Massive oil plume remains in Gulf of Mexico

Though around half of the oil spilt into the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon explosion in April remains unaccounted for, scientists have mapped out a 22-mile (35 km) underwater plume of petrochemicals.

The fact that so much oil has remained underwater instead of floating to the surface is surprising to scientists and also problematic because it makes the oil more difficult to locate. This means that they don’t know what damage may still be occurring in the Gulf and where.

Other unknowns include why the oil didn’t disperse as expected and the unpredictable – and undependable – nature of oil eating microbes.

From an NPR report:

The hydrocarbons, including benzene and toluene, were highly diluted in the water. They were coming from the gushing well, but they weren’t spreading out in all directions. Instead, they followed an invisible underwater channel just over a mile wide and 650 feet thick. The researchers tracked that channel southwest for 22 miles, until bad weather forced them to stop.

Just how much oil from the well is contained in this plume is also unknown, but it is a significant discovery and the best-documented case of its kind.

Debate concerning the amount of oil remaining in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico continues.

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