At Least 200,000 Tons of Oil and Gas from Deepwater Horizon Spill Consumed by Gulf Bacteria

ScienceDaily (Sep. 11, 2012)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120911125315.htm

Researchers from the University of Rochester and Texas A&M University found out that naturally-occurring bacteria which exist in the Gulf of Mexico composed and got rid of about 200,000 tons of natural gas and oil that was sent into the Gulf from the crack well head.

The researchers were trying to find out how much gas and oil was eaten away by the bacteria and how the “characteristics of this feast changed with time.”

The co-author John Kessler of the University of Rochester said: "A significant amount of the oil and gas that was released was retained within the ocean water more than one-half mile below the sea surface. It appears that the hydrocarbon-eating bacteria did a good job of removing the majority of the material that was retained in these layers,"

"Interestingly, the oil and gas consumption rate was correlated with the addition of dispersants at the wellhead. While there is still much to learn about the appropriateness of using dispersants in a natural ecosystem, our results suggest it made the released hydrocarbons more available to the native Gulf of Mexico microorganisms." Said Kessler

Their measurements demonstrate that the burning up of the oil and gas by bacteria in the Gulf stopped five months after the Deepwater Horizon outburst on September 2010 "It is unclear if this indicates that this great feast was over by this time or if the microorganisms were simply taking a break before they start on dessert and coffee" said Kessler. "Our results suggest that some (about 40%) of the released hydrocarbons that once populated these layers still remained in the Gulf post September 2010, so food was available for the feast to continue at some later time. But the location of those substances and whether they were biochemically transformed is unknown."

Studying the Deepwater Horizon spill showed that the oil and gases were trapped underwater in plumes. By using a more complex data, they were able to calculate the amount of tons of hydrocarbons was removed in the Gulf waters. Their research proposed that most of what was making the underwater plumes of oil and gas was destroyed by the bacteria. Professor John Kessler, lately examined that over 1300 outlines of oxygen melted in the Gulf of Mexico and covering nearly 30,000 square miles.

I think that this event was amazing. I also wrote about it because it does have something to do with elements but its also interesting.  I also like how the spill was consumed by bacteria. I was also didn't know that bacteria could consume oil, especially that much.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120911125315.htm