This is a guide to help you understand the ins and outs, including how it started, what’s being done to help curb its impact on the environment and the effects the oil spill will have on Texas and its coastline.
What caused the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill?
A massive explosion on the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil drilling platform resulted in the accompanying oil gusher to release an estimated 12,000 to 100,000 barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico each day.
What has been to try and stop the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill?
(Note: This is a general summation. For more specific information, you’re encouraged to research “Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill.”)
As a method of short term stoppage, a large dome was to be laid over the leaking flow of oil. This was unsuccessful. Another attempt with a similar dome was unsuccessful as well. A smaller siphoning tube was attached to the leaking pipe in an attempt to curtail the amount of oil being released into the ocean. This was mildly successful. An attempt to shut down the well completely (called the “Top Kill” method) was also mostly unsuccessful.
How will the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill effect Texas?
Naturally, given that the spill happened in the Gulf of Mexico, the concern among Houstonians (and other Texans and Louisianans, for that matter), grows exponentially each day.
But though the spill will have an unquestioned effect on the fishing and tourism industries of many states (and possibly countries), it appears that, for the most part, the Texas coastline will largely escape the detrimental effects of the oil spill. (This is according to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.) Still, it will have a massively harmful effect on the ecosystem and, as of June 6th, it is estimated that oil may continue to leak into the ocean for two more months.
