The Environmental Damage of Oil Contamination

After the Deepwater Horizon disaster of 2010, oil contamination of our oceans is a concern on everyone’s mind. The results of an accident in offshore drilling are widespread, and certainly don’t stop once the leak has been plugged. Although it’s something you’d probably rather not think about, staying informed about the effects of an oil spill can help create a public that will not stand for an environmental catastrophe on this scale again.

The Risks

In offshore drilling, a rig and drilling platform are constructed in the open ocean to pump oil and gas from reserves beneath the ocean floor. Although advocates say this will decrease our dependence on foreign oil and lower the price of these resources, they don’t always weigh in the economic and environmental costs that can come from drilling—even if there is no spill.

• Lasting environmental damage: Smaller marine animals, like fish, birds, and shellfish are especially sensitive to the toxic effects of oil in the water. Even tiny amounts of oil can impair an animal’s reproductive systems, not only harming themselves but future generations. Natural ocean currents can spread the oil far from the original contamination site.
• Devastation for coastal communities: For a community that depends on the nearness of the ocean as its lifeblood, the complete contamination of that ocean can mean economic disaster. Immediately following the Deepwater Horizon spill, tourism to Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and other Gulf states plummeted. Fisheries and commercial fishers lost their livelihood. Gulf coast residents reported high levels of mental illness and stress, resulting from the destruction of the ocean.
• The drilling process is harmful: In order to decide where to drill, offshore rigs perform seismic tests on the seafloor. These tests can kill fish eggs and disturb the migratory patterns of fish, whales, and other underwater animals.
• The drilling operations are polluting: Even if an offshore drilling expedition goes perfectly well and no oil spill happens, the operations still subject the surrounding area to pollution. The ocean floor near where the drilling takes place is impacted by the toxic drilling waste muds that are used to lubricate the machines and stabilize the drilling hole. Water that is brought up along with the drilled gas and oil contains toxic chemicals and heavy metals like arsenic and lead; this toxic water is discharged back into the ocean.
• Drilling infrastructure damages wetlands: In order to get that oil from the barge to the refinery, miles of pipelines have to be built through fragile coastal wetland areas. Roads and processing facilities are also built on waterside property.

Sources:

Protecting Our Ocean and Coastal Economies: Avoid Unnecessary Risks from Offshore Drilling. (2010) National Resources Defense Council.