Human activity often leads to changes in the environment. The more he achieves in the field of technological progress, the more detrimental it affects the life around him. Particular attention in the issue of ecology is occupied by oil, the spill of which cannot be avoided during its extraction and transportation. Accidents in this industry are particularly detrimental to the environment and have serious consequences. Mankind cannot prevent possible catastrophes. However, it has learned how to clean up oil spills. Although these measures are not enough to fully restore the polluted ecosystem. What are oil spills and how are they cleaned up?
Concept
Oil spill is the release of this substance into the environment due to human activities. The reason may be the release of oil products or accidents at a number of facilities:
- tankers;
- oil platforms;
- wells;
- rigs.
The consequences of a spill are detrimental to the environment, and their liquidation can take from several months to many years.
Consequences of the spill
What is the danger of oil? Spilling it quitenatural substance leads to the destruction of all life on the surface of the earth, including water bodies. It spreads over many kilometers, covering everything in its path with a thin layer. This leads to the death of vegetation. Areas affected by oil become unsuitable for the existence of living organisms. Black film covers not only the surface of s alty springs. Oil particles can mix with water and penetrate to the depths of water bodies. This leads to the death of many marine organisms.
Ecosystem recovery is very slow. So, in 1989, there was a disaster in Alaska, as a result of which a huge amount of oil spilled (two hundred and sixty thousand barrels). Many millions of dollars were spent to eliminate the accident. Eighteen years later, the area was surveyed and more than twenty gallons of black fuel were found in the sand. Because of this, the ecosystem has not yet recovered along the coastline. According to scientists, the remnants of spilled oil disappear at a rate of four percent per year of the remaining total mass. That is, it will take more than a dozen years to restore the affected area.
Tanker accidents
The most dangerous oil (spill is inevitable due to human activity) for water bodies. It is lighter than water, therefore it spreads in the form of a thin film, occupying huge areas. The harm caused concerns all living organisms, as birds, fish, and mammals die. Fishing and tourism suffer from this.
Emergencyoil spills often occur due to the use of tankers for its transportation. One of the largest such disasters was the Exxon Valdez accident off the coast of Alaska in 1989, the consequences of which are described above.
Platform accidents
Accidents on offshore platforms are no less dangerous. Wells are drilled from them, from which oil is pumped, the spill of which becomes catastrophic for the ecosystem of the sea shelf.
The 2010 spill is considered the largest man-made disaster at sea. There was an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon platform. The amount of oil leaked into the Gulf of Mexico could not be calculated. However, according to some reports, five million barrels of liquid fuel leaked out. The deadly spot covered an area of seventy-five thousand square kilometers. This led not only to well-known consequences regarding the environment, but also almost led the mining company to bankruptcy. The fact is that the blame for such accidents lies with the owners of fishing licenses. It is they who are obliged to pay the costs of eliminating the consequences and compensate the damage to the victims.
There are black matter outflows in a natural way - from faults at the bottom of the seas and oceans. However, oil seeps out of them gradually, in small volumes. The ecosystem has time to adapt to such phenomena. How does humanity correct the consequences of its destructive activities?
The concept of OSR
Abridged Oil Spill Cleanupvariant is commonly referred to as OSR. This is a whole range of activities. They are aimed at removing stains and runoff of oil products from the surface of the soil and water.
OSA Methods
Spills of oil and oil products are removed by four main methods:
- Mechanical. Collection using specialized equipment.
- Thermal (burning). It is appropriate for an oil layer of more than thirty-three millimeters. Apply immediately after an accident before mixing the substance with water.
- Physico-chemical. The use of dispersants, sorbents that absorb and hold oil inside.
- Biological. The work of bacteria and fungi in order to absorb the remaining oil after applying the previous methods.
Sufficiently effective is the method of sorption cleaning (physico-chemical method). Its advantages are that contaminants are removed to the lowest residual concentration. In this case, the process can be controlled. Although the maximum sorption is achieved in the first four hours. The method is also unfriendly to the environment, so it is used in special cases.
The most environmentally friendly are biological methods. They are used by specialized organizations that have a license to conduct these works. An example of modern biological technology is biocomposting. This is the process of oil hydrocarbons oxidation with the help of special microflora. As a result, the black substance decomposes into carbon monoxide, water, and biomass. The process takes two to four months. Forbooms are widely used to prevent black spots from spreading over the water. The mass enclosed in them is burned out.
Specialized Vessels
Elimination of emergency oil spills is impossible without the use of special equipment. I use vessels both for individual works and for the whole complex of events. Depending on the functional purpose, there are the following types of ships:
- Oil skimmers. Their task is to independently collect mass from the water surface.
- Bond installers. These are high-speed vessels that deliver booms to the disaster area and also install them.
- Universal ships. They are able to provide almost all stages of OSR on their own.
OSRP stages
Spill clean-up of oil and oil products from the surface of the water is carried out as follows:
- Fences are installed to prevent stains from spreading. Oil separators and oil traps are also used.
- Sorbents are sprayed, which allow natural dispersion of the poured mass.
- Mechanical collection is carried out using skimmers, that is, devices for collecting oil products from the water surface.
OSA from the soil follows a different pattern. But more often than not, a universal system is needed, since pollution affects water and land at the same time, like a tragedy off the coast of Alaska. Then it is necessary to take into account regional, climatic and otherfeatures.
Remediation
After the completion of the OSR, a special commission is created to inspect the territory, determine the nature and depth of contamination. Further, it is appropriate to use the most effective methods of remediation of the contaminated area. The remaining oil is washed off and pumped out. The decomposition of petroleum products is stimulated by liming or milling. In order to reduce the concentration of hydrocarbons in the soil, a stable grass cover is created, that is, phytomelioration is carried out.
Problem warning
The adverse impact of oil production on all living things leaves no doubt. Moreover, no means will be able to restore the environment in the event of an oil spill. That is why it is necessary to adhere to high environmental standards in this industry. Oil spill prevention is possible when companies implement new performance standards that take into account negative experience.
In production, accidents can be caused by a variety of factors that should be taken into account. Steps to minimize leakage are as follows:
- protect the walls of tanks and oil pipelines from corrosion;
- avoid equipment failure;
- do not violate safety regulations;
- avoid the mistakes of workers.
At enterprises, a culture of safe work should be cultivated. At the same time, technological means are being developed in the world that can prevent the risk ofemergencies.
