2-5 years is a short time frame even for man, which is what the data from past spills says. Yes, oil can be "detected" in some sub-soil spots even today, but the ecology has recovered and thriving.
Your linked article is the same old alarmist drivel that has been the norm for the media ever since this started. Try looking up some actual science studies instead. There is simply no way that the magnitude of the spill will be 100 million gallons. Ixtoc "blew" at a higher rate for a FAR longer time to reach that amount.
"The sub-surface problem, from all causes, adds to damage...
Ixtoc had "sub-surface" damage, too, because they used the SAME dispersants to drive the oil into solution. And yet the Gulf of Mexico is not dead. And post-spill studies couldn't even DETECT "Ixtoc oil" along the Texas coastline after three years (I've posted a link to that scientific study on another thread).
Ixtoc was in 50 ft of water and did not hit the shoreline in anything what this one seems to be doing.
I grew up in Galveston. I remember eating shelling and eating Gulf oysters.
I’m hopeful that this one is stopped soon and its effects are limited to a mere 5 years. But it looks far worse to me now in size and effect.