The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a big deal. Each and every day that the leak is not stopped, it is getting worse and worse. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill challenges wildlife, and has threatened the summer tourist industry in areas that depend on it so desperately.
The BP oil spill started after the Deepwater Horizon oil platform explosion. Every day, 200,000 gallons – or potentially more – gallons of crude oil spill into the ocean. There have been several attempts at capping and diverting the flow of crude, but they have yet to be successful.
Relief wells are being drilled – but the process takes up to three months to complete. All that is currently happening is that the spill and slick is getting bigger and bigger.
The size of the oil slick is rapidly increasing, as can be seen by pilots flying over the area and also trajectories created by experts. Here are some pictures of the oil spill as well as an indication of how big the oil spill is expected to be on May 14 and May 15.