Gulf currents aided breakdown of oil after BP spill, study says
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 - 01:30
in Earth & Climate
Rather than moving steadily away from the wellhead, oil-laced water often circled back, returning hydrocarbon-consuming bacteria to the plume repeatedly, authors say.The geography and water circulation patterns of the northern Gulf of Mexico promoted the breakdown of oil and gas spewing from a busted wellhead during the BP oil disaster, according to a new study.