The closer an oil pipeline leak in the Gulf of Mexico gets to the coast of Louisiana, the more danger it poses to ecosystems and animals. The Main Pass Oil Gathering Company was the first to notice the leak; experts believe it happened about 19 miles from the Mississippi River Delta.
The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the leak, although the precise site cannot be determined using remote-operated vehicles. Flyovers revealed that the oil slick was drifting southwestward, away from the coast of Louisiana, when the pipeline was cut off on Thursday.
In contrast to the Deepwater Horizon disaster of 2010, which leaked almost 210 million gallons of oil and killed 11 workers in the Gulf of Mexico, this leak is not as bad. Because of its preexisting bacterial population’s ability to digest oil, the Gulf is well-suited to handle oil spills. Since the spill’s spread might mitigate the immediate effects of surface oiling, it may be good news for marine creatures. Not only may oil have an impact on animals, but it can also have a harmful effect on wetland areas and marshes, speed up erosion, and maybe even poison dolphins and sea turtles as they make their way closer to shore.
The leak was a single, limited release, contrasting to the 87-day Deepwater disaster, which included the continual discharge of oil, which released 3.2 million barrels of oil at a rate of 42 gallons per barrel.
The spill impacted wildlife on the Louisiana coast, including birds, turtles, dolphins, and other mammals. We learned about distant sensing, effective reaction mechanisms, and harm to species in Deepwater.
Although pipelines are still the most secure method of transporting oil, the abandonment of pipelines by companies that have gone out of business is a significant concern.
