Just how big is a barrel of oil..
By HADDOWZ
@HADDOWZ (1469)
May 27, 2010 4:28pm CST
I'm sure we have all heard of the oil spillage off the coast of America, and I'm sure we have heard reports of how many 'barrels' of oil there is spewing out of the broken pipe into the sea.
But how many people can honestly say they know how much oil is in a 'barrel'.
Without looking it up on the internet, I had no idea, ie. pints, litres, gallons etc.
Did you know...
6 responses
@Beautyfactor (1510)
•
27 May 10
Yes, we always here oil referred to in barrels, but I have no idea how much that is. I would assume that a barrel is a gallon but I don't know for sure.
1 person likes this
@HADDOWZ (1469)
•
28 May 10
Close, but no prize.
According to Wikipedia a barrel contains 42-US gallons of oil, not to be confused with a 'drum' which hold 50 gallons of oil.
Most oil producing countries measure the volume of oil using the US standard 'barrel'
Now isn't that fasinating 
We can all slepp easier having this knowledge 
We can all slepp easier having this knowledge 
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
27 May 10
I always thought they were like the big drums of oil we see occasionally, 55 gallons. I could be wrong, though. I'd say, to your question about how much oil is in a drum, that it's about what it takes to fill it up. 
I can't even imagine that much oil spilling out. I know that they've had quite a time trying to stop the leak but, to see it all floating in the ocean, that must be quite a sight.
I just heard on the Weather Channel about what might happen if a hurricane hits the area with all this oil floating around out there. Can you imagine that oil being picked up by the strong winds and just thrown all over the place once it comes ashore? THAT would be a sight, I can tell you! Black/brown sludge ocvering buildings, vegetation, cars, etc. YUCK! I would fear most for the wildlife because they'd be covered with the stuff, too. If that happened, I'd HAVE to make the trip to do whatever I could to help even though I live quite a distance from the Gulf of Mexico.
I can't even imagine that much oil spilling out. I know that they've had quite a time trying to stop the leak but, to see it all floating in the ocean, that must be quite a sight.
I just heard on the Weather Channel about what might happen if a hurricane hits the area with all this oil floating around out there. Can you imagine that oil being picked up by the strong winds and just thrown all over the place once it comes ashore? THAT would be a sight, I can tell you! Black/brown sludge ocvering buildings, vegetation, cars, etc. YUCK! I would fear most for the wildlife because they'd be covered with the stuff, too. If that happened, I'd HAVE to make the trip to do whatever I could to help even though I live quite a distance from the Gulf of Mexico.@mentalward (14690)
• United States
27 May 10
OMG!!! I just saw a drawing of exactly where the oil is sitting right now. It's off the coast of FOUR States, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. It also juts out away from the coast, right into the Atlantic Ocean. It's HUMUNGOUS!!!
All that oil floating out there says that our oil and gas prices are going to soar soon. (Supply and demand, you know.) I'm surprised they haven't already.
I just hope they can get the majority of that cleaned up before a hurricane hits the area. The experts are predicting a very busy hurricane season this year, with possibly up to 15 hurricanes, five of which will be major. Geez.
@AjaySinghBaghel (5506)
• India
28 May 10
I have been watching news about but never got into the bottom of it and now find it. I have no idea about it but feel that it should be resolved as soon as possible.
somebody found the genius in me