Oil Spill Academic Task Force (OSATF)

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The Oil Spill Academic Task Force (OSATF) is a consortium of scientists and scholars from institutions in the State University System as well as from five of Florida's private universities and two marine laboratories working in collaboration with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The OSATF brings together expertise and resources to assist the state of Florida and the Gulf region in responding to and studying the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

This website is designed to provide information on the Academic Task Force, links to partners and other resources.

Study Sharpens Picture of How Much Oil and Gas Flowed in Deepwater Horizon Spill

Photo Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

WHOI.edu, 9/5/11 -- In a detailed assessment of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, researchers have determined that the blown-out Macondo well spewed oil at a rate of about 57,000 barrels a day, totaling nearly 5 million barrels of oil released from the well between April 20 and July 15, 2010, when the leak was capped. In addition, the well released some 100 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas. Read press release.

Is it true that microbes cleaned up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? Can bacteria really "eat" oil, and if so, how? This report released by the American Academy of Microbiology seeks to consider and answer some of the most frequently asked questions regarding microbes and oil spills. See Report.

In The News...

NRDA Releases Early Restoration Plan Details for Deepwater Horizon Spill (The Bradenton Times, 12/28/11)

8 projects to lead oil spill restoration efforts (Associated Press, 12/14/11)

Coast Guard updates oil response plan (KeysNet.com 12/8/11)

Evidence shows Gulf oil spill caused widespread ecological damage (HeraldTribune.com, Sarasota, 11/7/11)

Nova Southeastern research will help determined if fish have been affected by oil spill
(The Miami Herald, 10/16/11)

Turtle Trouble Ahead as Nest Numbers Rise
(Capital News Service, 10/11/11)

Federal Task Force Releases Gulf Coast Restoration Plan
(NorthEscambia.com, 10/6/11)

Federal Report Highlights Need to Clean Gulf Coast
(ABC News, 10/511)

$112.5 Million Awarded to Research Consortia Studying Effects of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Gulf of Mexico
(GRI Research Board, 8/31/11)

Partner Institutions

The following partner institutions are coordinating with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and other state and federal agencies:

Eckerd College
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida International University
Florida State University
Jacksonville University
Mote Marine Laboratory
New College of Florida
Nova Southeastern University
Smithsonian Marine Station
University of Central Florida
University of Florida
University of Miami
University of North Florida
University of South Florida
University of West Florida

Regional Associations

The following regional associations have expertise that can be brought to bear on oil spill related issues:

Florida COOS
GCOOS
SECOORA

Disclaimer: The products presented on this and related OSATF Oil Spill Response web pages are only for research purposes
and should only be used for research guidance, not operational decisions