Pollution Due to Oil Spills in Marine Environment And Control Measures

Abstract

In the present world population is 7 billion with a growth rate of 1.1% per year. The twentieth century world saw a rapid increase in fossil fuel consumption. The energy percentage of fossil fuels are 80% (Oil & Gas 63%, Coal: 27%) of the total energy. World crude oil demand grew at an average rate of 1.76% per year. Oil and gas consumption is essential to sustaining economic growth in the industrialized world and is key to progress in nations working their way toward prosperity. The oil and gas industry is a truly global industry, it is extended from Alaska to Australia and Peru to China, and in every habitat from Arctic to desert, from tropical rainforest to temperate wood land, from mangrove to offshore. From 2000 to 2010, global oil demand grew by 13% and production increasing from 76.6 million barrels per day to 86.3 mbpd. The IEA (International Energy Association) estimates the global oil demand to reach 90 mbpd by 2016 mainly on the back of demand from non-OECD (Organization of Economic Co-Operation Development) countries. Above all are one side of the coin, the other side is oil and gas industry is one of the top environmental destructive industry. From prospecting to production and refining to distribution, every stage it pollutes the air, soil and water. It damages the ecological balance and economy. This paper mentions the details of the pollution due to oil spills in marine environment. Marine oil spill is a serious consequence of off-shore oil drilling, blowouts, pipeline breakages, ship collusions or grounding and over filling of tankers. Oil spills damage the marine flora and fauna. More than 3 million metric tonnes of oil contaminates the sea waters every year. They have destructive effect on coastal environment. The spills are controlled by booms, skimmers, sorbents, dispersants and controlled burning processes. Keywords: