A blowout refers to the uncontrolled release of fluids from the reservoir to the surface or into other layers of the wellbore. It generally occurs in oil and natural gas extraction sites. There are various causes for blowouts, and the most common reasons include:

Inaccurate Formation Pressure Measurement

Low Drilling Fluid Density

Decrease in Mud Column Height

Suction during Drilling and other improper operational measures

Some blowouts are considered normal occurrences, but accidents are dangerous because natural gas, when released, can mix with air and easily ignite, resulting in a fire hazard. A common emergency response is to pump heavy barite powder into the well to increase the pressure and stop the blowout from continuing.

Methods to Treat Petroleum Pollution

Apart from wastewater pollution, petroleum's impact on water bodies is also significant. Every year, approximately 1.5 million tons of crude oil flow into the water. In recent years, crude oil and refined petroleum products have been directly discharged on land or into bodies of water, especially following oil tanker accidents or offshore drilling operations.

Microbial treatment of petroleum pollution is both economical and efficient. For example, in a village in Pennsylvania, USA, around 6,000 gallons of gasoline leaked into underground water, seriously contaminating the water supply. Initially, the responsible party, SanOil, attempted to remove the gasoline by pumping it out with a deep well. They removed 3,000 gallons, but it would take about 100 years to remove the rest using this method. So, they switched to using bacteria that break down gasoline and successfully cleaned up the pollution.

The use of "super microorganisms" designed to degrade petroleum is a promising method for environmental cleanup in the 21st century. These genetically engineered bacteria can decompose multiple components of crude oil, and they can be used in oil fields, refineries, tankers, and polluted oceans and land.