accidents are intensified during severe storms which are more common to the 

 South Atlantic region than the Mid Atlantic (22). 



With so many possible spill factors, it is difficult to predict the 

 volume of potential oil spillage expected from Atlantic OCS operations. One 

 frequently quoted estimate is that used by the Bureau of Land Management, which 

 estimates that approximately 0.011% of the overall (2.36 billion barrels) OCS 

 production of oil and condensate in the Gulf of Mexico from 1964 to 1972 

 was spilled. However, the amount of oil introduced into the oceans by off- 

 shore production is quite small in relation to other sources. 



"The following assumptions concerning oil spills can be made: 



• Overall, offshore production is a relatively minor cause of 

 general oil pollution. 



• However, major oil spills related to offshore production can 

 and do occur. 



• These spills are characterized by "catastrophic" events of 

 major proportions (including those attributable to natural 

 events like storms), and by chronic, smaller spills. 



• Location, strict regulation, and adherance to regulations 

 can reduce the potential for catastrophic spills, but the 

 chance for error (and thus, major spills) can never be 

 entirely eliminated." (13, p. 32) 



Biological effects of oil pollution in the Atlantic OCS regions fall 



into four categories: 



a. Long-term offshore effects due to chronic, low-level oil emissions. 



b. Short-term offshore effects from a massive accidental spill. 



c. Long-term nearshore or onshore effects due to chronic oil pollution 

 from pipeline leaks, transfer operations, and ship support bases. 



d. Short-term nearshore or onshore effects due to beaching of a 

 massive oil spill . 



39 



