A Discussion of the BP Oil Spill - Case Study Example

? Black Waters: A Discussion of the BP Oil Spill Due Introduction The world we live in can be an amazing,awe inspiring place. It can be visually breathtaking, from ocean views to the humbling perspectives from high cliffs or deep below the waves of the seas. With the implementation of advancing science and technology human being have come to learn more and more about the planet humanity calls home. However, as beautiful and amazing as it can be, it can, also, be a forced to be reckoned with. Tornadoes, monsoons, earthquakes, and tsunami’s crash down upon human society leaving little in its wake. These kinds of natural disasters damage property, displace lives, as well as, harm and kill. These events are bad enough, but there are other disasters have nothing to do with nature. They are the product of man-made structures, facilities, or endeavors. Human error or mechanical failures have resulted in devastating disaster with unbelievable immediate and long term effects and consequences. Chernobyl in Russian, for example, which leaked nuclear radiation for miles and miles. Plants operated in multiple industries all over the world have had failings that have resulted in dangerous toxins, chemicals, or substances to be released into the environment and human society. The British Petroleum oil spill is one such example. History On April 20, 2010 the Transocean Deepwater Horizon rig, owned by the British Petroleum company, exploded where it stood. Spreading smoke and burning chemicals into the air. As can be seen in the pictures above, the fire was massive. Worse the oil being released was spreading across the water, blackened ooze. Located 250 miles south of Houston, Texas, in the Gulf of Mexico, it, also, threatened coastal Louisiana and Florida. As it spread the malfunctioning, damaged machinery, was forcing gallons upon gallons of oil directly into the ocean waters. Below is an example of the what it looked like under the waves and on the surface when this disaster occurred (The Daily Green, 2013). As it spread, it began to cling to and hinder the marine life and birds, as can be seen in the images shown below. These animals are hardly recognizable, coated in thick goo that renders them, essentially, helpless. The first initial explosion took the lives of 11 workers and seriously injured, nearly, twice as many (British Petroleum, 2013). However, the damage of the BP oil spill would have far more reaching ramifications than most people would have ever expected. Oil is made up of carbon and hydrogen molecules. Their states allows it easily to “goop” together and stick to anything that it comes in contact with. This is dangerous enough, but because the incident occurred in the mid-ocean it allowed it to move farther and faster than spills in the past. The effects of the spill could be felt immediately by the neighboring environments; be it plant life, animals or human beings. It, also, nearly economically crippled the populations living and working in and around the Gulf, which lead to serious economic hardships (Tiffany, 2013).The entire ordeal continued for weeks, but the ramification may be felt for some time. Discussion The ecological ramifications are, essentially, obvious. The number of animals trapped in the sludge and coated in thick, blackish-brown goo is not acceptable. This exposure prevents the animals from functioning, but, also, it can be incredibly damaging to their internal health as well. However what could be seen was only the beginning. Underwater plant life and animals, like fish and shellfish, were, also, suffering. Approximately, 8,000 animals died as a result of the spill, many of which were species already considered endangered. Human beings were, also, having serious immediate responses. People were experiencing respiratory issues, skin rashes, serious headaches, and confusion or disorientation. They, also, were quickly starting to get sick from eating the fish procured from the Gulf (Tiffany, 2013). This is how the spill represented a domino effect that then affected the local economies. There is an immense fishing industry in the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding areas. The contamination of the fish, literally, crippled the industry. Between the Deepwater Horizon explosions leaving workers without employment, now the fishing industry is, also, feeling the sting (Institute of Food Technologists, 2011). There is an acceptable level of risk that is allowed within the oil industries. In other words, such endeavors will always release some oil into the sea, for one reason or another; it would inevitably be released into the ocean. However, they have determined that a certain ratio has a limited amount of risk. They claim that small incidents and “minor” leakage is nominal, there is a small risk for hydrocarbons in the sediment and biomagnification is not, likely, to ever occur. However, the BP oil spill released millions upon millions of gallons of oil day in and day out for weeks. The risk is in this case was incredibly high and would have continuing consequences and side effects (Tiffany, 2013). The Response to this man-made disaster was immediate. In total 30,000 people from differing professional groups, firefighters, organizations, and individual volunteers worked to clean-up, repair, and limit the amount of damage this incident would cause. The risk assessment process began with collecting data and compiling research to determine, both, short term and long term risks to the ecosystem, wildlife, and humanity. They used a baseline philosophy represented by the risk if the accident had not occurred at all. However, regardless of the assessment, the risks are still ongoing and, unfortunately, may be for some time. The actual totality of potential risk and long term damage may be incalculable at this point. BP, along with other dedicated organizations, has taken up efforts to effect efficient clean-up, continuing research, and restoration projects. As of 2012, BP has dedicated large amounts of monies in the response efforts (British Petroleum, 2013). Their response, however immediate, does not negate that the company may have been negligent, perhaps criminally so, which is what allowed this incident, the largest spill of its kind, to happen at all. The Justice Department calculates that 4.2 million barrels of oil, ultimately, seeped into the Gulf waters. However, BP claims that their estimation verifies it was half of that number. Some believe that this is an outright act of dishonesty on BPs part, an attempt to minimize the disaster and there, overall, financial responsibility (Rushe, 2013). It makes involved parties wonder if they are capable of outright dishonesty in the extremity of the accident then were they well aware of the growing risks and opted not to act. Could their disregard have been intentional? Aside from the potential legal costs if they are found to be guilt of gross negligence they have civil suits headed their way due to the losses of life, but that is not all. The fines levied by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) involve a per-barrel cost. this could amount to between $1100 to $4300 per barrel. That said if BP is found negligent the cost for 4.2 million barrels spilled, will be approximately, 19 billion dollars. In other words, this incident has consumed BP profits and will continue to do so for some time to come. (Mervin, 2011). Issues There are a number of issues that cannot be left unaddressed in relation to the BP spill; some fall under the ethical implications of such a disaster. We are dependent upon oil to facilitate and power modern society. However, acquiring and implementing this resource, in and of itself, has negative effects on environment and health. Yet, part of the clean-up solution was to burn the oil off the surface of the water (British Petroleum, 2013). This may aid in the removal of the physical substance, but the chemicals being released from the burning into the air only brings its own set of health concerns and risks. This is one of the instances when the convenience of modern society and the means to attaining become a double-edged sword, As long as oil continues to be a mainstay of societal needs, then the risk associated with it cannot be completely decreased. It can and, very likely, will happen again. Presently, the BP Transocean Deepwater Horizon may reopen despite this disaster and continue to obtain oil from the Gulf of Mexico.(Mervin, 2011). Ethically speaking, is this a risk worth taking? Solutions BP itself, along with dozens of dedicated environmental, conservationist, and volunteer efforts have contributed to cleaning up the evidence of the BP oil spill. It has now been several years and the fishing industry is reestablished and continues to aid in the restoration of the economy. However, the incident is not forgotten. To this day, fishermen continue to find shrimp with improperly formed eyes and crabs with malformed or absent claws. Such mutations prove that the damage to the environment goes far deeper than the “surface,” it can affect generations. The solutions to all of these issues involved in the BP oil spill, along with all disasters which human are accountable, is not a simpler as society may like. The core of the problem is society’s need for the oil; eliminate this element and the risk of such disasters drops to zero. Finding alternative energy needs, where the obtaining and implementation possesses far less profound risks and consequences. Environmentally, the reopening of the Transocean Deepwater facility is, despite the changes and innovations the company has claimed to prevent a similar occurrence, could be asking for another disaster. However, surprisingly the people in the areas affected feel a bit differently. Many support it. This facility offers jobs to an area with very high unemployment rates; the risk does not outweigh the need for available works (Mervin, 2011). Conclusion Science has come far in understanding how people, plant life, and animals are affected by such toxicants, pollutants, substances, and inhabitants. The BP oil spill taught us much more, including how lasting the affects can be. In the end, it will require lawmakers, scientists, researchers, companies, and individual citizens to learn from past mistakes and implement new policies, strategies, and preventative measures, which can tangibly limit the risk, which is some ways; we place ourselves and all of nature, in. We may have no choice but to embrace “greener” more environmentally friendly technology as a means of powering the world, therefore eliminating once and for all the threat of environmental risks that we create. It is really a matter of what quality of life do we wish to leave for the generations to come. If we destroy this world and people's personal health in the process how can we ever hope to maintain this beautiful world for the generations that come after us far into the future. Most people would probably prefer to be remembered as the generation that were responsible for great changes in society instead of the generation that ultimately was accountable for its destruction, The BO oil spill, give humanity an opportunity to see the dangers in their industrial acts and now have the scientific and technological means to change that legacy. References Mervin, J. (2011, April 11). Counting the cost of the BP disaster one year on. BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13120605 Rushe, D. (2013, September 30). Bp may face $18bn in fines for gross negligence as federal trial resumes. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/30/bp-gulf-oil-spill-negligence-fines Tiffany, J. (2013). Health effects from british petroleum oil spill. Geology and Human Health, 1. Retrieved from http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/bp_oil.html British Petroleum. (2013). Deepwater horizon accident and response. Retrieved from http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/gulf-of-mexico-restoration/deepwater-horizon-accident-and-response.html British Petroleum. (2013). Gulf of mexico restoration. British Petroleum. Retrieved from http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/gulf-of-mexico-restoration.html The Daily Green. (2013). The BP gulf of mexico oil spill update read more: Gulf oil spill - update on bp oil spill cleanup in the gulf of mexico - the daily green follow us. The Daily Green. Retrieved from http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/gulf-of-mexico-oil-spill Institute of Food Technologists. (2011). Fda risk assessment after gulf oil spill may need updating. Institutes of Food Technologists, 1-7. Retrieved from http://www.ift.org/Public-Policy-and-Regulations/Recent-News/2011/October/20a.aspx Read More