Dispersants

Dispersants are chemicals, which have components of surface-active agents called surfactants. The dispersants aids in the breaking up of the oil slick into smaller droplets. 

Chemical dispersants remove the oil from the surface of the water and into the water column by enhancing the natural chemical and physical breakdown of oil. Once in the water column, the dilution of oil is greatly facilitated and hence the toxicity level is reduced. Eventually, these dispersants and oil droplets are food sources for bacteria in the ocean. By removing the oil from the water surface, birds, marine mammals, turtles, and sensitive coasts are protected. Chemical dispersants do not cause the oil to sink, but remain in suspension in the water column. 

The disadvantages of chemical dispersants are that they are toxic in certain ways. As an added precaution, chemical dispersants are not applied to shallow near-shore waters, mangrove areas, marshes, or waters over coral reefs and sea grass beds.