- Offshore oil spills. With this in mind, Offshore Technology takes a look at the five biggest oil spills worldwide and the key Mar 3, 2020 · Oil spills and accidents on the rise With safety standards weakened and inspections and enforcement actions on the decline, oil spills and injuries from offshore drilling have been rising. 2 days ago · One of California’s worst oil spills occurred off the Santa Barbara coast in 2015, when a corroded pipeline burst Sep 4, 2025 · EPA's oil spill prevention program includes the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule and the Facility Response Plan (FRP) rule. 15, 2025, The Associated Press reported the California Attorney General’s Office sued Sable Offshore Corp. 2 days ago · Trump officials back firm in fight over California offshore oil drilling after huge spill One of California’s worst oil spills occurred off the Santa Barbara coast in 2015, when a corroded 1 day ago · Energy & Environment Trump officials back Houston-based firm in fight over California offshore oil drilling after huge spill Sable Offshore Corp. OCS Platform and Pipeline spill rates and to Worldwide and U. An oil spill includes, but is not limited to, any uncontrolled discharge of crude oil, gasoline, or other fuels or oil by-products. As the demand for oil continues, offshore drilling has increased, heightening the risk of such accidents. , Sea Gem collapse, Santa Barbara blowout, Piper Alpha disaster, Valdez oil spill), industry came up with new sets of rules, made changes to the 2 days ago · One of California’s worst oil spills occurred off the Santa Barbara coast in 2015, when a corroded pipeline burst. Responders applied chemical Sep 27, 2024 · Offshore oil spills are some of the most devastating environmental disasters, threatening marine life, coastal ecosystems, and economies dependent on healthy oceans. A number of major oil spills triggered worldwide consciousness of oil spill preparedness and response. Offshore Oil Spill, Researchers Reveal Most-Polluting Rigs Satellite imagery shows the worst sites worldwide for oil slicks and methane emissions. The offshore oil drilling operation was shut down but a young Texas-based fossil Mar 10, 2025 · Major oil spills can be catastrophic for seabirds and marine life. waters annually—most small, less than one barrel. It is important to remember that these are projections based on probability only NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Fifteen years after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded off the Gulf Coast, killing 11 and sending 134 million gallons (500 million liters) of crude gushing into the ocean, the effects of the nation’s worst offshore oil spill are still being felt. The offshore oil drilling operation was shut down but a young Texas-based fossil The present study offers an extensive overview on the evolution and current state of marine oil spill research in Brazil and then discusses further directions. This massive spill severely harmed the U. 3 days ago · A California judge on Tuesday ruled against Houston-based oil company Sable Offshore's request to lift the state's cease and desist order on repairs it had made to an onshore pipeline system An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. While these underwater operations extract vital resources from beneath the ocean floor, they simultaneously create a complex web of environmental hazards that threaten marine ecosystems on both local and global scales. Spills can kill wild NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Fifteen years after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded off the Gulf Coast, killing 11 and sending 134 million gallons (500 million liters) of crude gushing into the ocean, the effects of the nation’s worst offshore oil spill are still being felt. NOAA was on the scene from the earliest moments of the event This subpart describes the additional requirements for preparing OSRPs and maintaining oil spill preparedness for facilities conducting exploratory drilling operations from a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) on the Arctic OCS. Offshore oil and gas drilling causes harmful pollution at every phase of the process, including exploration, production, and transportation. This collaboration between BSEE, U. Public Law 101-380, August 18, 1990), estimates of oil-spill occurrence became even more important to natural resource trustees and to responsible parties involved in Apr 23, 2025 · On April 20, 2010, the oil drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, operating in the Macondo Prospect in the Gulf of America, exploded and sank resulting in the death of 11 workers on the Deepwater Horizon and the largest spill of oil in the history of marine oil drilling operations. 2 days ago · When the corroded pipeline burst in 2015, inky crude spread along the Southern California coast, becoming the state’s worst oil spill in decades. Offshore Accidents of the 20th & 21st Centuries History's Worst Oil Rig Explosions, Spills & Accidents Drilling for oil is inherently dangerous. The exact cause of those spills is not always known. How well are they protected from events like Ida? Today’s Apr 20, 2010 · As Congress threatens to expand offshore oil and gas drilling, we must remember the destructive long-term legacy that oil spills leave behind. Jan 28, 2019 · In 1969, oil from an offshore well left beaches in Santa Barbara, Calif. More than 140,000 gallons (3,300 barrels) of oil gushe In 2019, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) sponsored a project in cooperation with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to improve the content of the coastal zone area contingency plans (ACPs) with respect to the information necessary to effectively plan for and respond to large oil spills from offshore oil and gas facilities. Based on the learnings from the incidents (e. history. Whether offshore in the Gulf or in the oilfields of West Texas and the Northeastern United States Apr 3, 2025 · Oil production ships like the Bonga are a critical part of the offshore oil industry. 2 million barrels of oil escaped into the Gulf of America over 87 days from a damaged wellhead a mile below the surface. The 2022 review of the Bonga was an attempt to address maintenance and safety problems in Shell’s oil production ship flotilla. This infographic shows where and when spills over 10,000 barrels or 420,000 gallons have occurred. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, which remains the largest marine oil spill in U. The offshore drilling operation was shut down but a new company is determined to revive it. The offshore oil drilling operation was shut down but a young Texas-based fossil … Jun 12, 2025 · When oil spills into the ocean, either from a leak on an oil tanker or equipment failures on offshore drilling rigs, it can have devastating environmental impacts. 15, 2025 12:05 AM ET Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM), PAA, PAGP, SOC Jan 17, 2025 · Ten oil spills of more than seven tonnes were recorded from tanker incidents in 2024, the same number as in 2023, according to ITOPF. This April marks 15 years since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill — the largest offshore oil spill in U. 1 day ago · Energy & Environment Trump officials back Houston-based firm in fight over California offshore oil drilling after huge spill Sable Offshore Corp. The rates are calculated as the ratio of the count of occurrences of spills ≥1,000 barrels (159 m3, 159 kiloliters, 136 metric tonnes, 42,000 U. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was an environmental disaster beginning 20 April 2010 off the coast of the United States in the Gulf of Mexico, on the BP -operated Macondo Prospect. A federal-state trustee council is set up after a spill to manage the money for related environmental restoration projects. This contains information on accidental spillages of persistent and non-persistent hydrocarbon oil since 1970, except those resulting from acts of war. Sep 29, 2025 · Deepwater Horizon oil spill, largest marine oil spill in history, caused by an April 20, 2010, explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig—located in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 41 miles (66 km) off the coast of Louisiana—and its subsequent sinking on April 22. Nearly 15 years on from the biggest marine spill in history, are we any better at cleaning up oil at sea? The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management produces oil-spill risk analyses (OSRAs) for proposed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas lease sales and developmental activities. Four million barrels of oil flowed from the damaged Macondo well over an 87-day period, before it was finally capped on Sep 15, 2016 · Offshore oil spills are of tremendous concern due to their potential impact on economic and ecological systems. ” California has been the site of several large oil spills in recent history. 5 According to NOAA, since 1969, at least 44 oil spills of over 420,000 gallons each have affected the waters of the U. The incident resulted in the tragic loss of 11 lives, the release of approximately 134 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of America, and unprecedented impacts to coastal resources and the people who depend on them. The release of oil and chemicals into our coastal waterways is a major problem. Workers exert astronomical pressure on the earth's foundation, using power to drill and extract the planet's natural resources deep within the ground. Specifically, this refers to oil spills from tankers – container ships transporting oil – where consistent, high-quality global data is available. What are the Causes of Petroleum Spills Petroleum spills can occur both on land and offshore, caused by a variety of human 2 days ago · California Offshore Oil Fight FILE - Clean up crews remove oil-laden sand on the beach at Refugio State Beach, site of an oil spill, north of Goleta, Calif. The damaged well ultimately spewed 134 million gallons of oil and gas into the Gulf of Mexico — the equivalent of more than 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools. 2 days ago · Trump officials back firm in fight over California offshore oil drilling after huge spill The offshore oil drilling operation that caused one of California's worst oil spills was shut down but a Jan 3, 2019 · Fast Facts After a significant offshore oil spill—such as the Exxon Valdez or Deepwater Horizon incidents—it can take decades and billions of dollars to undo the environmental damage. Often permanently moored in one location, they take oil from wells on the ocean floor and transfer it to tankers. Oceanic oil spills became a major environmental problem in the 1960s, chiefly as a result of intensified petroleum exploration and production on continental shelves and the use of supertankers for transporting oil. With the implementation of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (U. But when oil accidentally spills into the ocean, it can cause big problems. Sep 15, 2025 · Oil spill, leakage of petroleum onto the surface of a large body of water. 2 days ago · Trump officials back firm in fight over California offshore oil drilling after huge spill The offshore oil drilling operation that caused one of California's worst oil spills was shut down but a Sep 26, 2021 · The 55 oil spill reports, a record since NOAA began tracking them with satellites, were in an area full of abandoned oil and gas pipelines and drilling platforms. tanker and barge oil spill rates use the most recent available data since the prior report to calculate rates consistent with current trends. On this page, you can find all our data, visualizations, and writing relating to oil spills. Satellite data is critical for detecting oil spills early to minimise environmental impact, and can monitor the movement of oil across the ocean surface. [6][7][8][9] It is considered the largest marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry and estimated to be 8 to 31 percent larger in volume than the previous largest, the Ixtoc I oil spill, also in the The 2010 Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and fire resulted in the most significant offshore oil spill in U. S. Thousands of spills occur in U. Causes and preventative measures to avoid offshore oil spills. It is important to remember that these are projections based on probability only Jul 25, 2016 · Thousands of oil and chemical spills occur each year in the nation’s coastal waters. 15, 2025 12:05 AM ET Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM), PAA, PAGP, SOC Sep 1, 2024 · This comprehensive review delves into the environmental toxicity of oil, with a focus on its profound effects on aquatic ecosystems, soil, and plant life. 2 days ago · One of California’s worst oil spills occurred off the Santa Barbara coast in 2015, when a corroded pipeline burst. , headquartered in Houston, is facing a slew of An oil spill includes, but is not limited to, any uncontrolled discharge of crude oil, gasoline, or other fuels or oil by-products. , coated with crude and littered with dead birds. Aug 1, 2024 · The present study offers an extensive overview on the evolution and current state of marine oil spill research in Brazil and then discusses further di… Dec 15, 2021 · In 2010, an explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in 11 deaths and the largest oil spill in U. 2 days ago · Trump Officials Back Firm in Fight Over California Offshore Oil Drilling After Huge Spill When the corroded pipeline burst in 2015, inky crude spread along the Southern California coast, becoming The largest spill in U. Oil company BP paid billions of dollars in damages, propelling ambitious coastal restoration projects across five states 2 days ago · Trump officials back firm in fight over California offshore oil drilling after huge spill One of California’s worst oil spills occurred off the Santa Barbara coast in 2015, when a corroded 1 day ago · One of California’s worst oil spills occurred off the Santa Barbara coast in 2015, when a corroded pipeline burst. 2 days ago · One of California’s worst oil spills occurred off the Santa Barbara coast in 2015, when a pipeline burst. Sep 14, 2021 · In the wake of Hurricane Ida, oil spills—including 1 over 10 miles long—were soon spotted in the Gulf of Mexico. history when an estimated 3. More than 140,000 gallons of oil gushed out, blackening beaches for 150 miles Abstract Estimates of occurrence rates for offshore oil spills are useful for analyzing potential oil-spill impacts and for oil-spill response contingency planning. 2 days ago · Trump officials back firm in fight over California offshore oil drilling after huge spill One of California’s worst oil spills occurred off the Santa Barbara coast in 2015, when a corroded 1 day ago · One of California’s worst oil spills occurred off the Santa Barbara coast in 2015, when a corroded pipeline burst. Jan 1, 2016 · This report updates the 2012 oil spill occurrence rate estimates applicable to offshore oil exploration and development activity in the U. 2 million gallons of crude oil into the ocean and onto nearby shores. They range from small ship collisions to recreational boating fuel mishaps to massive spill events like the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. over allegations that the company has illegally discharged waste into waterways and harmed wildlife in its bid to restart oil drilling operations off the coast of May 3, 2022 · Oceana believes that when it comes to offshore drilling, the question is not whether they will spill — it’s when, where, and how much. But currently, there are about 26,600 miles of active and no-longer-used (decommissioned) offshore oil and gas pipelines along the seafloor in the Gulf alone. , May 20, 2015. Sep 10, 2014 · Oil rig or oil tanker accidents are behind the worst offshore oil spills in history, including the tragic Deepwater Horizon disaster of 2010. These analyses estimate the potential oil-spill risks that may be associated with offshore activities that occur once leases are awarded. EPA is the lead federal response agency for oil spills occurring in inland waters. history, Deepwater Horizon in 2010, occurred when an offshore oil rig exploded and later collapsed. In 1969, a blowout of a Union Oil drilling rig platform off the coast of Santa Barbara resulted in a spill of 4. 6 Options for responding to an offshore oil spill include collecting the oil through 21 hours ago · Safety Trump Officials Back Firm in Fight Over California Offshore Oil Drilling After Huge Spill A fossil fuel company wants to restart an infamous pipeline. Public Law 101-380), oil spill occurrence rates like those calculated in this report have increased in importance to regulatory and industry Oct 6, 2021 · Booms float in the Talbert Marsh as workers try to limit the spread of oil from a spill from an offshore oil rig in Huntington Beach, California, on Monday, October 4, 2021. Oil is an essential resource to power our world. The chemical properties of various oils Sep 15, 2025 · Oil spill, leakage of petroleum onto the surface of a large body of water. Gulf Coast for years, devasting businesses, oiling beaches, and killing An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. Offshore-technology. The country's reaction helped create the modern environmental movement. Discover the environmental impact and the need for stricter regulations. Eleven workers were killed, and ecosystems across the Gulf of America suffered. Given the historical and current relevance of this issue, this paper also aims to summarize the exploration, geological background, design o … Aug 10, 2018 · Lessons from the Five Biggest Oil Spills API Energy’s Oil Spill Prevention and Response guidelines give three primary objectives to deal with the resulting fallout: prevent the spill from reaching shore, reduce the impact on marine life, and speed the degradation of any unrecovered oil. 2 days ago · Trump officials back firm in fight over California offshore oil drilling after huge spill The offshore oil drilling operation that caused one of California's worst oil spills was shut down but a Aug 22, 2023 · The Biden administration has tightened offshore oil drilling safety regulations, including rules regarding the use of “blowout preventer” devices on offshore oil and gas drilling rigs. Industry goes to great lengths to prevent spills in order to protect our environment and conserve a vital natural resource that supports our economy and way of life. Mar 10, 2025 · Major oil spills can be catastrophic for seabirds and marine life. Human activities, especially those related to offshore oil exploration and transportation, contribute to significant disruptions in marine environments, resulting in oil spills and pollution. May 21, 2010 · Regulatory Reforms In response to the Deepwater Horizon explosion and resulting oil spill in the Gulf of America, the most aggressive and comprehensive reforms to offshore oil and gas regulation and oversight in U. gallons) to the Sep 26, 2021 · The 55 oil spill reports, a record since NOAA began tracking them with satellites, were in an area full of abandoned oil and gas pipelines and drilling platforms. 2 days ago · Trump officials back firm in fight over California offshore oil drilling after huge spill Oct. Crude oil is the liquid remains of ancient plants and animals found in Jun 4, 2020 · The oil spill disasters have a huge negative impact on marine species and the recovery work related involves billions of dollars. , headquartered in Houston, is facing a slew of Feb 25, 2025 · Oil is an ancient fossil fuel that we use to heat our homes, generate electricity, and power large sectors of our economy. 6 Options for responding to an offshore oil spill include collecting the oil through 2 days ago · Trump officials back firm in fight over California offshore oil drilling after huge spill The offshore oil drilling operation that caused one of California's worst oil spills was shut down but a Apr 17, 2025 · There are significant risks with offshore drilling today. The term is usually given to marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters, but spills may also occur on land. Oil spills can harm sea creatures, ruin a day at the beach, and make seafood unsafe to eat. More than 140,000 gallons (3,300 barrels) of oil 2 days ago · Trump officials back firm in fight over California offshore oil drilling after huge spill The offshore oil drilling operation that caused one of California's worst oil spills was shut down but a . 2 days ago · Trump officials back firm in fight over California offshore oil drilling after huge spill The offshore oil drilling operation that caused one of California's worst oil spills was shut down but a The updates to the U. May 21, 2025 · A new satellite analysis uncovers extensive oil leaks from offshore rigs, with hundreds of thousands of gallons spilling into oceans. View data, maps and resources related to the oil spills and the environmental emergencies they cause. Since the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (U. When the corroded pipeline burst in 2015, inky crude spread along the Southern California coast, becoming the state’s worst oil spill in decades. 2 days ago · Trump officials back firm in fight over California offshore oil drilling after huge spill The offshore oil drilling operation that caused one of California's worst oil spills was shut down but a 2 days ago · Trump officials back firm in fight over California offshore oil drilling after huge spill One of California’s worst oil spills occurred off the Santa Barbara coast in 2015, when a corroded pipeline burst. Jul 17, 2006 · The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) collects offshore incident statistics and uses the results of incident investigations and data analysis to identify incident causes and trends. 3 days ago · When the corroded pipeline burst in 2015, inky crude spread along the Southern California coast, becoming the state’s worst oil spill in decades. May 16, 2025 · Fossil Fuels Fifteen Years After Largest U. Feb 12, 2024 · Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister says a large oil spill near the twin-island nation in the eastern Caribbean has caused a “national emergency. 1 day ago · In a story published Oct. Over the past few decades, the world has seen a number of major offshore incidents that claimed hundreds of lives, damaged the environment critically and caused billions of dollars of property losses. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) (Anderson, Mayes, and LaBelle, 2012). Oct 8, 2025 · Louisiana AG Liz Murrill is asking the DOJ to drop a $128 million lawsuit against insurers tied to the nation’s longest-running oil spill, saying it harms the state’s energy industry. ITOPF maintains a database of oil spills from tank vessels, including combined carriers, FPSOs and barges. More than 140,000 gallons (3,300 barrels) of oil Sep 30, 2024 · Offshore drilling has long been a cornerstone of the global energy industry, but beneath the promise of oil extraction lives a dark reality – where they drill, they spill. Oil spills can result from the release of crude oil from tankers, offshore platforms 2 days ago · When the corroded pipeline burst in 2015, inky crude spread along the Southern California coast, becoming the state's worst oil spill in decades. More than 7,300 oil spills occurred in federal waters between 2010 and 2022 — an average of over one spill every day. The truth is that offshore drilling is a dirty and dangerous business that puts fragile ecosystems, marine wildlife, and our Feb 15, 2008 · Offshore oil spills during tanker and terminal offshore operations. com profiles the world’s biggest oil spill disasters based on the volume of oil released. history were launched. What kind of impact do oil spills have? 3 days ago · When the corroded pipeline burst in 2015, inky crude spread along the Southern California coast, becoming the state’s worst oil spill in decades. In addition to marine pollution, offshore drilling generates carbon dioxide and methane emissions. Oil company BP paid billions of dollars in damages, propelling ambitious coastal restoration projects across five states The offshore oil and gas industry represents one of the most environmentally challenging sectors of modern energy production. This disaster is considered to have been a catalyst for the modern environmental movement. g. tvov whlz p9b8h0j a5ae hj1ln3 vhotp lcv c8br sbmt 1mdvygss
