Oil Spill Statistics

Unfortunately, oil spills occur more often than most people think. While major oil spills such as the Exxon Valdez and Gulf Coast disasters have received a lot of media attention, many smaller accidents occur every year. Looking at oil spill statistics, it becomes clear that the total devastation is much larger than it is portrayed in the media.

Worldwide Oil Spills 1970-2009

According to The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited (ITOPF), a non-profit organization that compiles data on oil spills, the number of spills and amount of oil spilled into the ocean has decreased since the 1970s and 1980s.

Year	51-5,133 barrels	More than 5,133 barrels
1970	7	29
1971	18	14
1972	48	27
1973	28	32
1974	89	28
1975	96	23
1976	67	27
1977	68	17
1978	59	21
1979	60	35
1980	52	13
1981	54	7
1982	45	4
1983	52	13
1984	26	8
1985	31	8
1986	28	7
1987	27	10
1988	11	10
1989	33	13
1990	50	14
1991	30	7
1992	31	10
1993	31	11
1994	26	9
1995	20	3
1996	20	3
1997	28	10
1998	26	6
1999	20	6
2000	20	4
2001	17	3
2002	13	3
2003	15	4
2004	16	5
2005	22	4
2006	13	5
2007	13	4
2008	8	1
2009	3	0

Gulf Coast Oil Spill Statistics

Location: The Gulf of Mexico, about 42 miles southeast of Venice, Louisiana.
Cause: Scientists think that a methane bubble was released from a well that was being converted from an exploration well to a production well. The bubble of gas broke through several safety barriers before triggering an explosion and oil leak.
Total Oil Spilled: Some say that 5,000 barrels of oil are leaking into the water each day. Other estimates put this number as high as 70,000 barrels per day. Oil has been spilling into the Gulf since April 20.
Marine Life Killed: The number of birds, fish, plants, and other marine life killed in the Gulf Coast oil spill may never be known; in the days following the disaster, a higher number of birds and sea turtles were found dead on the shoreline than is normal. Experts estimate that more than 400 species may be adversely affected by the spill.
Distance Oil Spread: Because the spill occurred near the Loop current, experts fear that the oil will affect Florida shorelines, and could potentially spread oil as far as the United State's northeastern coast.

Exxon Valdez Statistics

Location: Prince William Sound, about 100 miles southeast of Anchorage.
Cause: The oil tanker Exxon-Valdez hit a reef, and the damage to the ship allowed oil to leak into open waters.
Total Oil Spilled: About 11 million gallons (257,000 barrels)
Marine Life Killed: According to estimates, 250,000 birds, 2,800 sea otters, 302 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles, 22 whales, and billions of salmon and herring eggs were killed.
Miles of Shoreline Affected: 1,300 miles
Distance Oil Spread: 470 miles to the southwest
Legal Award: $507.5 million (reduced from the original $5.287 billion that was originally awarded in the case).

Contact an Attorney

If your life has been affected by an oil spill, contact a lawyer as soon as possible. You may be eligible for compensation for loss of wages, property damage, or other restitution.