The Eye Of Fire: An exploration into Mexico's climate disaster

Image credit: Breaking Latest News

Image credit: CNN

Event:

On Friday 2nd July 2021, an undersea pipeline ruptured in Ku-Maloob-Zaap, an oil field in the Gulf of Mexico, which caused an 'underwater fire'. The company Premex (Mexico's state-owned petroleum company) stated that a leak in a pipeline caused natural gas to build upon the ocean floor, combined with a strike of lightning to form the dubbed, 'eye of fire'. An article published by The Washington Post added that "on social media, many argued that the eerie and alarming scene of a burning ocean clearly demonstrated the inherent problems of allowing oil companies to tap into fossil fuel reserves from the ocean floor." Premex sent a control team who managed to extinguish the fire after 5 hours, with nitrogen.

Cause:

The rupture of an undersea pipeline is due to the lack of conservation and safety efforts. According to the 'Independent', offshore oil and gas pipelines 9000 miles from the Gulf of Mexico does not have "robust oversite" from the agency tasked with supervising fossil fuel extraction. Due to the negligence of the US government, companies like Premex can destroy ocean habitats to extract oils without penalty.

The strike of lightning that set the natural gas on fire, is observed as purely coincidental though research illustrates that thin pipes, even buried under the ocean's surface are susceptible to lightning strikes. Oli Magazine explains this theory as it states, "but it can also strike oil storage facilities, refineries, oil tanks, tank batteries and other oil and gas industry infrastructure. And despite the widely held belief that they are “grounded” to the ocean, offshore rigs and platforms are vulnerable to damage caused by lightning as well. The advanced electrical and electronic systems on offshore rigs can be particularly vulnerable to both direct strikes and secondary surges." Note that the Mexican government and Premex have not confirmed this theory. Lightning strikes can be avoided by coating steel pipelines in polyethene sheath through underwater pipes that are not supervised. Many of them are abandoned or used for long periods, and all surrounding pipelines must be coated in the same for them to be effective. The lack of supervision on fossil extraction industries not only puts people at risk but can permanently destroy the natural environment.

Effect:

The fire was extinguished after five hours using nitrogen. Nitrogen reduces the oxygen level in the area which causes the fire to suppress. Nitrogen displaces the oxygen in the air which results in the percentage of oxygen decreasing. An example of this is seen as nitrogen enters waterbodies and produces excess growth of algae that causes a significant reduction in oxygen (causing life to die). In addition, nitrogen does not cause harm to the environment as it doesn't produce by-products when exposed to flames.

The intense heat caused the temperature to rise, occurring in the death of phytoplankton and other marine life. Phytoplankton is microscopic marine algae that generate oxygen; they are responsible for 70% of the world's oxygen production. These organisms are being destroyed continuously by human activity such as oil/natural gas extraction, industrial over-fishing, and waste discarded in the ocean.

Though Premex caused an immense disaster that was circulated through social media, drawing the attention of activists and leaders like Greta Thumburg and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the company didn't face charges. Bloomberg" declares that "investors turned a blind eye to the pipeline accident after the energy ministry designated Pemex as the operator of the nation’s largest oil discovery by private companies, over the objections of a consortium led by Talos Energy Inc. The government announced its decision to award Pemex the Zama field, as the discovery is known, just days after the gas leak." The fact that companies like Premex are not taxed for the destruction they are causing the environment is an example of how economic growth is cherished more than human safety.

Overall, it is important to stay informed on environmental issues since this gives us insight into our country's leaders envisioning for the nation. As citizens, we have a right to challenge the government's values. Despite the media attention, the Mexican government have still not addressed the situation publically. Blocking the people's notice from their crimes.

Citations:

• "Gulf of Mexico fire: Dramatic blaze renews safety concerns for US pipelines." By Alex Woodward. Published by 'Independent'. Published on 6th July 2021. https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/gulf-mexico-oil-pipeline-fire-b1878558.html. Accessed 11 July 2021.

• "How Lightning Can Damage Oil and Gas Industry Infrastructure?." By Brooke Pearson. Published by Oli Magazine. Published on January 7th 2019. https://oilmanmagazine.com/article/how-lightning-can-damage-oil-and-gas-industry-infrastructure/ Accessed 11 July 2021.

• “Thunderstorm - Lightning Damage Britannica.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2021, www.britannica.com/science/thunderstorm/Lightning-damage. Accessed 11 July 2021.

• "'Eye of fire' that erupted in Gulf of Mexico is under control, says Mexico-owned oil company." By Philip Wang. Published by CNN. Published on July 5th 2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/03/americas/gulf-of-mexico-fire-intl/index.html .Accessed on 11 July 2021.

• "Fire on surface of Gulf of Mexico is extinguished, but questions about pipeline leak remain." By Antonia Noori Farzan. Published July 3rd 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/03/mexico-pipeline-fire/ .Accessed 11th July 2021.

• "Even Fire at Sea Can’t Touch Pemex Bonds as Mexico Bestows Grant." By Justin Villamil. Published by Bloomberg. Published on July 9th 2021. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-09/even-fire-at-sea-can-t-touch-pemex-bonds-as-mexico-bestows-grant .Accessed 11th July 2021.

• "Lightning storm ignited gas leak in Gulf of Mexico after pipeline rupture, company says." Published by abc 7 Eyewitness News. Published on July 6th 2021. https://abc7chicago.com/gulf-of-mexico-fire-pipline-leak-video/10863429/ .Accessed 11th July 2021.

• "'Eye of fire' in Mexican waters snuffed out, says national oil company." By Adriana Barrera and Marianna Parraga. Published by Reuters. Published on July 3rd 2021. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/fire-offshore-pemex-platform-gulf-mexico-under-control-2021-07-02/ .Accessed on 11th July 2021.

• "Leaky Gas Pipeline Sparks an Inferno in the Gulf of Mexico." Published by The New York Times. Published in 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/03/world/americas/eye-fire-gulf-mexico.html .Accessed 11th July 2021.

• "Nitrogen Fire Suppression System." Published by Kidde Fire Systems. Updated in 2021. https://www.kidde-fenwal.com/Public/System_Details/Kidde-Fire-Systems/Nitrogen-Suppression-System .Accessed 11th July 2021.

• "Use Nitrogen Safely." By Paul Yanisko and Dennis Croll. Published by Air Products. Published in 2012. http://www.airproducts.com.tw/~/media/downloads/article/U/en-use-nitrogen-safely-312-12-023.pdf .Accessed 11th July 2021.