Oil Spills

Oil spills are an environmental concern that many people associate with the oil and gas industry. The exploration and production of oil and gas rarely create an oil spill, and when one does occur, it is typically less than one barrel of oil. [Source: US Minerals Management Service]

Most oil spills occur primarily during transportation, mostly involving the tankers that are used to move oil from where it is produced to where consumers need it. But oil spills from transportation have declined significantly during the past few years, and the growing use of double-hulled tankers that provide extra protection.

Another source of oil spills during transportation is pipelines. Unfortunately, a major reason for spills from pipelines in developing countries is civil unrest, such as pipeline ruptures caused by local residents. Weather, such as the recent hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, is another factor in pipeline-related spills. The US National Research Council, in its 2002 study on Oil in the Sea III , estimated that, worldwide, less than 15% of the oil in the world’s oceans is from industry sources, including transportation. For the United States, the percentage of oil in the sea from the oil and gas industry is even lower—only 5%.

How can you reduce the amount of oil that reaches our lakes, streams, or oceans?

By far, the largest sources of oil pollution are urban runoff and natural seeps. Urban runoff comes from rain washing away oil drips from cars or machinery, people pouring used oil into the gutter, and using other improper disposal methods.