The Worst Oil Disaster Ever

Summary

In February 1991, following Iraq's failed invasion of Kuwait, retreating Iraqi forces sabotaged over 700 oil wells, igniting a massive environmental and economic disaster. Fires raged for months, releasing millions of barrels of oil daily and costing Kuwait billions. Firefighting teams from around the world faced dangerous conditions, including unexploded bombs and toxic oil lakes. A Hungarian team arrived with a retrofitted Soviet tank, 'Big Wind,' equipped with jet engines to battle the infernos. Over eight months, thousands worked to extinguish the fires, making this one of the most complex firefighting operations in history.

Takeaways

• 🔥 The retreating Iraqi army set fire to over 700 oil wells during the 1991 Gulf War, creating an environmental disaster.
• 💨 Thick black smoke from the fires turned day into night and was visible from space, with oil fires consuming millions of barrels daily.
• 💰 Kuwait was losing approximately a million dollars every 13-16 minutes as oil prices dropped, severely affecting their economy.
• 💥 Firefighters had to deal with unexploded bombs, mines, and toxic oil lakes, making the fire extinguishing operation extremely dangerous.
• 🚒 A Hungarian team introduced a unique tank retrofitted with jet engines to extinguish the fires more effectively than traditional methods.
• 💧 Water supply was crucial, with firefighters pumping 25 million gallons of seawater daily to cool the areas and control the fires.
• 🚀 The 'Big Wind' tank, equipped with jet engines, was able to put out fires in just seconds, compared to hours with traditional methods.
• 🧯 Special techniques like using explosives to deprive fires of oxygen were also employed to combat the oil well fires.
• 🌍 The fires lasted over 8 months, becoming one of the worst environmental disasters in history, far surpassing other major oil spills.
• 💡 The combined effort of over 10,000 people, including firefighters from multiple countries, eventually brought the crisis under control.

Q & A

What caused the oil fires in Kuwait in 1991?

The oil fires in Kuwait were caused by the retreating Iraqi Army during their withdrawal from Kuwait after the failed invasion. They sabotaged more than 700 oil wells by setting them on fire.

How did the Kuwaiti oil fires impact the environment?

The Kuwaiti oil fires caused massive environmental damage. The fires released thick, black smoke that darkened the skies and polluted the air. Oil lakes formed around the wells, and the fires destroyed an estimated 5-6 million barrels of oil daily, with serious long-term ecological consequences.

What were some of the main challenges firefighters faced while extinguishing the oil fires?

Firefighters had to navigate through war-torn deserts filled with unexploded ordnance and mines, endure extreme heat, and deal with lakes of oil that could ignite at any moment. The fires burned at extremely high temperatures, and many oil wells were damaged in ways that made traditional firefighting methods difficult.

How did firefighters use explosives to extinguish the oil fires?

Firefighters used explosives to snuff out the flames by reducing the amount of oxygen around the fire. They stuffed empty oil drums with plastic explosives and detonated them near the flames, which consumed the surrounding oxygen and put out the fire.

What was 'Big Wind' and how did it help in extinguishing the fires?

'Big Wind' was a custom-built firefighting vehicle created by a team of 23 Hungarian firefighters. It was a modified Soviet T-62 tank with two jet engines used to blow out the fires and spray water, effectively extinguishing flames in a matter of seconds compared to traditional methods that took hours.

How much oil was lost during the Kuwaiti oil fires, and what was the economic impact?

An estimated 5-6 million barrels of oil were lost each day the fires raged, costing the Kuwaiti government millions of dollars. The overall economic loss was staggering, with over 42 billion gallons of oil lost during the 8 months it took to extinguish the fires.

What methods were used to cap the oil wells after the fires were extinguished?

After the fires were extinguished, teams used devices like the 'stinger,' which was a tapered attachment inserted into the well opening to control the oil flow. They also pumped kill mud into the wells to block the flow of oil, depending on the flow rate and pressure.

Why was there a need to clear unexploded ordnance before firefighting efforts could begin?

Unexploded ordnance, including mines and bombs, littered the Kuwaiti desert after the war. These posed a significant threat to firefighting teams, so military forces had to clear these hazards before firefighting operations could safely begin.

How long did it take to fully extinguish all the oil fires, and how many teams were involved?

It took over 8 months to extinguish all the oil fires in Kuwait. More than 10,000 people were involved in the firefighting efforts, including teams from the US, Canada, and Hungary.

What was the long-term environmental and health impact of the Kuwaiti oil fires?

The Kuwaiti oil fires were one of the worst ecological disasters in history. The thick smoke, toxic fumes, and oil spills affected both the environment and human health. Over a quarter of a million Gulf War veterans reported health problems related to the fires, and the long-term environmental damage is still being studied.