Chevron Halts Drilling Operations Following Brazil Oil Spill (ContributorNetwork)

According to the Environmental News Network, Chevron has stopped drilling operations at a well off the coast of Brazil after an oil spill that has caused an oil sheen to appear on the surface of the ocean.

Chevron is estimating 400 to 650 barrels were spilled at the well, which is 230 miles off the northeast coast of Rio de Janeiro in water depths at about 3,800 feet. Additionally, the well has been in operation since 2009 and last year produced 50,000 barrels per day. Here are some facts and numbers about other oil spills in recent history:

BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Cited one of the worst oil spills in history, the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill sent 4.9 million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico and claimed 11 lives, reported the Washington Post. The well spilled oil 12 times faster than BP and the government initially thought it would. Although the oil spill was over a year ago, a trial is still on the horizon, according to the USA Today, and attorneys representing fishermen, landowners, beach towns, and others claiming damage from the oil spill are working on a major case against BP.

Exxon Mobil Yellowstone River Oil Spill

An Exxon Mobil oil pipe underneath the bed of the Yellowstone River in Montana ruptured in July. The oil spill prompted a temporary evacuation of nearby residents early in the morning and over 42,000 gallons of oil leaked into the river, according to the Huffington Post. Recently, Exxon Mobil reported that it's expecting costs of about $135 million due to the pipe break, nearly three times the initial estimate. But the costs won't stop there are more lawsuits are piling up against the oil giant.

Enbridge Energy Partners Oil Spill

In the wake of the BP oil spill, the Enbridge oil spill on July 26, 2010, received less media coverage but that certainly doesn't mean it didn't have major environmental impacts. The Environmental Protection reported the spill leaked 877,000 gallons of crude oil into the Talmadge Creek that runs into the Kalamazoo River. Cleanup efforts include cleaning up pockets up submerged oil and cleaning up an additional 35 miles with the help of 500 personnel. To date, more than 766,000 gallons of crude oil has been recovered and cleaned up by the EPA and Enbridge will be required to pay the government back for all costs for cleanup and response.

Rachel Bogart provides an in-depth look at current environmental issues and local Chicago news stories. As a college student from the Chicago suburbs pursuing two science degrees, she applies her knowledge and passion to both topics to garner further public awareness.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/science/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111114/us_ac/10431699_chevron_halts_drilling_operations_following_brazil_oil_spill

nfl standings chicago bears devin hester devin hester shayne lamas cain velasquez willis mcgahee