Offshore oil production not significant polluter, says government report

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1977 · Ocean Ind.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5152611

Danenberger, E P

Only 0.0028% of the oil produced in the Gulf of Mexico from 1971 through 1975 was spilled. World-wide, natural seeps introduce nearly 7 times more oil into the sea than offshore activity, while transportation, the worst offender, puts in 25 times more than offshore oil. The report includes data for spills of 50 bbl or less; about 85.5% of the total spill volume was from 5 of the 5857 incidents. In only one case was environmental damage reported, when minor amounts of oil reached 1000 ft of beach on the Chandeleur Islands after the 9/9/74 Cobia pipeline break. The report states that 50 ppm discharges cause no adverse effect, and that hydrocarbons in this concentration may even benefit microbial sea life.

• Research Organization: Dep. Int.
• OSTI ID: 5152611
• Journal Information: Ocean Ind.; (United States), Vol. 12:11
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
OFFSHORE DRILLING
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
OIL SPILLS
OIL WELLS
GULF OF MEXICO
PETROLEUM
SEAS
SEEPS
TANKER SHIPS
WATER POLLUTION
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
POLLUTION
SHIPS
SURFACE WATERS
WELLS
020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)