Oil Spills

Oil spills have occurred all over the world and the number one cause came from tanker accidents

The causes of past oil spills have included 10 tanker accidents, 2 drilling site accidents, 1 pipeline failure and 1 act of war.

In the US, we remember the oil spills that occurred near our shores, like the 2010 BP leak in the Gulf of Mexico and the 1989 Exxon Valdez accident in Alaska.

Act of War - In 1991 the Iraqi Army spilled 380 – 520 million gallons of oil into the Persian Gulf at Kuwait.

Pipeline Failure - In 1983, a poorly maintained oil pipeline broke and leaked 84 million gallons over 170 acres of land near the Kolva River in Russia.

Oil Drilling Accidents – We had 2 notable drilling accidents from 1979 to 2010.

In 2010 a BP oil rig sprang a leak while drilling a deep ocean site and leaked 206 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

In 1979, Pemex, a Mexican oil company sprang a leak while drilling a deep ocean site and spilled 140 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Oil Tanker Accidents – We had 10 notable accidents from 1967 to 1991. 

In 1989 the Exxon Valdez oil tanker spilled 11 million gallons of oil in Prince William Sound in Alaska.

In 1979, a Greek oil tanker hit another ship during a storm and leaked 90 million gallons near Trinidad.

In 1983, a tanker hit an oil platform and spilled 80 million gallons of oil into the Persian Gulf near Iran.

In 1983, a tanker caught on fire and spilled 79 million gallons of oil near South Africa.

In 1978, an Amoco tanker was caught in a storm and ran aground spilling 69 million gallons into the English Channel near France.

In 1991, an ABT tanker exploded and spilled 51-81 million gallons of oil near Angola.

In 1991, an MT tanker exploded and spilled 45 million gallons of oil near Genoa Italy.

In 1988, the Odyssey tanker exploded and spilled 40 million gallons of oil near Nova Scotia Canada.

In 1972, a South Korean tanker hit a Brazilian tanker. They caught fire and spilled 35 million gallons of oil in the Gulf of Oman.

In 1967, the Torrey Canyon tanker hit a reef and spilled 25-36 million gallons of oil near Cornwall UK.

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/the-13-largest-oil-spills-in-history

Oil drilling and tanker companies are responsible for clean-up of oil spills. This clean-up takes years and costs billions.  These companies will be more careful from here on out.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader