“Abiotic Reservoir”
Senior Exhibition
Oil spills have become a frequent occurrence worldwide, due to the human activity of deep drilling in pursuit of “black gold”. The first major oil spill occurred in 1907, since then there are an estimated average of 5 oil spills every year. The releasing of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon drastically harms the environment and various forms of life. For example, most birds affected by an oil spill die unless there is human intervention. Sometimes even after cleaning, less than 1% of oil soaked birds will survive.
The 6 largest publicly owned oil and gas companies, BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Royal Butch Shell, Total S.A., and ConocoPhillips, are known as the “supermajors.” Half of these companies were founded more than 100 years ago and till this date, they have not learned anything from the numerous amounts of oil spills they have caused. Most of the oil spills are due to human negligence from trying to cut the costs of operations to make bigger profits. It is a never-ending circle of death.
The seven barrels represent this never-ending cycle of oil spills, with the almost pristine last barrel symbolizing the next oil spill that will undoubtedly ensue in the near future. Each of the barrels represents a different oil spill that was caused by each of the six supermajors. Each barrel contains a different animal that was killed by that specific oil spill. Made out of clay, these “containers” are like the earth, which contains all the destruction, caused by pollution.
Oil Barrels:
ConocoPhillips - June 2011 : Approximately 3,200 barrels of oil leaked into China's Bohai Bay effecting local aquaculture farmers, especially the farming of sea cucumbers.
BP - April 2010 : Approximately 4.9 million barrels of oil released from the well into the Gulf of Mexico from an explosion, which killed 11 men. As of November 2, 2010, 6,814 dead animals had been collected, including 6,104 birds, 609 sea turtles, 100 dolphins and other mammals, and 1 other reptile. This avoidable disaster was caused by a series of cost-cutting decisions and systemic management failure.
TOTAL - December 1999 : Approximately 20,000 tonnes of oil was on the tanker, Erika, when it broke in two and sank in the Bay of Biscay, France.The sinking was caused by the failing to take into account the age of the vessel(25 years) and disregarding maintenance issues. Over 50,000 birds were killed by this incident.
Exxon Mobil - March 1989 : Approximately 257,000 to 750,000 barrels of oil spilled from the tanker, Exxon Valdez, when it ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska. An estimated 2,000 sea otters, 302 harbor seals and about 250,000 seabirds died in the days immediately following the spill. The probable cause of the accident was fatigue and excessive workload for the crew.
Shell - 1976-1991 : Approximately 3000 separate oil spills, averaging 700 barrels each, occurred in the Ogoniland in the Niger delta. The spills covered the land with oil, killed masses of fish and other aquatic life, and introduced devastating acid rain.
Chevron - 1972-1993 : Approximately 18 billion US gallons of formation water, by-product of oil drilling, was discharged into the rainforest in Ecuador. The discharge caused extensive environmental damage, sickened thousands of Ecuadorians, killed thousands of farm animals and polluted the Amazon rainforest.
*These oil barrels are 100% made out of clay. Approximately 32 inches tall (90% to scale) and about 85 pounds each.
Senior Exhibition
Oil spills have become a frequent occurrence worldwide, due to the human activity of deep drilling in pursuit of “black gold”. The first major oil spill occurred in 1907, since then there are an estimated average of 5 oil spills every year. The releasing of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon drastically harms the environment and various forms of life. For example, most birds affected by an oil spill die unless there is human intervention. Sometimes even after cleaning, less than 1% of oil soaked birds will survive.
The 6 largest publicly owned oil and gas companies, BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Royal Butch Shell, Total S.A., and ConocoPhillips, are known as the “supermajors.” Half of these companies were founded more than 100 years ago and till this date, they have not learned anything from the numerous amounts of oil spills they have caused. Most of the oil spills are due to human negligence from trying to cut the costs of operations to make bigger profits. It is a never-ending circle of death.
The seven barrels represent this never-ending cycle of oil spills, with the almost pristine last barrel symbolizing the next oil spill that will undoubtedly ensue in the near future. Each of the barrels represents a different oil spill that was caused by each of the six supermajors. Each barrel contains a different animal that was killed by that specific oil spill. Made out of clay, these “containers” are like the earth, which contains all the destruction, caused by pollution.
Oil Barrels:
ConocoPhillips - June 2011 : Approximately 3,200 barrels of oil leaked into China's Bohai Bay effecting local aquaculture farmers, especially the farming of sea cucumbers.
BP - April 2010 : Approximately 4.9 million barrels of oil released from the well into the Gulf of Mexico from an explosion, which killed 11 men. As of November 2, 2010, 6,814 dead animals had been collected, including 6,104 birds, 609 sea turtles, 100 dolphins and other mammals, and 1 other reptile. This avoidable disaster was caused by a series of cost-cutting decisions and systemic management failure.
TOTAL - December 1999 : Approximately 20,000 tonnes of oil was on the tanker, Erika, when it broke in two and sank in the Bay of Biscay, France.The sinking was caused by the failing to take into account the age of the vessel(25 years) and disregarding maintenance issues. Over 50,000 birds were killed by this incident.
Exxon Mobil - March 1989 : Approximately 257,000 to 750,000 barrels of oil spilled from the tanker, Exxon Valdez, when it ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska. An estimated 2,000 sea otters, 302 harbor seals and about 250,000 seabirds died in the days immediately following the spill. The probable cause of the accident was fatigue and excessive workload for the crew.
Shell - 1976-1991 : Approximately 3000 separate oil spills, averaging 700 barrels each, occurred in the Ogoniland in the Niger delta. The spills covered the land with oil, killed masses of fish and other aquatic life, and introduced devastating acid rain.
Chevron - 1972-1993 : Approximately 18 billion US gallons of formation water, by-product of oil drilling, was discharged into the rainforest in Ecuador. The discharge caused extensive environmental damage, sickened thousands of Ecuadorians, killed thousands of farm animals and polluted the Amazon rainforest.
*These oil barrels are 100% made out of clay. Approximately 32 inches tall (90% to scale) and about 85 pounds each.
