2006-08-26 13:46:41 · 9 answers · asked by mika m 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
The captain had been drinking if I remember correctly.
2006-08-26 13:52:12 · answer #1 · answered by labella129 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Exxon Valdez, which happened some years ago, was caused by oil seeping from a ship. The reason the ship got into trouble was because the captain was drunk.
The recent BP Oil problems involved two things, one a small oil leakage from broken pipes, and the shutting off of the oil to inspect and fix many miles of possibly broken or soon-to-be-broken pipes caused by poor maintenance and upkeep (and corrosion). If the pipe problem isn't fixed, it could at some time in the future cause a major oil leak.
2006-08-26 13:56:22 · answer #2 · answered by Pandak 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There have been no recent oil spills in Alaska. You are probably thinking of the recent discovery that an oil pipeline in Alaska is in urgent need of repair.
2006-08-26 13:49:04 · answer #3 · answered by denlp96 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The recent spill (about 11 barrels worth of crude) happened due to lack of maintainence on the pipeline in question. Crude oil is not a pure substance and can have things like hydrogen sulfide (H2S) mixed in with it, along with water and other things. H2S is a very corossive substance (and highly hazardous, breathing it can kill you).
Oil companies use 'pigs' (metal slugs) that are covered in sensors to go through the pipes and check for corrosion. This had not been done regularly enough to spot the corrosion happening in that section of the pipe.
It is a very unfortunate issue, one that oil companies will hopefully learn from, but likely will not.
2006-08-26 13:57:42 · answer #4 · answered by DJ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Which one? The most recent was from a pipeline that leaked due to corrosion (rust for you college people).
There was knowledge of corrosion in the pipeline, but BP was reluctant to shut down the pipeline for repairs because of the high demand for oil (people driving around too much because they don't know anything else to do when they are scared witless by conspiranoia). There are small windows of time that far north when repairs can be performed efficiently due to weather conditions. The coincidence of high demand and lack of maintenance came together with the fact that by shutting down the pipe for repairs right now, the price of oil would go even higher due to the additional unrest in Lebanon/Israel. There was probably oil leaking for a long time, but the shutdown right now is most profitable. (summer, high prices, high paranoia).
2006-08-26 13:54:09 · answer #5 · answered by auntiegrav 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps you are refering to the Valdez oil spill? If so...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exxon_Valdez_oil_spill
2006-08-26 13:50:42 · answer #6 · answered by missourim43 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Big boat sleeping capt big rock.
Ya put them all together and you have your self a spill
2006-08-26 13:50:17 · answer #7 · answered by DaFinger 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You mean Exxon Valdez? It happened because the captain was drunk and ran ashore -
2006-08-26 13:50:40 · answer #8 · answered by lonely_girl3_98 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bcuz tha guy who was holding it
thuoght it was too hot
2006-08-26 13:48:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋