[ABCDE] VOLUME 9, Issue 10 Environmental Disaster THE GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL ERIC GAY/AP INSIDE Follow Scientists Mr. Obama Ecosystem The Oil Envision Steps Up on Altered Perhaps 10 14 Devastation 22 Oil Spill Response 32 Forever June 9, 2010 © 2010 THE WASHINGTON POST COMPANY VOLUME 9, Issue 10 An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program A Word About Environmental Disaster Lesson: Some stories demand follow-up White House energy and climate adviser Carol M. Browner coverage of the initial news report. said the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was “probably the The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico biggest environmental disaster we’ve ever faced in this has economic, environmental, marine country.” Covering the many dimensions of this news story biology, health, lifestyle, technology, policy and political ramifications. that began on April 20 is the focus of this guide. Level: Mid to High As a foundation for study, use the suggested activities and Subjects: Environmental and Marine The Washington Post news articles, editorial, editorial Biology, Science, Journalism, Technology cartoons, commentary and informational graphics. The guide is organized in chronological order to emphasize the process Related Activity: Economics, of covering an unfolding story. Ads from BP are included Mathematics, Health, Engineering for a study of diction, photography and communication of a message. The continuing story has economic, environmental and marine biology, health and lifestyle, technology, policy and political ramifications. Teachers of many disciplines are urged to supplement these resources with the most current Post NIE Online Guide coverage and commentary to do follow-up to the coverage Editor — Carol Lange included in this guide. Art Editor — Carol Porter A reminder to Post INSIDE program teachers: If you plan Contributing to this guide — Lisa Lyle Wu wrote the “Think Like a …” activity to use articles in this guide in the e-Replica format more and contributed math and science than three months after their publication date, remember resources. She currently teaches marine to bookmark them. The e-Replica activities that are biology and is the lab director for the suggested in this guide utilize the alert, search and oceanography/geophysical systems lab advanced search features. at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria, Va.). As a freelance science writer, she has developed curricular materials for Discovery Channel and worked on exhibit development for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. She was a volunteer diver at the National Aquarium in Baltimore for ten years and served as Teacher at Sea for NOAA. Available Online All Washington Post NIE guides may be downloaded at www.washpost.com/nie. Send comments about this guide to: Margaret Kaplow, Educational Services Cover Photo: A shrimp boat is used to collect oil with booms in the waters of Chandeleur Manager, [email protected] Sound, La., on May 5, 2010. 2 June 9, 2010 © 2010 THE WASHINGTON POST COMPANY VOLUME 9, Issue 10 An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program Environmental Disaster In the Know The Gulf of Mexico oil spill that began on April 20, 2010, has been Blowout: Uncontrolled flow of gas, oil or other described as America’s “biggest environmental disaster.” Post articles and well fluids into the atmosphere or into an commentary reprinted in this guide are presented in chronological order in underground formation order to reflect the unfolding story and the reporter’s job of covering many dimensions of a story. Blowout preventor (BOP): One or more valves installed at the wellhead to prevent the escape Get Acquainted With the Area other aspects of the oil spill of pressure; closed if the drilling crew loses Ask students to locate the Gulf (economic impact, environmental control of formation fluids of Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, influence, technology utilization, Alabama and Florida on a map. If a political response, for example). Boom: Floating barrier meant to contain spill topographic map is available, use it. in order to protect coastline or contain so the Questions for consideration might Increase Vocabulary spill can be lit and burned include: Terms associated with oil drilling • Name the countries and states and the attempts to stop the flow Casing: Steel pipe placed in an oil or gas well that border the Gulf of Mexico. of oil are provided in the “In the to prevent the wall of the hole from caving • What influence might the Gulf of Know” sidebar (pages 3-4). in, to prevent movement of fluids from one Mexico and the Mississippi River Acquaint students with these formation to another and to aid in well have on this area? terms before they read about the control • In what ways might “hurricane oil spill. season” affect these states? Cement plug: Portion of cement placed at • In what ways is the Gulf of Read for Background some point in the wellbore to seal it Mexico a Mediterranean-type sea? Post reprints in this guide are • The Gulf of Mexico is roughly a presented in chronological order. Containment dome: Metal “box” or reinforced circular basin. Where does water Although they are not all of the chamber placed over ruptures to contain the enter and exit it? articles printed about the oil spill, fluid • What jobs might people in the they do reflect the information coastal areas of these states hold? available by date of publication, the Crude oil: General term for unrefined range of subjects associated with petroleum or liquid petroleum Use a Timeline the oil spill, cleanup efforts and the “A timeline of BP’s attempts to responses of stakeholders. Drill: Bore a hole in the earth, usually to find stop the flow of oil” is provided in Discuss with students the and remove subsurface formation fluids such this guide. It gives an overview of information provided in each as oil and gas the Gulf of Mexico oil spill from the article, the people interviewed and April 20 explosion on Deepwater the new dimension added to the Deepwater drilling: Drilling located in Horizon to the failed top kill public’s awareness. offshore areas where water depths exceed attempt on May 29, 2010. A PowerPoint presentation is approximately 600 feet (200 m), the This informational graphic provided for use with this guide. approximate water depth at the edge of the provides a visual to communicate It is found at www.washpost.com/ continental shelf; the logistics of producing the depth of the drilling and nie. Select the PowerPoint option. hydrocarbons from reservoirs located below space in which robotics was used, “Not Just Oil” provides an overview such water depths presents a considerable the progressive attempts to stop of the process from crude oil to technical challenge the flow and schematic of the market products, pollution sources technology used. and cleanup procedures. Teachers Dispersant: Chemical that aids in breaking up Discuss the technology that is should view the notes section for solids or liquids as fine particles or droplets available for cleanup. additional information. into another medium Students may be asked to expand the timeline to the present or to create a new timeline that illustrates CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 3 June 9, 2010 © 2010 THE WASHINGTON POST COMPANY VOLUME 9, Issue 10 An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 president’s press conference In the Know | continued useful in supporting the thesis of Create a PowerPoint the editorial? Form five to seven groups within • The strongest point to be made Junk shot: Under pressure firing tires and your classroom. Assign students a should be placed last in an other material in an attempt to block class presentation: Using available editorial. What is the editorial’s passage data, create a PowerPoint to final argument? communicate different aspects of • What additional point of view is Kill: To stop a well from flowing or having the oil spill. Topics might include: expressed in the final sentence of the ability to flow into the wellbore. • The cleanup effort the editorial? Procedures typically involve circulating • Size and movement of the oil spill Ask students to write an editorial. reservoir fluids or pumping higher density (including the “Loop Current”) These may be based on the reading mud into the wellbore. • Economic impact on BP and its and research they did for the investors PowerPoint (see above), articles in Mousse: Gelatinous layer that is an • Economic impact on the The Post and additional research. emulsion of air, oil, and water formed when businesses in the states bordering the oil breaks up in heavy surf the Gulf of Mexico Draw an Editorial Cartoon • Environmental impact on marine Tom Toles’ editorial cartoons from Offset well: Existing wellbore close to a life May 18 and June 2 are included in proposed well that provides information for • Environmental impact on plant this guide. Discuss “Current Oil planning the proposed well. When lacking and animal life Spill Strategies” and “Can the GOP offset data, the well planner must be more • Political ramifications and policy make up its mind?” In his cartoons conservative in designing wells and include changes Toles uses iconic images, order of more contingencies. Teachers should determine strategies and allusions. What are additional details of the assignment the points of view of The Post’s Rig: Machine used to drill a wellbore. The by the course of study, age of editorial cartoonist? rig includes virtually everything except students and their experience with In addition to Toles’ cartoon, living quarters. The rig is sometimes the technology. the animated work of cartoonist referred to as the drilling package, Teachers may also ask students Ann Telnaes is found online.