scientist has been predicting the future of oil spills as
deploying the dispersant has helped or not. Further, it is found that the Pelicans has been one of the species that has
been suffering from the oil spills. Hence, sufficient care is taken while drilling. Moreover, the disaster Deepwater
Horizon has seemed to the worst that can ever occur. However, this has not been the case. Maximum of the crude oil
has sunk to the floor of the ocean that has been a good sign. Additionally, the biodegraded bacteria of the oil has
been faster than it was anticipated. It is detected that there has been already lots of oil that are dispersed within the
gulf coming from previous spills ad natural seeps. It has been the cause there has been huge bacteria that have been
living from the oil of decomposing and growing much faster due to that accidents (Zengel et al. 2016). Nevertheless, it
has not been possible the case to other sectors of the globe. Hence, the accident such as Deepwater horizon has
been showing a worse effect on the situation as it would happen at ant another place such as the Arctic. Ultimately,
the computer models and the scientists have not been able to secure the worst at the future of oil spills. However, this
has been better to think in a more careful manner regarding where he drilling can be permitted at the initial place.
2.3. Chemical principles involved:
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Detailed, surface, subsurface and airborne chemical measurements are mainly retrieved during May and
June during 2010. It can be utilized in quantifying the initial compositions of hydrocarbon compositions of various
transport ways of paths. This is under deep plumes of subsurface under the slick of initial surface and within the
atmosphere (Peres et al. 2016). Moreover, the measurements of the atmosphere have been consistent in having a
restricted area of the oil of the surface. This also involves the implications for the hydrocarbon leaked with mass
transport and distributions of oil drop size.
Firstly, the composition of data constrain pathways of the physical transport. Here, the DWH hydrocarbons
have been fund to release with the depth of about 1500 m under the jet of high-pressure. It has resulted in the liquid
droplets of oils and gas bubbles having the volume distribution and initial number that has never been quantified yet
(White et al. 2019). The chemical compositions and sizes of the droplets and bubbles of hydrocarbons have highly
and quickly after its release from the well. Here, the complicated interplay of the physical processes is useful to
determine the plume of hydrocarbon water to get admixture with dynamics. It can affect the 3D distribution and
composition of the admixtures of hydrocarbons under the column of water and the level of the resulting slick of the oil
and the overlying environment.
Next, the composition data quantify that is partitioning to the undissolved, evaporated and dissolved mixtures of
hydrocarbons are to be determined. At this place, one can compare the calculated compositions of hydrocarbon of
the subsurface and atmospheres DWFH samples of plumes along with the leaking from composition from Macondo
well. There are observed differences that have been defining the nature and extent of the alteration attributable to the
evolution and dissolution in due time across various pathways of transport (McCann et al. 2017). Besides, the
compositions of hydrocarbons of the samples of the subsurface can be changed again on different multi time scales.
This is through the differential biodegradation as the transport is done from the well.
3. Pathway
3.1. The ways in which the pollution has been moving from the source to the receptor:
In the current case, the most vulnerable ones are those who have encountered the pollutants as the early
life stages were going on. The elements of water-soluble of the crude oil and particular polycyclic aromatics
hydrocarbons have been showing the reason of defects in craniofacial and cardiovascular developments. This has
been various teleost species. However, the origins of developmental of the mistakes have been needed to be
determined yet (Starbird et al. 2015). For this, the Danio rerio or “zebrafish” model is helpful to test whether the WAF
or Water Accumulated Fractions of the oil can affect the particular embryonic process of developments. Not being the
native species of the waters of Gulfs, in the present case the developmental biology of zebrafish has been
characterized well. It has been making up the most effective model in revealing the molecular and cellular
mechanisms underpinning the toxicity of Macondo crude (Tatariw et al. 2018).
3.2. Analyzing the conceptual model:
Here, the zebrafish model is helpful to visualize that.
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Figure 1: “Illustrating the conceptual model for the present scenario of Deepwater”
(Source: Howe et al. 2016, pp.D758-D768)
The Zebrafish is a prominent model organism for biological researches in current times. The Macondo crude
oil and WAF must be sampled as the spill of oil is used for treating zebrafish across the larval and embryonic
developments. In the present case of Deepwater Horizon, the outcomes denote that the crude oil of Macondo has
been causing various significant defects in embryogenesis of zebrafish (Liu et al. 2016). However, the errors
comprise of particular origins of development. The WAF treatments due to the issues in craniofacial development and
circulatory functions have been the same as the prior reports. However, these results are never extended to display
that they have been derived likely from the previous impacts in development neutral crest cell. Besides, it is also
demonstrated that exposure to the WAF has been causing various novel type of deformations under the particular
process of development. This involves the cell death that is programmed, the behaviour of the locomotors, motor and
sensory axon finder of paths, muscle patterning and somitogenesis (Perrot et al. 2019). The severity of cell death
interestingly ad the phenotypes of muscle has been decreasing in due time for many months of repeated kind of
analysis. It has been correlated to the quick drop-off under the alkane and aromatic hydrocarbons elements of that
oils.
Irrespective of the fact that the teratogenic impacts are distinct from toiling from Deepwater spilling oil for a
maximum of crude oil are the kinds remaining to be found out. The task has deployed the model for future
examination for the molecular mechanisms under the mediated deformations of crude oils (Hester et al. 2016). Apart
from this, because the significant conservation of the cellular and generic process between the zebrafish and
additional vertebrates has been providing the platform for much-focussed analysis of the impact that spill of
Deepwater Horizon oil spill has been in the previous life stages of the native fish groups under the Atlantic Ocean and
the Gulf of Mexico (Ziervogel, Joye and Arnosti 2016).
4. Receptor
4.1. Harm resulting from the pollution:
There were many harms due to the pollution in the present case of Deepwater. Still, after six years, the
researchers are examining the quantity of harm that has been caused actually (Lichtveld et al. 2016). Moreover, it is
being suggested that spill might have permanently marred the shore of the Gulf’s most significant ecosystems.
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4.2. Detailed understanding of the harms:
Effect on marine organisms:
It was seen that eight of the national parks in the U.S were under threats. More than 400 species in the
marshlands and islands of the Gulf were at risk. This also involved leatherback turtle, hawksbill turtle, loggerhead
turtle and green turtle and the riddle turtle of the Kemp (Gutierrez et al. 2016).
Methane:
It is estimated that crude gushing from the well has contained about 40% of its weight as Methane. This is
as compared to 5% that is found in the deposits of typical oil. It has been suffocating the marine life and then
developing dead zones in the place where oxygen has been depleted (Duan et al. 2018).
Entry to the food chain:
There are traces of oil-and-dispersant mixture that are seen under the shell of the little larvae of blue crab. It
shows that the usage of dispersants is broken down into droplets that are small enough for quickly entering the food
chain there.
Toxicity from the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons:
There is evidence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAH are found. These are often linked to the oil
spills and involving the chemicals and carcinogens posing different risks to the health of human health. This is as
deep as the 3,300 feet and far away as 8 miles during May 2010. This has been worsening as more oils are spilled
(Nance et al. 2016).
Effect because of the clean-up:
The cleanup itself resulted in the fragile scenario. It is warned that different rushed at many times
unnecessary and untested measures are utilized for the cleanup has been found to be wreaking havoc.
Effect on vegetation: It is seen that the effects are related to percent of the oiling in stems of the marsh vegetation.
Residual oil in water:
It was found out that till 79% of the spilled oil stayed in Mexican Gulf, within the surface. Apart from this, it
was reported that many thousands of pounds of the dispersant and oil were been gathered daily. This is from largely
visible resort sectors. Besides, 17,000 lb were been gathered from Alabama as the winter storm was over (Stout et al.
2017).
Effects on human health:
From the studies of mental health, there have been symptoms of anxiety, a disorder of post-traumatic stress and
depressions. As per the National Institutes of Health study, an HHE or health hazard evaluation was done. That
followed the hospitalization of various fisherman who was working within the VoO or Vessels of Opportunity program
(Powers et al. 2017).
5. Legislation
5.1. Role of legislation:
The legislation is intended to enable the response of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill for continuing
expeditiously. This also aims to provide quick assistance to the individuals who are affected by that spills. This has
involved the updating and strengthening of the liability system of the oil spill for better addressing the catastrophic
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events (Ylitalo et al. 2017). The legislation is useful to perform all the things for securing the natural resources and
reconstruct that is damaged and help the region of Gulf.
5.2. Vital pieces of legislation:
Immediate funding:
This bill has been permitting the coast guard for gaining various advances. His is till hundred million each.
Food safety:
The food and drug administration or FDA has been operating the security program for every fish and
products of fisheries within the provisions of Federal Food.
Improving and monitoring various offshore oil exploration:
This legislation is intended to deliver 29 million dollars for the secretary of interior regarding extra
inspections, studies, enforcements and additional tasks these are external to those that are external to those who are
recoverable from the liable parties and the “Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund” (Zengel et al. 2017).
Environmental studies:
The legislation also delivers funding to “Environmental protection Agency” of two million dollars long with
“National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration” of five million dollars regarding different environmental studies.
This helps m developing the federal reactions to that spill.
6. What recommendations will you make to mitigate/remediate the pollution?
The various methods of remediation and mitigations to be undertaken for the present case of Deepwater Horizon
are highlighted below.
Improvements towards the immediate response:
Here instant units are to be formed that must share the concerns of public health, requests and needs and
more effective and efficient efforts of coordination. The benchmarks of the human health for oil for developing the
integrating framework of social health benchmark based on constituents of spilt oils. For instance, in the case of
Florida, specific human health frameworks were deployed to the Florida State Toxicologist. Here, benchmarks are
used while lifting the advisories of health. It must be implemented by Deepwater to be included in worker studies and
long-term health. This development of various interim plans of succession is creating the framework for positing the
advisories of public health and notices of Florida beaches of public health. Here, the planning has needed close
coordination with the CHDs or County Health Departments liable for the deployment of the plans. Regarding safety
training the protection of safety and health of the response workers must be a top priority for NIES. Previous NIEHS
has been continuing to work with communities of Gulf and various clinicians. They have also worked with “Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration”. It is to provide and develop extra kinds of training. This has
involved the preparation of addresses of the effect of mental health that is been experienced through workers of clean
and responder of emergency. Further, there can be the University-Community Partnerships. NIES has been awarded
25.2. Million dollars for the research grants for the Gulf Area universities. They have been partnering with the
communities that are facing impacts with the sill of the oil. The research network can also denote the queries
regarding health mainly determined by different communities that meet the necessity. Lastly, the Gulf Long-term
Follow-up Study or the GuLF study can be conducted. This health analysis must be done for people who can help in
the cleanups of oil spills, take training, can be sent to Gulf and get signed up for work in many ways as the disaster of
Deep-water Horizon take place.
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Changes to legislation:
The oil pill is a widespread incident such as critical offshore accidents in various communities like the
necessity of practice systems security approach. They have integrated every aspect for drilling the operations
affecting the system and occupational safety. Here, SEMS can be a goal-oriented proactive system of risk
management same to various methods that are utilized for the North Sea area by Norway and the United Kingdom
along with external continental regions in Australia and Canada. Further, for a similar type of case studies like
Deepwater, SEMS has needed the organizations to create, deploy and control the environmental and safety
management system as per the API or American Petroleum Institutes recommended practice number 75 regarding
the development of safety and environment management program. This is regarding offshore facilities and
operations.
Next, various implementation aspects can be considered that are involved in the risk management system
related to a goal. Here, finding some of the specifics can help evaluate how the risk management system that is goal-
oriented can work. At first, besides making a list for the explicit regulations, the systems have been principally
depending on meeting the functional security requirements with the help of usage of procedures and equipment
conforming with the standards of safety, guidelines and the documenting the best practices. For instance, the case of
PSA or petroleum Safety Authority at Norway can be taken. It retained the restricted amount of various explicit
regulations. However, it has depended on the guidelines related to international standards and codes. It has also
involved the particular European unions. This has involved the NORSOK or national standards that are defining the
smartest practices applied at various systems. Moreover, for instance, the NORSOK D-1010 has listed various
standards for good integrity, cementing and BOP testing.
On the other hand, the NORSOK 001 has applications to the equipment of drilling. Apart from this, the
contractor of drilling should be gaining acknowledgement of the compliances or AoC. It has been covering the
personnel, equipment and different types of safety management systems. These standards and codes in Norway are
seen as the “living documents” This has frequent updates and reviews that are resulting from the consultation
between the regulators and industries.
Implementing stakeholder responsibilities:
For the study, the case study of “Red Cross red Crescent” disaster risk reduction in activity can be used.
The situation indicated that the notable share of GHG or greenhouse gas emissions of humanitarian operations has
been happening from the logistics. It has been happening as transporting goods are there in the affected sectors
possess an essential role in a maximum of the operations of operations. These supply chains of various relief items
have been global and huge quantities of goods are been transported by airs. This is to reach the people affected
quickly according to the priorities of the Red Cross. Through paying the attention to the routes of transportations,
capacities and storage locations and expected time of usage of goods, high reductions of emissions can be seen to
be unlocked. It has been beneficial for the environment and also enabling notable savings of money. It has permitted
more relief to get delivered to the people who are in need. There is another aspect that is been related to the effects
of the environment with the items supplied and procured. Particularly regarding the source of energy and materials
used in producing goods consist of a dramatic impact on the footprints of the carbon. For Deepwater, the engaging of
stakeholders can bring advantage to the people affected through the incidents of pollutions and people at response
communities and emergencies. These can be methods to cultivate the expectations that are realistic and create
consensus regarding the options of response. This is prior, during and as the incident has already occurred. The
collaboration and coordination taking place between affected communities and IMT have been leading to the shared
objected and the developed exchange of information. It can occur through direct engagement and conventional
media for addressing the perceptions or risk emerging, concerns and questions regarding problems that can spark
social conflicts like dispersant usage at the United States.
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