Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change
Open Access

Abstract

Offshore oil drilling and pumping pose several recurring challenges due to high pressure, technical, financial and institutional factors. The PB oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico has left a legacy of environmental pollution, loss of businesses and health effects. Various stakeholders; PB, Harliburton, government regulators and Transocean Management Ltd are partly responsible for the safety oil Macondo oil rig and they are accountable for the negligence, oversight, cost-cutting and shoddy technical fixes which eventually led to the explosion. The aftermath of the explosion which claimed the lives of 11 workers and the subsequent oil spill has caused massive pollution of wetlands and marine ecosystems. Several species of wildlife were threatened and others were brought to the brink of extinction. In the face of public outcry against BP and mounting pressure on government officials, there emerged a concerted effort from industry, the public and government to expedite actions at capping the well, cleaning the oil, and rehabilitating wildlife that was engulfed in the oil slick. In spite of the ongoing restoration efforts, there is still uncertainty regarding future ecological ramifications

Biography

Abednego Aryee completed his PhD at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo. He is currently instructor in Geography at Ryerson University. He has published papers in the field of environment and sustainability. He is editorial member and reviewer of several journals.