Question

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Disaster that occurred in 2010, leaked an average of 2 barrels of oil per minute. If every 1 barrel = 31.5 gallons and it leaked for 87 days. How many gallons of oil leaked into the Gulf of Mexico (i.e. gallons per 87 days)?

a. 5,481 gallons of oil
b. 131,544 gallons of oil
c. 328,860 gallons of oil
d. 7,892,640 gallons of oil

Answer 1

The correct calculation shows that 7,892,640 gallons of oil leaked into the Gulf of Mexico during the 87 days of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Disaster.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Disaster that occurred in 2010, leaked an average of 2 barrels of oil per minute. Given that 1 barrel equals 31.5 gallons, we can calculate the total amount of oil spilled over 87 days as follows:

1. First, determine the total number of minutes in 87 days: 87 days * 24 hours/day * 60 minutes/hour = 125,280 minutes.
2. Next, calculate the total barrels of oil leaked: 2 barrels/minute * 125,280 minutes = 250,560 barrels.
3. Finally, convert the total barrels to gallons: 250,560 barrels * 31.5 gallons/barrel = 7,892,640 gallons of oil.

Therefore, the total amount of oil that leaked into the Gulf of Mexico is 7,892,640 gallons over 87 days.