Oil SpillsOil Spills

Steve D’Amato, Yasmeen Fowler,Nicole Milano, Andrew SchackSteve D’Amato, Yasmeen Fowler,Nicole Milano, Andrew Schack

Three Ways for Oil to Enter OceansThree Ways for Oil to Enter Oceans Natural ProcessesNatural Processes

– Marine seepage: 20,000-200,000 tons per yearMarine seepage: 20,000-200,000 tons per year– Sediment erosion: 5,000-50,000 tons per yearSediment erosion: 5,000-50,000 tons per year

Standard OperationsStandard Operations– Intentional discharge: 1,000,000 tons per year!Intentional discharge: 1,000,000 tons per year!

Tanker CasualtiesTanker Casualties– 200,000 tons per year200,000 tons per year

Environmental EffectsEnvironmental Effects Natural properties of oil and waterNatural properties of oil and water

– When a spill or dump occurs, the oil is immediately spread along the When a spill or dump occurs, the oil is immediately spread along the surface of the ocean rapidly (density<1)surface of the ocean rapidly (density<1)

– Within 24 hours the spill becomes “weathered,” or exposed to the Within 24 hours the spill becomes “weathered,” or exposed to the elements of nature, causing about ½ of the oil to evaporate and oxidize elements of nature, causing about ½ of the oil to evaporate and oxidize into the atmosphereinto the atmosphere

– The “weathered” oil is then emulsified and condensed into a material The “weathered” oil is then emulsified and condensed into a material called called moussemousse (density>1) which then sinks just below the surface of (density>1) which then sinks just below the surface of the waterthe water

– The The mousse mousse then collects into larger globs of oil under the surface and then collects into larger globs of oil under the surface and floats in the photic zone, blocking sunlight (their means of floats in the photic zone, blocking sunlight (their means of photosynthesis) to the organisms that live there and causing them to photosynthesis) to the organisms that live there and causing them to perishperish

– The The moussemousse then floats with ocean currents until it reaches a coastal then floats with ocean currents until it reaches a coastal area, where the globs of area, where the globs of mousse mousse break apart and spread over the break apart and spread over the coastal area, severely damaging the natural environmentcoastal area, severely damaging the natural environment

Shoreline RecoveryShoreline Recovery The geography and The geography and

topography of the coastal topography of the coastal area directly effects how area directly effects how quickly the area will quickly the area will recover from the contact of recover from the contact of the oil spillthe oil spill

The higher energy that a The higher energy that a coastline receives the coastline receives the faster that it will be faster that it will be cleansed of the oil cleansed of the oil damage, and naturally the damage, and naturally the less energy that a coastline less energy that a coastline receives the slower that it receives the slower that it will be able to recoverwill be able to recover

The sensitivity reflects this The sensitivity reflects this energy level - the higher energy level - the higher the sensitivity, the higher the sensitivity, the higher the energy the energy

Shoreline Sensitivity

0 2 4 6 8 10S

ho

reli

ne T

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e

Sensitivity To Heavy Crude Oils

Exposed Tidal Flats Sand Beaches

Gravel Beaches Rocky Beaches

Sheltered Rocky Coasts Sheltered Tidal Flats

Clean UpClean Up Mechanical ContainmentMechanical Containment

– BoomsBooms– BarriersBarriers– SkimmersSkimmers– Natural/Synthetic sorbent Natural/Synthetic sorbent

materialsmaterials

Chemical and BiologicalChemical and Biological– Used in conjunction with Used in conjunction with

mechanicalmechanical

Dispersants and gelling agentsDispersants and gelling agents

Physical methods used in cleaning up shore linesPhysical methods used in cleaning up shore lines– Evaporation, oxidation, biodegradationEvaporation, oxidation, biodegradation– Wiping with sorbent materials, pressure washing, racking and bulldozingWiping with sorbent materials, pressure washing, racking and bulldozing

Rescuing WildlifeRescuing Wildlife Scare tactics are used to keep wild Scare tactics are used to keep wild

life away from arealife away from area– Propane scare-cansPropane scare-cans– Floating dummiesFloating dummies– Helium-filled balloonsHelium-filled balloons

Cleaning process for birdsCleaning process for birds– Oil flushed from eyes and Oil flushed from eyes and

intestinesintestines– Stomach-coating medications Stomach-coating medications

administeredadministered– Wipe with absorbent clothesWipe with absorbent clothes

Birds must then preen and realign Birds must then preen and realign their feathers to restore them to their feathers to restore them to their original structure, helping them their original structure, helping them to become waterproofto become waterproof

Must pass waterproof testMust pass waterproof test– Ability to float and repel waterAbility to float and repel water

Marine Mammal Rescue and Clean UpMarine Mammal Rescue and Clean Up

PinnipedsPinnipeds– Walruses, harbor seals, and Walruses, harbor seals, and

sea lionssea lions Fur-bearing marine Fur-bearing marine

mammalsmammals– Sea otters and fur sealsSea otters and fur seals

Wiped clean and kept Wiped clean and kept warm and drywarm and dry– Sometimes a mild detergent Sometimes a mild detergent

is used to help break up oilis used to help break up oil– Milk used around faceMilk used around face

Given medications to coat Given medications to coat stomach and allowed to stomach and allowed to clean themselvesclean themselves

International Regulations of Intentional International Regulations of Intentional Discharges of Oil Into the OceanDischarges of Oil Into the Ocean

Tankers used to discharge oil/water mixtures into Tankers used to discharge oil/water mixtures into the ocean prior to arrival at ports to clean the cargo the ocean prior to arrival at ports to clean the cargo tankstanks– Even at just .4% of the total cargo, this would mean Even at just .4% of the total cargo, this would mean

about 400 tons of oil discharged into the ocean about 400 tons of oil discharged into the ocean per per voyage!voyage!

– This added up to 1,000,000+ tons of oil discharged per This added up to 1,000,000+ tons of oil discharged per yearyear

Since the 1950’s there have been regulations Since the 1950’s there have been regulations placed on intentional dischargesplaced on intentional discharges

Limits on DischargesLimits on Discharges1.1. Within 50 mile coastal zones, and on specially-protected Within 50 mile coastal zones, and on specially-protected

areas, only “clean ballasts” (discharge that produces no areas, only “clean ballasts” (discharge that produces no visible trace of oil on water surface) may be dischargedvisible trace of oil on water surface) may be discharged

2.2. Outside this zone, discharges must be less than 60 liters Outside this zone, discharges must be less than 60 liters of oil per mileof oil per mile

3.3. No more than 1/15,000No more than 1/15,000thth of cargo may be discharged per of cargo may be discharged per voyagevoyage

First two limitations enforced by aerial/naval surveillance First two limitations enforced by aerial/naval surveillance programsprograms

– Detecting state and courts of tanker’s flag state, respectively, Detecting state and courts of tanker’s flag state, respectively, have prosecution jurisdictionhave prosecution jurisdiction

Third limitation detected upon arrival of a clean tank by Third limitation detected upon arrival of a clean tank by inspectors in oil exporting statesinspectors in oil exporting states

– Prosecution takes place in the detecting or flag state courtsProsecution takes place in the detecting or flag state courts

Required Installation of EquipmentRequired Installation of Equipment

Under the order of International Convention for the Under the order of International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), tankers Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), tankers are required to install equipment that:are required to install equipment that:

1.1. Prevents tankers from using their cargo tanks for ballast (when Prevents tankers from using their cargo tanks for ballast (when heavy material is placed in the hold of a ship to enhance stability)heavy material is placed in the hold of a ship to enhance stability)

2.2. Uses crude oil rather than sea water for washing down tanksUses crude oil rather than sea water for washing down tanks

Tankers built before 1980 must have at least one of Tankers built before 1980 must have at least one of these technologies installedthese technologies installed

Tankers built between 1980 and 1982 must have Tankers built between 1980 and 1982 must have “segregated ballast tanks” (the first technology) installed“segregated ballast tanks” (the first technology) installed

Tankers built after 1982 must have both technologies Tankers built after 1982 must have both technologies installedinstalled

Major Recorded Oil SpillsMajor Recorded Oil Spills

1978 Amoco Cadiz1978 Amoco Cadiz– 220,000 tons220,000 tons

1979 Atlantic Empress1979 Atlantic Empress– 160,000 tons160,000 tons

1967 Torrey Canyon1967 Torrey Canyon– 119,000 tons119,000 tons

1993 Braer1993 Braer– 85,000 tons85,000 tons

1996 Sea Empress1996 Sea Empress– 72,000 tons72,000 tons

1989 Exxon Valdez1989 Exxon Valdez– 38,800 tons 38,800 tons

Exxon ValdezExxon Valdez

On March 24, 1989, shortly after On March 24, 1989, shortly after midnight, the oil tanker midnight, the oil tanker Exxon Exxon ValdezValdez struck Bligh Reef in struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska, Prince William Sound, Alaska, spilling more than 11 million spilling more than 11 million gallons of crude oil. The spill gallons of crude oil. The spill was the largest in U.S. history.was the largest in U.S. history.

Many factors complicated the Many factors complicated the cleanup efforts following the cleanup efforts following the spill. The size of the spill and its spill. The size of the spill and its remote location - accessible remote location - accessible only by helicopter and boat - only by helicopter and boat - made government and industry made government and industry efforts difficult. efforts difficult.

Clean UpClean Up

Three methods were Three methods were involved in the effort to involved in the effort to clean up the spill:clean up the spill:– Burning Burning – Mechanical Cleanup Mechanical Cleanup – Chemical DispersantsChemical Dispersants

AftermathAftermath

In the aftermath of the In the aftermath of the Exxon ValdezExxon Valdez incident, incident, Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, which required the Coast Guard to strengthen its which required the Coast Guard to strengthen its regulations on oil tank vessels and oil tank owners regulations on oil tank vessels and oil tank owners and operators. Today, tank hulls provide better and operators. Today, tank hulls provide better protection against spills resulting from a similar protection against spills resulting from a similar accident, and communications between vessel accident, and communications between vessel captains and vessel traffic centers have improved captains and vessel traffic centers have improved to make for safer sailing.to make for safer sailing.