Hydrocarbon, Wastewater + Runoff Pollution
May 1, 2025

Offshore oil platform pollution exposed in world-first for ocean – Oceanographic
Excerpt:
A groundbreaking investigation led by SkyTruth has plotted and ranked the world’s most polluting offshore oil and gas facilities using advanced satellite technology to highlight the worst persistent oil slicks and greenhouse gas emissions around the world…
Researchers from the global non-profit, SkyTruth have published a new report, identifying and exposing the biggest sources of pollution from offshore oil, including oil leaks, transportation emissions, and methane flaring, as well as the most polluted locations across the global ocean.
This groundbreaking investigation has plotted and ranked the world’s most polluting offshore oil and gas facilities using advanced satellite technology to highlight the worst persistent oil slicks and greenhouse gas emissions around the world.
Until now, this alarming pattern of environmental damage wrought by the oil and gas industry has gone largely undetected. The report – Exposing the Environmental Costs of Offshore Oil: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Oil Slicks, and Flaring – provides the first-ever public data about threats from offshore oil infrastructure. And it’s just been brought to the world’s stage.
The report has been launched to coincide with the 2025 Our Ocean Conference where the team behind the investigation has been presenting its findings as part of the Digital Oceans: Actions for Advancing Sustainable Ocean through Digital Technology theme of the annual event.
Based on 16 months of monitoring, the report comes with a series of downloadable maps and charts of the top polluters across the globe. It’s research that has been conducted using Cerulean, the world’s first free, publicly available technology developed by SkyTruth that uses artificial intelligence and satellite imagery to track ocean oil pollution and identify the potential sources of it.
“Despite the urgent climate crisis, offshore oil production continues to expand globally, often with little public scrutiny,” said Christian Thomas, Geospatial Engineer at SkyTruth and co-author of the report. “By making this critical data publicly available, we aim to empower communities, regulators, and advocacy organisations with the information needed to hold polluters accountable and ensure marine protection.”
Among the report’s key findings, several sources of what it has called chronic oil pollution have been identified. Ten of these stood out in particular for the frequency and extent of oil slicks, collectively responsible for at least 216,000 gallons of oil (over 5,100 barrels) detected on ocean surfaces. Floating production and storage vessels also rank among the most severe polluters, accounting for four out of ten of the most polluting assets observed globally, despite making up a small fraction of the total infrastructure…
More on Hydrocarbon, Wastewater, + Runoff Pollution . . .

Offshore oil platform pollution exposed in world-first for ocean – Oceanographic
A groundbreaking investigation led by SkyTruth has plotted and ranked the world’s most polluting offshore oil and gas facilities using advanced satellite technology to highlight the worst persistent oil slicks and greenhouse gas emissions around the world…

Shocking state of Britain’s waters revealed . . . potentially deadly bacteria double – the Independent
Surge in coastlines, rivers and lakes with unsafe levels of E coli and intestinal enterococci due to sewage spills…

After the fire: Malibu scientists urge action to protect coastal ecosystems – the Malibu Times
As cleanup efforts focus on land, marine experts warn of the Palisades Fire’s hidden toll on beaches and ocean life…

L.A. fires wreaked havoc on the land. Scientists are racing to learn what they’ve done to the sea – the Los Angeles Times
The charred and toxic remnants of thousands of destroyed homes, businesses, cars and electronics will eventually come to rest in the ocean.
Ash from the fires has been detected 100 miles offshore.
Public health officials have urged people to avoid several miles of beaches as recent rains wash contaminants into the sea.

As Russian oil spill fouls beaches, locals fume over official response – the Washington Post
City invented Australia’s beach culture, environmentalist Richard Gosden says, but all this time ‘it’s been conducted in diluted sewage’…

Sydney’s unusual sewerage system to blame for faecal and fat balls on beaches, experts claim – the Guardian
City invented Australia’s beach culture, environmentalist Richard Gosden says, but all this time ‘it’s been conducted in diluted sewage’…

Untreated sewage and fertilizer runoff threaten the Florida manatee – the Conversation
The gentle, slow-moving Florida manatee has no natural predators. And yet, these charismatic mammals face numerous threats….

Win for wild swimmers as government pledges crackdown on water pollution in bathing spots – the Independent
Plans are being considered to increase the protection of England and Wales’ 550 water bathing spots from beyond the summer months and see the number expended to include popular surfing spots…

‘I swam in the polluted Channel and now I need hearing aids’ – the Times UK
Maggie Alderson blames poor water quality off Hastings for an infection that punctured her ear drum. Samples taken from the sea would appear to back that up…