The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill occurred about 50 miles off the coast of Louisiana in April 2010, resulting in the tragic loss of 11 lives and releasing approximately 134 million gallons of oil into the Gulf. Fortunately, not all benthic areas in the Gulf were injured by the oil spill.
As part of the National Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process, sanctuary staff placed semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) at East Flower Garden, West Flower Garden, Stetson, and Sonnier Banks, from July 2010 to March 2011. These devices were designed to detect the presence of hydrocarbon-related substances in the water.
Divers attached three SPMDs directly to a buoyed line to monitor hydrocarbons, while five more were placed inside a perforated canister also mounted to the line. (Photo: G.P. Schmahl/FGBNMS
In addition, dozens of sampling trips by the DWH Trustees documented no evidence of exposure to DWH oil, dispersants, or disruptive responses within Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. However, long-term monitoring studies within the sanctuary have provided crucial data to support MDBC restoration throughout the Gulf.
Oil Spill Resources
As the nation's leading scientific resource for oil spills, NOAA was on the scene of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill from the very beginning, and much of the information collected throughout the response process is now available through a comprehensive resource page.
The four NOAA Sea Grant programs in the Gulf also joined forces to provide a web resource on Oil Spill Science.