With all the focus on the BP Oil Spill, I have heard next to nothing about the Ixtoc I Oil Spill which occurred in 1979. One would think we would look at a past disaster to determine how best to proceed, and what to expect. The US and World media do not seem to think so, and only wish to focus on the current spill to boost their ratings. Let us look at the Ixtoc I Oil Spill, to determine how things will play out in the next few years.
The Accident
Ixtoc I was an exploratory Oil well being drilled by Sedco 135-F in the Bay of Campeche located in the Gulf of Mexico. On June 3, 1979, the Sedco 135-F was drilling the well nearly 3,600 meters below the sea floor when drilling mud circulation was lost. This caused massive pressure in the formation, allowing oil to rill the well column, blowing out the well. The oil caught fire, resulting in the sinking of the Sedco 135-F. Oil and natural gas shot to the surface of the gulf, burning for days. Oil was escaping at a rate of 30,000 barrels per day.
Extent of the Spill
For nearly two months, 30,000 barrels of oil per day were leaking into the Gulf of Mexico. In July mud was poured into the well, reducing the flow to 20,000 barrels of oil per day. In August a relief well was dug, where 100,000 steel, iron and lead balls were shoved into the well, reducing the flow to 10,000 barrels per day. The company in charge, Pemex claimed half of the oil burned as it reached the surface, while a third of it evaporated, and the rest was contained or dispersed. In the end, it took nearly 10 months to stop the leak.
In the end, experts estimated the volume of the spill to be 3 million barrels. The area affected by the spill was nearly 1,100 square miles. 162 miles of coastlines were impacted from the spill. Pemex spent nearly $100 million to clean up the spill. Effects were felt in the US, where 10,000 cubic yards of oiled material were removed.
Long Term Effects
It took beaches in the area 2-3 years before populations were back to normal. After 6 years, little evidence remained of the oil spill. This is good news, as the Ixtoc I was the fourth largest oil spill in History. As a Texas Native, before this spill I had never even heard of the Ixtoc I oil spill.
Comparisons
It is hard to pin down an exact amount of barrals per day the BP Oil Spill is dumping into the Gulf. Some estimates point to 60,000. Let us assume this is an accurate total, as we do not yet have accurate totals. The spill began on April 20, 2010. That is 77 days. Now, 60,000 X 77 = 4.62 million barrels, or over 1.5 times the size of the Ixtoc I. We could hit 10-20 million barrels before this is all over.
The size of the spill is estimated to be 2,500 to 9,100 square miles. This is at least 2 times the size of the Ixtoc I. However, can we believe BP, or our Government to tell us the truth as to the extent of the spill? What occurs if it takes us a year to cap the well? How much of the ecosystem in the Gulf will die? Will the oil go outside the Gulf, and impact other areas of the planet? We do not have these answers, all we know is this is a very bad situation.
In Conclusion
It is hard to estimate where we go from here. If things end up like the Ixtoc I we will be very very lucky. I doubt we will, and expect a nightmare for 10-20 years. I do not see BP cleaning anything up, and expect them to go bankrupt before this is all over. The Obama Administration is inept, and does not appear to care, as we have not even allowed foreign aid to enter the affected area. Our leaders have failed us, and we will pay the price.
Source 1: Click Here.
Source 2: Click Here.
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Tags: BP, BP Oil Sp, Ixtoc I Oil Spill
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