1. Methods of Oil Spill Cleanups
Oil Spill PBL

2. Containment of Oil Spill Cleanup
Oil is surrounded with booms and recovered by skimmers
Booms-physical barriers that keep oil from entering or exiting a certain area
Skimmers-floating systems that concentrate and remove oil as they skim across the water

3. Skimmers
Skimmers may spin oil, so that it is separted from water using centripetal force
Lift or draw oil from the water surface onto a conveyor belt
Or use oleophilic (oil-adherent) materials to absorb oil from the water.

4. Containment and collection
While containment and collection is the most eco-friendly manner of cleaning up an oil spill, it is not highly efficient, being only 10-15% effective, in the best circumstances

5. Absorbents
Absorbent materials are used inside booms to draw and accumulate oil
They include natural materials such as straw, grasses, hair, wood chips, coconut husks, or sponges made of synthetic diaper materials

6. Dispersants
Chemicals that are used like detergents to break down, disperse, and sink oil
Example Corexit 9500

7. Fire Burning is a very efficient means of removing oil
But it releases toxic smoke to the environment

8. Physical Removal of Contaminated Vegetation
Collecting and relocating grasses, plants, shrubs that are saturated with oil from the environment
Loss of Sea Grasses and other vegetation is harmful as these are food supplies for organisms

9. Clean up with High Pressure Hoses and Rakes
Forcing warm water over the shoreline to wash oil from vegetation and rocks, back to the ocean for skimming
This method was found to be very damaging to the environment and life in the areas when used during cleanup following the 1989 Exxon Valdez tanker spill

10. Bioremediation
Enhancing bacterial breakdown of oil by supplying a source of nitrogen or oxygen to promote growth of naturally occurring oil eating bacteria
Still a lot of research is needed. Not enough evidence on it’s effects on the environment both positive or negative

11. Natural Consequences Taking no Action
Leaving nature to break down the oil by evaporation, wave action, and photo-oxidation by the sun
This technique is especially popular with open ocean spills where cleanup is difficult and inefficient