OIL SPILL CLEAN-UP



SCE 3360 – Elaborate: Oceanography Oil Spill

Background:

More than 60 million gallons of oil enter the oceans every year, but it’s not reported on the news. That’s because this oil seeps from oil-bearing rock layers into the ocean as part of a natural process. When tankers running aground spill oil, that’s news, and currently these accidents deposit about 37 million gallons of oil into the ocean every year. The largest amount of oil entering the ocean through human activity is the 363 million gallons that come from industrial waste and automobiles. When people pour their used motor oil into the ground or into a septic system, it eventually seeps into the groundwater. Coupled with industrial waste discharged into rivers, oil becomes part of the run-off from waterways that empty into the ocean. All of this oil affects ocean ecosystems.

When an oil spill occurs in the ocean, the oil may spread across miles of open water and up onto beaches, littering them with tar balls. The intertidal zones-coastal areas that are the habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife-are often the most vulnerable. Animals may perish when the oil slicks their fur or downy feathers, decreasing the surface area so they are no longer insulated from the cold water. Or the animals may ingest the oil, then become sick or unable to reproduce properly.

When an oil spill occurs along a coastline, it affects the human population as well as wildlife. Emergency equipment and personnel must be rushed to the scene. The responsible party must be identified to determine who will pay for the cleanup. Usually the cleanup is a group effort by oil companies, government agencies, local groups, and volunteers. People rescue and clean birds and animals and painstakingly scrub the oil from the rocky shores with brushes and detergent. Coming in by sea and by air, crews skim the spreading oil from the water’s surface. Oil that cannot be skimmed is chemically emulsified-that is, droplets of oil are scattered into tiny particles that will then float away and disperse out to sea. Oil is also microscopically dispersed through oil-eating bacteria. These microscopic helpers are genetically engineered to ingest the oil and clean up long after the crews and volunteers have left.

April 20, 2010, the eve of Earth Day, marks the start of the largest accidental oil spill in global history. BP Oil and Gas Company’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded and after repeated failed efforts, the company temporarily capped the well 86 days later. The relief well intended to permanently seal the leak with mud and cement is slated weeks later in mid-August.

Scientists estimate that close to five million gallons of oil spilled into the gulf. In addition, more than 600 miles of coastline were oiled. Recovery efforts estimate 34.6 million gallons of oily water was removed through skimmers and 11.1 million gallons burned off of the sea surface. (References: , )

Purpose: To explore the complexities and limitations of surface oil spill remediation and recovery. To understand the cost associated with calculating risks and benefits of oil drilling.

Predict:

Before you start, predict which will be the best cleanup method (efficient & inexpensive) and whether clean-up will be easier in warm or cold water? Record in your notebook.

Oil Clean Up Methods:

• Boom & skimmers (calm seas only)

• Vacuum (calm seas)

• Absorbents: straw, sawdust, synthetic absorbents

• Sinking agents: sand, clay, cement (illegal in US)

• Burning = toxic air

• Chemical dispersants: emulsifiers, micro-organisms

• High pressure flushing/hoses

• Oil-eating bacteria (slow process, growth of bacteria affected by temperature and pressure at different depths)

Materials:

• aluminum pie plate

• newspaper

• olive oil (from teacher)

• small beaker (waste container)

• large beaker (to fill your ocean)

• cardboard (boom)

• gauze (absorbent)

• cotton (absorbent)

• nylon (skimmer)

• dropper (vacuum)

• straw

• string

• styrofoam packing

• ice

• thermometer

• dish detergent

• coffee carafe

•

Methods:

1. You will form a group of two and find another group of two to collaborate with. One group will use cold water and the other will use warm water.

2. Spread newspaper across the table and set up your pie plate ocean. Use ice to make the water cold for the cold ocean. Use warm water from the sink or carafe to simulate the warm ocean.

3. Take the temperature of the water and record it on the data table.

4. Study the supplies and prices listed in Table A. Design a method to clean up the oil spill. Remember: you must plan efficiently because you will be “charged” for the cost of each piece of equipment. You also need to absorb up very little water with the oil, because there is a charge for disposal as well.

5. Let me know when you are ready with a design and I will bring the oil.

6. Allow the oil to sit for one minute. Observe what happens to the oil as time passes. You should also include different weather conditions in your cleanup efforts. Blow gently on the surface of the water with the straw to simulate wind.

7. Begin the cleanup of the oil using the available materials. Record the time that each piece of equipment is used and the total cleanup time on your data table. Do not forget to record the cost of waste disposal (containers, used cotton balls, etc.) and the labor cost! Remember the expense!

8. You must design and run through three different methods of cleanup! Record each on the data table.

9. Your final experiment involves the detergent. Add three drops of dish detergent to your spill and record the results in the data table. You do not need to clean up the oil, simply observe the detergent’s effects.

10. If you used warm water, review your partner group’s data on cold water cleanup, and vice versa.

11. Clean up your mess, throwing the newspaper away outside. Complete your data table and the lab write-up.

|Equipment |Cost |

|dropper / vacuum |$100 / second |

|cotton ball |$20 / piece |

|cardboard / boom |$100 / piece |

|nylon / skimmer |$500 / piece |

|gauze / absorbent |$50 / piece |

|string |$10 / inch |

|styrofoam |$15 / piece |

|straw |$15 / inch |

|waste disposal: | |

| discarded cotton ball |$50 / each |

| container for wastewater |$1,000 / each |

| discarded gauze |$20 / each |

| discarded nylon |$50 / each |

| discarded string |$10 / inch |

| discarded cardboard |$75 / each |

|labor |$1,000 / person / second |

|equipment cleaning: | |

| styrofoam |$10 / each |

| nylon |$50 / each |

| vacuum |$50 / each |

| straw |$10 / inch |

Table A: Cost List

|Round 1: Ocean Temperature ________ | | |

|Equipment Used |Cost from Table A |Seconds of Use |Total Cost |

|  |  |or Number Used |  |

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|Total Clean-up Cost: _____________________________ |Total Clean-up Time: ____________________________ |

|Estimated % of oil cleaned up: ____________________ | | |

|Comments: (messy, left oily, etc.) | | |

|Round 2: Ocean Temperature ________ | | |

|Equipment Used |Cost from Table A |Seconds of Use |Total Cost |

|  |  |or Number Used |  |

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|Total Clean-up Cost: _____________________________ |Total Clean-up Time: ____________________________ |

|Estimated % of oil cleaned up: ____________________ | | |

|Comments: (messy, left oily, etc.) | | |

|Round 3: Ocean Temperature ________ | | |

|Equipment Used |Cost from Table A |Seconds of Use |Total Cost |

|  |  |or Number Used |  |

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|Total Clean-up Cost: _____________________________ |Total Clean-up Time: ____________________________ |

|Estimated % of oil cleaned up: ____________________ | | |

|Comments: (messy, left oily, etc.) | | |

Round 4: Detergent

Effects:

Time:

Possible applications:

Analysis Questions (for your notebook):

1. How did the temperature effect the dispersion of the oil in the ocean? Relate this information to compare a spill in the Gulf of Mexico vs. Alaska. Which spill would be more difficult to clean up? Why?

2. Which method was most effective in cleaning up only the oil, and not the water? Which method absorbed more water than oil? Compare their expenses relative to their effectiveness.

3. How does the time to the oil spill site and the effectiveness of the clean up relate to one another? When might this become a factor in real life?

4. Ocean spills are often contained by booms. A boom is a barrier of “fence” of some type. What materials could you use, or did you use, to construct a boom for your oil cleanup? Under what weather conditions would booms work best?

5. Fire is another technique often used to remove oil spills. The oil spill is ignited and allowed to burn. Where does the oil from the water go when it is burned? What kind of problems might this cause?

6. The Deep Horizon Oil Spill released millions of gallons of oil into approximately 1.5 km (almost 1 mile) deep into water column, not just at the surface. Brainstorm the kind of impact a deep water drilling leak like this will have on the Gulf of Mexico? Consider physical, chemical, geological and biological aspect of the gulf in your answer.

Additional Forum on Offshore Oil Drilling

This week, we will apply the general Oceanographic concepts we are learning into context of the Deep Horizon Oil Spill. As we reference a real-world problem and gain an understanding of the complexities and challenges facing oceanographers today, we will also consider the human impacts and implications of deep water drilling through a forum discussion.

Question to be discussed: Should the United States allow deep-water oil drilling in US waters?

This Forum will be held on __________________and you are the primary participants in the discussion. Instead of representing your personal beliefs, you will be assigned a group. The represented groups are:

THE FORUM PRESENTATION

Each group will receive Five MINUTES to present their position to a panel of US Senators. Imagine this to be a televised, town hall style debate. After each group has presented their views, the Senate panel will have an opportunity to ask clarifying questions. Once all groups present their views, the debate opens up to everyone and it is mediated by the panel of Senators.

To Adequately prepare, YOU MUST:

• identify the problem, your group’s perspective, approach and solutions to the problem (sometimes it helps to find specific people on the web and look at views from their perspective)

• support your ideas with data, visuals, publications, etc. These articles may be skewed to your perspective.

• be prepared to explain why deep water offshore drilling is different from near shore drilling.

• be prepared to respond to questions from other groups and members of the panel

• have a list of at least four discussion points or questions per person in case the forum gets quiet and there are no audience questions.

• -SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS TO _______________________________

HAVE FUN PREPARING YOUR PRESENTATION!!!! You might have a PowerPoint presentation, documents for the overhead, handouts or other creative presentation methods for the panel.

THE STAKEHOLDERS

GROUP I: Petroleum Industry Executives

GROUP 2: Geologists and Biologists

Group 3: Local Fisherman/Shrimpers

Group 4: Tourists (local state tourists travel to the beaches in the summer as well as out-of-state wealthier tourists)

Group 5: Residents (oil workers as well as small business folks)

Group 6: Politicians (local or national)

Group 7: Environmentalists (including those that are monitoring Deep Horizon Oil spill clean-up)

Group 8: Senatorial panel leading the debate in a televised town hall meeting

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