We all know that normal oil spills contain heavier elements. I am not disputing this.
One of the features of Corexia is to take the lighter fractions, that would normally cling to the surface (as you point out) and PUSH them to the ocean floor. Moreover, the amounts of Corexita were in excess of any amounts previously used AND in excess of the amounts authorized by the EPA. This administration used the Gulf as guinea pigs.
From what I understand, it is the enormous blast of Corexita that is causing the sickening human health problems in the Gulf. But I am going to wait for more solid information.
The name of the stuff is Corexit, not Corexia nor Corexita. It helps if you spell it correctly.
It's function is to break up globules of oil and disperse it through the volume of water where it can be attacked by oil-consuming bacteria. Taking it from being a slick on the surface is NOT the same as pushing it to the ocean floor.
Incorrect. Corexit causes the oil to break up into very, very tiny drops instead of "sticking together" in slicks as it typically does. These microscopic oil drops have many orders of magnitude more surface area than the original oil, which give far greater access to the oil by bacteria.
The more the bacteria can reach the oil, the faster they will "eat" it, and the faster it will disappear.....GONE, destroyed, "not oil" any more, but parts of the bacteria (fats, proteins, carbohydrates) themselves. The now "over-fed" bacteria do what bacteria always do in such circumstances.....they fission into TWO bacteria.
Lots more bacteria means a much larger than usual "base" of the food chain. Which means more krill and other micro-critters, when means more of those what eats'em. The Gulf will be fantastically productive over the next few years, not dead.