500,000 Barrels of Oil Leak into Gulf of Mexico
Oil Seeping from Underground is Source of Most Ocean Contamination
Natural seepage is believed to account for 60% of the oil in North American waters. The National Academies of Science in a 2002 report estimated that 260,000 tons of oil were input into North American maritime waters annually, 1990-1999. 160,000 tons were from natural seepage.
Oil seeps occur throughout the Gulf of Mexico. In a 1972 paper titled Natural Hydrocarbon Seepage in the Gulf of Mexico. Researchers from Texas A&M University said this about the history of this seepage:
"Archaeological reports indicate that the Karankawa Indians were using tar in their pottery making in pre-Columbian times. pottery making in pre-Columbian times. Survivors of DeSoto's group used tar found along the Texas-Louisiana coast to caulk their boats.
From 1902 to 1909 heavy oil slicks were noted in an area about 100 miles south of the Louisiana coast. Oil spouting into the air was reported in the same area in 1909. Oil ponds off the Sabine area are reported in a USGS publication in 1903.
Reports of seeps in the Gulf are numerous, and the Department's study has located several general areas of seepage within and around the Gulf of Mexico."
A Department of Energy website details studies that estimate that there may be as many as 5,000 active seeps in the northern Gulf of Mexico. In the Green Canyon area of the Gulf, they estimated at least 900 individual seeps.
In a paper presented at the 2000 Ocean Sciences Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, and titled Estimates of Total Hydrocarbon Seepage into the Gulf of Mexico Based on Satellite Remote Sensing Images, one researcher estimated that 500,000 barrels of oil seep into the Gulf each year, twice the result of the Exxon Valdez spill. That seepage is not addressed by any government, and mitigation efforts are non-existent.
Oil leaks and spills from offshore drilling are rare. The Christian Science Monitor in an article states that in the 30 year period 1971 - 2000 only 2% of the volume of oil spilled in U.S. waters was due to offshore accidents. The National Academies of Science report states that in their study period, only an average 160 tons of oil went in to North American waters from drilling rigs.
Published by Charles Simmins
Charles Simmins is a native Western New Yorker with nearly thirty years of experience at senior level accounting positions in non-profit and for profit organizations. He was a volunteer firefighter, and a vo... View profile
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4 Comments
Post a CommentLynn, there was a plan, several, in fact. Just as with many disaster plans, the longer we went without a disaster, the less money was set aside. Plans also need frequent reviewing, again, not a priority absent a recent disaster.
Have seen write ups of many oil spills all over the world for many years, why did USA not have a plan in place knowing the history as should other countries.
They will need to revise their numbers now. 500,000 barrels seeped from several points over a year is quite different from what will quite likely be four or more times that spewing from one location over a few months.
Very interesting. To bad this info is never discussed in mainstream media.