Springer Deep Oil Spills: Facts, Fate, and Effects

The demand for oil and gas has brought exploration and production to unprecedented depths of the world’s oceans.  Currently, over 50% of the oil from the Gulf of Mexico now comes from waters in excess of 1,500 meters (one mile) deep, where no oil was produced just 20 years ago.  The Deepwater Horizon oil spill blowout did much to change the perception of oil spills as coming just from tanker accidents, train derailments, and pipeline ruptures.  In fact, beginning with the Ixtoc 1 spill off Campeche, Mexico in 1979-1980, there have been a series of large spill events originating at the sea bottom and creating a myriad of new environmental and well control challenges. This volume explores the physics, chemistry, sub-surface oil deposition and environmental impacts of deep oil spills.  Key lessons learned from the responses to previous deep spills, as well as unresolved scientific questions for additional research are highlighted, all of which are appropriate for governmental regulators, politicians, industry decision-makers, first responders, researchers and students wanting an incisive overview of issues surrounding deep-water oil and gas production. From the Back Cover The demand for oil and gas has brought exploration and production to unprecedented depths of the world’s oceans.  Currently, over 50% of the oil from the Gulf of Mexico now comes from waters in excess of 1,500 meters (one mile) deep, where no oil was produced just 20 years ago.  The Deepwater Horizon oil spill blowout did much to change the perception of oil spills as coming just from tanker accidents, train derailments, and pipeline ruptures.  In fact, beginning with the Ixtoc 1 spill off Campeche, Mexico in 1979-1980, there have been a series of large spill events originating at the sea bottom and creating a myriad of new environmental and well control challenges.  This volume explores the physics, chemistry, sub-surface oil deposition and environmental impacts of deep oil spills.  Key lessons learned from the responses to previous deep spills, as well as unresolved scientific questions for additional research are highlighted, all of which are appropriate for governmental regulators, politicians, industry decision-makers, first responders, researchers and students wanting an incisive overview of issues surrounding deep-water oil and gas production. About the Author Steven A. Murawski is a Professor and Downtown Partnership/Peter Betzer Endowed Chair of Biological Oceanography at the University of South Florida.  Murawski currently serves as director of the C-IMAGE consortium conducting interdisciplinary oil-spill related research.  Prior to his current position, he was Director of Scientific Programs and Chief Science Advisor for the US National Marine Fisheries Service.  He is a fishery biologist with interests in population and ecosystem ecology and dynamics.  He has published nearly 200 journal articles, technical reports and book chapters.  Awards include the Department of Commerce Gold Medal.  His Ph.D. is in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Cameron H. Ainsworth is an Associate Professor of Fisheries Science at the University of South Florida.  He uses ‘end-to-end’ models and other means to study anthropogenic influences on marine ecosystems.  His recent work has considered fishing, climate change and oil spills as drivers of ecosystem change.  He keeps an applied focus, working with NOAA and state fisheries managers on common research themes and serving as a member of the Ecosystem Science and Statistical Committee of the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council.  He has published over 100 peer-reviewed and technical articles.  Awards include a Sloan Research Fellowship for early career scientists and an Outstanding Faculty Award.  His Ph.D. is in Resource Management and Environmental Studies from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.