What is the probability of an oil spill?
A 3-D seismic survey carries no risk of a spill, as no oil is brought to the surface. In terms of production, because oil fields in the Sunniland Trend contain very low amounts of gas, pumps placed inside the well are required to lift oil to the surface. This absence of a natural flow makes a spill improbable; if the well head on an established well were to be knocked over, the oil would likely drop several thousand feet below the surface. In 67 years of producing oil in Southwest Florida, no major spills have occurred in producing oil fields. When small spills have occurred, most or all of the oil has been recovered with cleanup efforts. Statistics indicate that many incidents occur around well heads and tank batteries and are contained on limestone pads precluding environmental impact. Incidents occurring off limestone pads and into standing water, if present, are subject to a spill response plan, an operating requirement that is practiced every year and incorporates state and federa
