The Deepwater Horizon oil spill began in April 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico and is
ID: 531388 • Letter: T
Question
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill began in April 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico and is considered the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. The US Government estimated the total discharge at 4.9 million barrels of oil. One barrel of oil is equal to 42 gallons. How many liters of oil were discharged into the Gulf of Mexico? Other conversion factors of note:1 gal = 4 qt
1L=1.0567qt The Deepwater Horizon oil spill began in April 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico and is considered the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. The US Government estimated the total discharge at 4.9 million barrels of oil. One barrel of oil is equal to 42 gallons. How many liters of oil were discharged into the Gulf of Mexico? Other conversion factors of note:
1 gal = 4 qt
1L=1.0567qt The Deepwater Horizon oil spill began in April 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico and is considered the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. The US Government estimated the total discharge at 4.9 million barrels of oil. One barrel of oil is equal to 42 gallons. How many liters of oil were discharged into the Gulf of Mexico? Other conversion factors of note:
1 gal = 4 qt
1L=1.0567qt
Explanation / Answer
Total discharge = 4.9 million barrels = 4.9 x 106 barrels
1 barrel = 42 gallons
So, 4.9 x106 barrels = 4.9 x 106 x 42 gallons = 205.8 x 106 gallons
1L = 1.0567 qt = 1.0567 x 1/4 gallons = 0.264 gallons
Therefore, 205.8 x 106 gallons = 205.8 x 106 gallons x 1L / 0.264 gallons =779.5 x 106 L
779.5 x 106 L oil was discharged.