What Causes Oil Spills?
When oil of any type is released into the natural environment, the result is termed an oil spill. Most people think of marine oil spills when they visualize an oil spill, but the escape of oil into the natural environment is a problem on land as well. Since many humans rely heavily on petroleum products such as plastic, fuel, and lubricating oil, oil spills are an unfortunate byproduct of the human way of life. A number of things cause oil spills, ranging from carelessness to deliberate dumping.
Many people are familiar with tanker accidents, since they are highly publicized and they release large volumes of oil into the ocean. In fact, only a small percentage of global oil spills are related to tanker accidents such as explosions, hull failure, running aground, and collisions. These oil spills tend to be very harmful because of the sheer volume of oil released at once, posing a serious threat to marine animals and seabirds. They are also used to attract attention to the larger issue of oil spills, in the hopes of reforming policies which are lax on petroleum regulation.
One of the most common causes of oil spills is actually runoff from the land. Numerous land-based engines such as those used to run cars function on petroleum fuel and use petroleum based lubricants. All of these substances are slowly released, accumulating on roads and in the ground and ultimately ending up in the ocean. The problem is compounded by people who do not dispose of things like used motor oil safely. Dumping used motor oil in the drain is illegal in many places because many drains run directly to the sea.
Oil spills can also be caused by natural seepage, especially in the ocean. As tectonic plates shift, they may release oil from reserves trapped deep beneath the ocean floor. Natural seepage can also be accelerated through human activity such as drilling. The routine loading and unloading of crude oil and other petroleum products also causes oil spills, as do deliberate acts such as dumping oil or setting oil wells on fire.
Extraction and storage of oil are also accompanied by seepage and spills. Offshore drilling routinely creates low level spills, and can sometimes cause a “blowout,” a massive gush of petroleum. Storage tanks are a common source of oil spills as well. On land, storage tanks and pipes can be damaged by things like hurricanes, resulting in leaks of all sizes, and in the ocean, bunkering can lead to the release of large amounts of oil.
The petroleum industry undertakes measures such as the use of negative pressure pipes and storage containers to reduce the likelihood of oil spills. These measures protect both the environment and the profits of the oil company.
Written by S.E. Smith
