Is there any positive ecological effect possible from the Gulf oil spill?

Oil is a natural byproduct that occurs after heat and pressure have been applied to organic materials over a long period of time. As such, it’s occurrence in the environment isn’t unprecented, even before man got around to drilling it up and burning it.

I ask because volcanic eruptions are mighty and terrible events much like the oil spill underway in the Gulf of Mexico right now. They spew ash and noxious gases for thousands of miles. And yet, the grounds around volcanoes are often extremely fertile. In that way, the volcano’s eruption ultimately leads to a positive effect, albeit at the price of gruesome short-term damage.

So, since one could make the case that volcanoes are good for the Earth, I was wondering if the same would be true for petroleum? Are there any flora or fauna that might be positively impacted, even if it’s years from now?

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I’m just curious. In no way should anyone interpret this question or anyone’s answers to it as justification in support of BP, Halliburton, their contractors, regulatory offices, or any one else that’s culpable for the events we see happening in the Gulf today and for weeks (months?) to come.