Crude Oil (IMAGE) Helmholtz Association Caption When the Exxon Valdez spilled its load on a reef in March 1989, about 40,000 tons of crude oil escaped and polluted the Prince William Sound. It is estimated that of seabirds alone, more than a quarter of a million were killed in the spill. Two thousand kilometers of coast were polluted with oil. Credit Photo by E. Gundlach Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.