Oil spills can occur from various sources including accidental spills, leaks, storm water runoff, and waste disposal. While offshore drilling contributes a small amount (2.1%) of oil in the ocean annually, transportation accidents contribute more (5.2%). When an oil spill occurs, the oil spreads on the surface and is moved by currents and wind, impacting open ocean, coastal, and shoreline areas. Oil that reaches shorelines can contaminate beaches, rocks, vegetation, and wildlife habitats both on land and at sea, causing damage to fisheries, wildlife, recreation, and long-term effects on shoreline areas. Truly preventing oil spills requires responsibility and care from individuals, governments, and industries

1. Oil Spills: Impact on the Ocean Submitted By K. Anand

2. Meaning of Oil spill Oil wastes that enter the ocean come from many sources, some being accidental spills or leaks, and some being the results of chronic and careless habits in the use of oil and oil products. Most waste oil in the ocean consists of oily storm water drainage from cities and farms, untreated waste disposal from factories and industrial facilities, and unregulated recreational boating

3. Prevalence during Drilling versus Transportation

4. Offshore oil spills or leaks may occur during various stages of well drilling or work over and repair operations. These stages can occur while oil is being produced from offshore wells, handled, and temporarily stored; or when oil is being transported offshore, either by flow line, underwater pipeline, or tanker. approximately 706 million gallons of waste oil in the ocean each year, offshore drilling operations contribute about 2.1 percent, and transportation accidents (both ships and tankers) account for another 5.2 percent. The amount of oil spilled or leaked during offshore production operations is relatively insignificant

5. Oil Spill Behavior When oil is spilled in the ocean, it initially spreads in the water (primarily on the surface), depending on its relative density and composition. The oil slick formed may remain cohesive, or may break up in the case of rough seas. Waves, water currents, and wind force the oil slick to drift over large areas, impacting the open ocean, coastal areas, and marine and terrestrial habitats in the path of the drift.

6. Oil Spill Interaction with Shoreline If oil waste reaches the shoreline or coast, it interacts with sediments such as beach sand and gravel, rocks and boulders, vegetation, and terrestrial habitats of both wildlife and humans, causing erosion as well as contamination. Waves, water currents, and wind move the oil onto shore with the surf and tide

7. Oil Spills Impact on the Ocean Damage to Fisheries, Wildlife, and Recreation Long-term Fate of Oil on Shore

8. Prevention Cleanup and Recovery Environmental Recovery Rates Costs and Prevention

9. conclusion Responsibility for the prevention of oil spills falls upon individuals as well as on governments and industries. Because the sources of oil waste in the ocean are generally careless, rather than accidental, truly effective prevention of oil spills involves everyone