Earth Science

An offshore oil spill is devastating to sea life, vegetation and can spread quickly out to sea or further inland and to shore.  The spill contaminates the entire fragile ecosystem.  There are several options that may used to contain an…
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When the plume of ash forcefully ejected from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano grounded air traffic across the U.K. and Northern Europe in April 2010, travelers were not the only ones affected. The regular daily import and export of goods worldwide was…
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The recent Gulf of Mexico oil rig explosion is a major concern not only to fisherman but to the tourist industry of a lot of beaches. How to contain it is the  number one thing but then that is the…
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Eyjafjallajokull (AYA-feeyapla-yurkul) is spewing again, once more shutting down airports and hindering travel. The last time Eyjafjallajokull erupted in 1821, the result of the eruption was long-term and devastating to the area and people around Eyjafjallajokull. History of Eyjafjallajokull Iceland…
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The United States is the world’s largest consumer of crude oil and it has a policy of lessening its dependence on foreign oil sources. As a result, the future lies in offshore drilling, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico.According to…
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One of the most fascinating tools in the oil exploration arsenal is directional drilling, sometimes called “slant drilling.” The concept of directional drilling is straightforward: drill a well or borehole that runs in an “unnatural” direction; usually something other than…
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There is no greater challenge for offshore oil and gas production than safety.  In the extraction of the crude, transporting it and in the refinery process, the hazardous material must be handled by trained professionals to insure that the toxic…
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A blowout preventer is one of several failsafe mechanical devices to ensure the safety of the crew, machinery and environment.  Drilling for oil offshore still poses a threat to our environment; therefore, every modern oil rig has safety procedures and…
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80% of all beach-related lifeguard rescues are due to rip currents. According to a report by ABC News, rip tides claimed the lives of an estimated 72 swimmers in 2010, although the number could have been higher. Due to early…
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If you pick up an ordinary stick and play with it, you’ll find that you can bend it only so far before it suddenly breaks. Most substances, including rocks, will also undergo some degree of plastic deformation, bending, before they…
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