Oil Spill Estimates and Analysis

The 2010 Gulf oil spill's true magnitude was initially underestimated. Early estimates by the Coast Guard were revised after a Purdue University expert analyzed video footage, suggesting a much higher flow rate of 70,000 barrels per day. The oil's behavior from the seafloor to the surface was complex, with many droplets not reaching the surface. Video analysis allowed for more accurate calculations, leading to a final estimate of 62,000 barrels per day, declining to 53,000 by the time the well was capped. The spill released nearly 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

What was the initial estimate of the oil leakage per day by the Coast Guard?

• 70,000 barrels

• 5,000 barrels

• 1,000 barrels

• 10,000 barrels

Who identified the discrepancies in the initial oil spill estimates?

• A fluid dynamics expert from Purdue University

• A BP executive

• A journalist

• A Coast Guard officer

What happens to oil as it rises from the seafloor to the ocean surface?

• It evaporates completely

• It decomposes into smaller droplets

• It forms larger droplets

• It remains unchanged

What technique was used to calculate the more accurate flow rate of the oil spill?

• Surface oil slick measurement

• Underwater sonar

• Video analysis and fluid dynamics

• Satellite imagery

What was the estimated flow rate of oil per day according to the fluid dynamics expert?

• 10,000 barrels

• 5,000 barrels

• 100,000 barrels

• 70,000 barrels

What is the significance of the 'flange' in the video analysis?

• It is a part of the blowout preventer

• It is a type of oil

• It is a type of camera

• It is a measurement tool

What was the final estimate of the oil leakage per day by May 2011?

• 70,000 barrels

• 53,000 barrels

• 10,000 barrels

• 62,000 barrels

How many barrels of oil were estimated to have spilled into the Gulf of Mexico?

• 5 million barrels

• 3 million barrels

• 1 million barrels

• 7 million barrels

What was created to provide more information about the oil spill?

• A documentary film

• A dedicated website

• A government report

• A public awareness campaign

What was the role of the official flow rate technical group?

• To issue a final estimate of the oil flow rate

• To provide legal advice

• To clean the oil spill

• To cap the well