CUMULATIVE DATA AND GRAPHICS FOR OIL SPILLS 1973-2001
Presented below are graphs and tables which summarize the oil
spill data, from 1973 to 2001, in the following categories:
Additionally, there are ten graphs which summarize oil spill data since enactment of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA-90). Using that timeframe shows the data in more detail, for easier viewing.
Below each graph is a brief interpretation of what it depicts, along with a link which will display the underlying data in a tabular format.
The spill data for the years 1969 through 1972 were not entered into a computer database and, thus, were not included in this section. The 1969 through 1972 reports are included, for historical purposes, with the annual data summary pages.
Click Here To View The Data For Number of Spills By Size
Chart/Data Interpretation: 87.6% of all the spills that occurred from 1973 - 2001 were between 1-100 gallons. Also, there is a general downward trend in the number of spills over 1,000 gallons.
Click Here To View The Data For Volume Of Spills By Size
Chart/Data Interpretation: 66.8% of the volume of spills by spill size from 1973 - 2001 were as a result of spills greater than 100,000 gallons. However, there have been no oil spills over 1,000,000 gallons between 1991 and 2001.
Click Here To View The Data For Number Of Spills By Waterbody
Chart/Data Interpretation: From 1991 through 2001, 54.4% of all the spills occurred on rivers, canals, harbors, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Click Here To View The Data For Volume Of Spills By Waterbody
Chart/Data Interpretation: 53.7% of the volume of spills from 1991 - 2001 occurred on rivers, canals, bays, sounds, and harbors of the U.S., with 28.8% of the volume spilled on rivers and canals.
Click Here To View The Data For Number Of Spills By Location
Chart/Data Interpretation: 57.6% of the spills from 1991 - 2001 occurred on internal waters out to 3.0 nautical miles offshore.
Click Here To View The Data For Volume Of Spills By Location
Chart/Data Interpretation: 61.9% of the volume of spills from 1991 - 2001 occurred on internal waters out to 3.0 nautical miles offshore.
Click Here To View The Data For Number Of Spills By Source
Chart/Data Interpretation: 53.7% of the number of spills from 1991 - 2001 occurred from non-tank vessels; 18.7% were mystery spills; 22.1% were from facilities and other non-vessels; 5.06% were from tank vessels (ships/barges); and .5% were from pipelines.
Click Here To View The Data For Volume Of Spills By Source
Chart/Data Interpretation: 34.8% of the volume of oil spilled from 1991 - 2001 came from tank vessels (ships/barges); 29.4% from facilities and other non-vessels; 18.7% from non-tank vessels; 10.4% from pipelines; 6.7% from mystery spills.
Click Here To View The Data For Number Of Spills By Type Of Oil
Chart/Data Interpretation: 19.8% of the number of spills from 1991 - 2001 involved the discharge of crude oil or heavy oil; 30.0% involved intermediate fuel oils; 44.5% involved other petroleum products; and 4.9% involved gasoline products. Non-petroleum products, such as vegetable oils and wood creosotes, accounted for .8% of the spills.
Click Here To View The Data For Volume Of Spills By Type Of Oil
Chart/Data Interpretation: 69.4% of the volume of spills from 1991 - 2001 involved crude oil, heavy oil or intermediate fuel oils.
Click Here To View The Data For Number Of Spills By Coast Guard District
Chart/Data Interpretation: 45.6% of the number of spills from 1991 - 2001 occurred in the 8th District. Today the 8th and the 2nd Districts are combined into one (8th District). The percentage reflects this combination. See District map for locations.
Click Here To View The Data For Volume Of Spills By Coast Guard District
Chart/Data Interpretation: 47.8% of the volume of
spills from 1991 - 2001 occurred in the 8th
District. Today the 8th and the 2nd
Districts are combined into one (8th
District). The percentage reflects this combination. See District map for locations.
Return to Spill Compendium Table of Contents
For questions about this page, please contact the Compliance Analysis Division.
Page updated: August, 2003.