Spill

The Arctic is a region that presents particularly challenging conditions for the oil industry and for responders due to the increasingly extreme weather conditions (cold, ice, hurricane force winds) and remote location with limited response infrastructure

The second line of defense for the workers and the well to prevent a blowout is the group of equipment called blowout preventers (BOPs). BOPs and associated valves are installed on top of the casing head before drilling ahead after rigging up. These high-pressure safety valves and associated equipment are designed to shut off the well hole and prevent the escape of the underground fluids and prevent a blowout from occurring

Illustration of oil spill effects on mangroves

Illustration of oil spill

Positioned by multiple vessels, an attempt to contain an oil spill is made using temporary floating booms. Booms are used to reduce the possibility of polluting shorelines and other resources, and to help make recovery easier. Booms help to concentrate oil in thicker surface layers so that skimmers, vacuums, or other collection methods can be used more effectively