bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Results of Testing of Oil Skimmers with Diesel and Hybrid Fuel Oils in Cold Seawater
Authors: Holt Hanne Solem , Frost Bjørn Ronny
Published: December 2017

Determining the ability of currently available skimmers to collect new types of diesel, including low sulphur marine gas oil, wide range diesel oil and hybrid fuel oils, is of great importance for preparedness against acute pollution. To be able to make operational assessments of which oil skimmers are best suited to a given situation, we must know how the skimmers work on these diesel and hybrid fuel oils. We have tested various oil skimmers in different oil types. Four different diesel and hybrid fuel oils have been tested: a marine gas oil, a wide range diesel oil and two hybrid fuel oils. Three oil skimmer types were tested. The types are with discs, brushes and adhesion belts. The tests are performed with natural seawater at water temperatures corresponding to winter temperature (0–2°C).

Capacity tests have been performed on MGO, HDME 50, ULSFO and WRG to find out how the oil skimmers work in these types of oil. The skimmers were first tested in a restricted basin with a thick layer of more than 20 cm of oil, so that pure oil and only small quantities of water were taken up. The skimmers and oils were then placed in a boom in the basin. A current was applied in the water, which caused a thickness of oil to build up around the skimmer. During our testing the operator ran the skimmers at optimum performance, so that maximum collection and efficiency were achieved.

The results gave us the answer that the selected skimmers work in MGO, HDME 50 and WRG. Which skimmer are chosen will vary depending on what is wanted. It is possible to increase the capacity of the skimmers, but this would have a negative effect on efficiency, since the total quantity taken up will be higher.

None of the skimmers worked well in ULSFO. This oil has a high point of solidification, which meant that the skimmers did not have a sufficient inflow of oil to work with.
Benefits of Arctic Planning and Response International Coordination: 2015 Engagement by Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) and U.S.C.G. Office of Marine Environmental Response Policy (MER)
Authors: Andersen Helge Munkås , Gunter Tim
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT: #2017-026

The objective of this paper is to highlight Arctic planning and response collaboration initiative between the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) Office of Marine Environmental Response (MER) Policy on numerous spill preparedness and response topics. The paper focuses on engagement efforts between NCA and USCG MER on IOSC’s 2017 overarching themes of Prevent, Prepare, Respond, and Restore. The NCA and USCG MER signed a Letter of Intent to Cooperate in 2014 on spill preparedness and response topics. These collaboration efforts include sharing of exercise lessons learned during joint workshops, training opportunities, and response equipment testing. As a result of these collaboration efforts, USCG MER representatives attended the 2015 Norwegian Clean Seas Association (NOFO)/NCA annual test of new spill technologies and procedures. The exercise was hosted by NOFO/NCA and was held offshore in the North Sea approximately 140 miles northwest of Stavanger, Norway. The exercise was held June 9–11, 2015, at the abandoned Frigg Oilfield and included verification of the Marine Oil Spill (MOS) Sweeper I, Desmi Forlense, MOS Sweeper II, NorLense Oiltrawl, Current Buster 6, and NASA remote sensing equipment. Another result of this collaboration is that NCA will evaluate its present Incident Command System (ELS). As part of this evaluation, NCA sent two senior staff members to Yorktown in September 2015 to participate in two USCG courses: 1) OSC Crises Management, and 2) ICS-410 Advanced Incident Command.
Advances from Arctic Oil Spill Response Research
Authors: Mullin Joseph V.
Published: December 2017

Abstract 2017-161

Over the past four decades, the oil and gas industry has made significant advances in being able to detect, contain and clean up spills and mitigate the residual consequences in Arctic environments. Many of these advances were achieved through collaborative research programs involving industry, academic and government partners. The Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology - Joint Industry Programme (JIP), was launched in 2012 and completed in early 2017 with the objectives of building on an already extensive knowledge base to further improve Arctic spill response capabilities and better understand the environmental issues involved in selecting and implementing the most effective response strategies.

The JIP was a collaboration of nine oil and gas companies (BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Eni, ExxonMobil, North Caspian Operating Company, Shell, Statoil, and Total) and focused on six key areas of oil spill response: dispersants; environmental effects; trajectory modeling; remote sensing; mechanical recovery and in-situ burning. The JIP provided a vehicle for sharing knowledge among the participants and international research institutions and disseminating information to regulators, the public and stakeholders. The network of engaged scientists and government agencies increased opportunities to develop and test oil spill response technologies while raising awareness of industry efforts to advance the existing capabilities in Arctic oil spill response.

The JIP consisted of two phases, the first included technical assessments and state of knowledge reviews resulting in a library of sixteen documents available on the JIP website. The majority of the JIP efforts focused on Phase 2, actual experiments, and included laboratory, small and medium scale tank tests, and field research experiments. Three large-scale field tests were conducted in the winter and spring months of 2014–2016 including recent participation of the JIP in the 2016 NOFO oil on water exercise off Norway.

The JIP was the largest pan-industry programme dedicated to oil spill response in the Arctic, ever carried out. Twenty seven research projects were successfully and safely conducted by the world’s foremost experts on oil spill response from across industry, academia, and independent scientific institutions in ten countries. The overarching goal of the research was to address the differing aspects involved in oil spill response, including the methods used, and their applicability to the Arctic’s unique conditions. All research projects were conducted using established protocols and proven scientific technologies, some of which were especially adjusted for ice conditions. This paper describes the scope of the research conducted, results, and key findings. The JIP is committed to full transparency in disseminating the results through peer reviewed journal articles, and all JIP research reports are available free of charge at www.arcticresponsetechnology.org.
Impact and Implications of an International Oiled Wildlife Response Preparedness Project
Authors: Kelway Paul , Chilvers B. Louise , Grogan Adam , Hebert Charlie , Nijkamp Hugo , Ziccardi Michael
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 2017-133

December 2016 marked the conclusion of a two-year global oiled wildlife response preparedness project, funded by the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers/IPIECA Oil Spill Response-Joint Industry Project (IOGP/IPIECA OSR-JIP). This project brought together leading oiled wildlife response organizations from seven countries to design a preparedness and response system that would support the mobilization and integration of tier 3 (international) wildlife response resources if activated by the oil industry or other stakeholders.

The project outcomes include written standards and procedures that represent a further step towards integration of oiled wildlife preparedness and response as an oil industry standard worldwide, and allow for the foundations of a global approach to be built upon good practice as defined by the international oiled wildlife response community. 2017 sees the system entering a second (beta) phase with a further funding commitment being provided by the oil industry via Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL).

Building on the introduction and overview to this project as presented at the International Oil Spill Conference in 2014 (Kelway et al., 2014), this paper will explore key outcomes and assess the project’s impact and implications, particularly in relation to the present and future role of multi-stakeholder collaboration in the advancement of global oiled wildlife response preparedness.
Environmental Unit During Transboundary Spill Response: A Model for Training ICS Implementation During International Spills
Authors: Parker Heather A. , Pilkey-Jarvis Linda , Sego D’Arcy , Knox Graham
Published: December 2017

#396 ABSTRACT

The Environmental Unit (EU) is an important central function in the Incident Command System (ICS) within which key decisions are made and timing of certain critical response decisions is driven or influenced. Examples include such issues as managing waste, determining divisions, sharing data on resources at risk, establishing a shoreline assessment program, setting response treatment priorities, and determining treatment endpoints which in most cases sets the timing for when an active response is considered complete. Additionally, the EU serves as a central hub or nexus for many of the key sections and units within ICS, as many of the issues and work done within the EU are cross-cutting and involve components from the Operations Section, Planning Section, Logistics, Command Staff (Liaison and Safety Officers), etc. The unique nature of the EU provides a prime opportunity to train ICS concepts and good practices of implementation by focusing training on the EU and how it functions. The primary structural elements of ICS, including the Planning P cycle, the development of an Incident Action Plan, management by Objectives, development of Strategies and Tactics from those Command Objectives, making recommendations based on command priorities, and many more can be illustrated through targeted EU training. In the Salish Sea region of North America, there is close interaction between the key response agencies at the Federal and State/Provincial levels to prepare for transboundary responses by aligning response methods and practices. This coordination focuses to a great degree on cross-training on ICS: its structure and functions and more importantly its implementation. To that end, several Canadian and U.S. agencies have been coordinating for a number of years on providing joint, international ICS EU training for its responders on both sides of the border, with the goal of aligning ICS implementation. This joint international EU training program started in 2011 and has progressed since. This paper will examine other examples of this training program and identify some of its benefits, such as helping drive policy development on both sides of the border; and will highlight some case studies of responses where this training facilitated EU functions. This paper will also identify some challenges remaining in the differences between how ICS is implemented between these two nations, in particular the concept of the Science Table in the Canadian ICS implementation, and some suggestions for improvements moving forward.
Options for Minimizing Environmental Impacts of Inland Spill Response: New Guide From the American Petroleum Institute
Authors: Michel Jacqueline , Ploen Mark
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 2017-054

The 2016 American Petroleum Institute inland guide incorporates lessons learned from spill responses that can minimize the environmental impacts of inland oil spills. In addition, it provides new information on the changing risk profiles of inland spills in North America. such as the increase in oil transportation by rail, the added risks of fire and air quality concerns from spills of very light crude oils from light tight shale production areas, behavior of diluted bitumen products when spilled to fresh water, and special considerations for inland spill response. Best practices for inland oil spill response are organized by Oil Groups 1–4 and Group 5 submerged oil (oil that is suspended in the water column or moving along the bottom). It provided guidance on selecting appropriate cleanup endpoints for inland spills. Finally, it provides response guidelines for issues of special concern for inland spills, including: protection of water intakes, response to spills of ethanol-blended fuels, air quality monitoring and levels of concern, oil field produced waters, treatment of oiled debris, and fast-water booming strategies.
METHODOLOGICAL PROPOSAL FOR EVALUATION OF OIL SPILLS ENVIRONMENTAL VULNERABILITY IN RIVERS
Authors: Ibarra-Mojica Diana , Romero Ágata , Barajas-Ferreira Crisóstomo , Kafarov Viatcheslav , Barajas-Solano Crisóstomo
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 2017-397

Rivers have been a major part in the development of human activities since the beginning of civilization. Globally, increased navigation in rivers and construction of oil storage infrastructure along its banks has increased the risk of spillage of these substances in freshwater bodies.

Mitigation associated with such incidents impact depends largely on the formulation and implementation of adequate contingency plans. To make this possible the vulnerability assessment is a tool of primary information which integrates the identification of possible sources of hydrocarbon’s spills and the respective dispersion patterns (evaluation of susceptibility); as well as analysis of areas that could be more seriously affected by the presence of those spills (sensitivity testing). There are known methodologies and study cases for assessing vulnerability to oil spills in marine and coastal environments; however, for rivers there are not references of this type of work.

This paper presents a methodological adaptation for assessing environmental vulnerability for oil spills in rivers, from the integration of known methodologies for evaluation of sensitivity and susceptibility in coastal marine and river environments. Given its standardization and wide use, the ESI (NOAA) method was selected for river sensitivity assessment. It was not considered necessary to have a standardized method for trajectory modeling and hydrocarbons spill degradation (susceptibility analysis), but it was established that in each case of study the selected tool must analyze the determinant processes as advection, adhesion to the edges, mechanical dispersion, evaporation, dissolution, and vertical mixing.

Finally, an adaptation of the Index of Environmental Vulnerability to Oil (IEVO) was proposed. At the moment, the application of the methodology is being carried out in a river of Colombia, however the results still unfinished will not be part of the discussion of the work below.
Remote Sensing of Oil In and Under Ice in a Climate-Controlled Test Basin
Authors: Lamie Nathan J. , Zabilansky Leonard J.
Published: December 2017

Abstract (2017-111)

The ability to rapidly detect and delineate an oil spill in an Arctic environment is critical for efficient and effective response. The International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOSP), Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology – Joint Industry Programme (JIP) funded a novel controlled laboratory experiment to assess the relative efficacy of a variety of remote sensing instruments. This unbiased evaluation of existing and emerging technologies was recently conducted in the Ice Engineering Test Basin at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.

CRREL provided the unique testing environment for sensor evaluation using the 120 ft. long by 30 ft. wide by 8 ft. deep Test Basin. The refrigerated Test Basin was filled with a manufactured saltwater solution and an 80 cm sea ice sheet was grown with fifteen individual containment hoops. Within the individual containment hoops, oil volumes were injected at predetermined ice thicknesses leading to oil encapsulation at differing ice depths.

The Prince William Sound Oil Spill Recovery Institute assembled a team of remote sensing experts to select, operate and interpret sensors to examine and validate oil detection capabilities in level sea ice. Testing covered the full ice cycle from fresh oil and encapsulated oil in growing ice to migrating oil during ice melt out. Five aerial sensors were attached to a cantilevered boom on a motorized carriage operating above the ice surface, while at the bottom of the tank were nine subsea sensors installed on a computer-controlled traveling underwater platform

Ice cores were obtained outside the hoops during ice growth and in designated hoops during the melt-out phase, with the objective of characterizing ice structure and oil migration using crystallography and CT scanning.

Environmental measurements that would affect sensor performance such as resistivity, acoustics, air, ice and water temperatures were also recorded.

This experiment provided a comprehensive side-by comparison of the sensors evaluated, while correlating measurements with the ice properties.

The paper will provide a full description of the hoop layout plan, the oil injection process, and the measurements schedule that minimized sensor interference.
Oil Spill Risk Analysis for Assessing Environmental Contact Probabilities in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Ji Zhen-Gang , Johnson Walter R.
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 2017-051:

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) maintains a leasing program for commercial oil and gas development on the Outer Continental Shelf in U.S. territorial waters. To evaluate the potential impacts of these activities, BOEM performs oil spill risk analysis (OSRA) using, in part, a statistical model for estimating the movement of hypothetical oil spills on the ocean surface based on model-generated surface wind and surface current. OSRA examines oil spill risks over long periods of time ranging from 5 years to decades. The latest OSRA analysis estimated the contact probabilities of oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) region by modeling over 40 million hypothetical oil spill trajectories over extended areas of the U. S. continental shelf and tabulating the frequencies with which the simulated oil spills contacted designated natural resources within a specified number of days. The modeled ocean currents and wind fields used in the GOM analysis are from 1993 to 2007 (15 years). The OSRA model was also applied to analyze the contact probabilities of the Ixtoc Oil Spill, which happened on June 3, 1979 in the Bay of Campeche of the GOM and lasted for 10 months. The Ixtoc I Oil Well suffered a blowout, resulting in one of the largest oil spills in history and 3 million barrels of oil spilled. The OSRA model was applied to simulate particle trajectories released at the Ixtoc location using the same GOM current and wind field data from 1993 through 2007. The model results for the Ixtoc simulation were consistent with the descriptions of the oil spill by Hooper (1982), which shows that the OSRA model can provide a reasonable projection of the contact probabilities of hypothetical oil spills.
Modeling Transport of Oil from the Refugio Beach Oil Spill
Authors: MacFadyen Amy
Published: December 2017

2017-288 ABSTRACT

The Refugio Beach oil spill originated from a pipeline break on 19 May 2015 near Refugio State Beach, which is located approximately 20 miles west of Santa Barbara, California. An estimated 500 barrels (21,000 gallons) of crude oil flowed from the shore side of Highway 101 into the Pacific Ocean. Trajectory and fate modeling of the oil were provided to the Incident Command to support the response. Several factors were particularly challenging for oil spill modeling in this incident. The spill entered the ocean through the surf zone, a distinct dynamical region with variability on small spatial and temporal scales, which coastal circulation models generally do not resolve. The regional winds were also highly variable and in some locations forecast models did not reflect the on-scene observations. A final complication was the presence of numerous natural oil seeps in the region. This posed challenges both for model initialization and validation of modeling results.

In the days following the spill, above-background levels of tarballs were observed coming ashore on various beaches remote from the spill. Chemical analyses indicate that some of the tarballs likely originated from the spill. Hindcast modeling of the spill was conducted to examine transport between these locations and the spill source. Modeling simulations showed regional connectivity in approximately the correct time frame between the spill site and beaches in Ventura County and Santa Monica Bay.
Assessing spill risks and impact from Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS): Are standard toxicity data enough?
Authors: Vannoni Marta , Aldridge John , Doran Denise , Kirby Mark , McGowan Thomas , Sheahan Dave
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 2017-262

Over recent decades there has been an increase in the shipping of chemicals at sea with a subsequent increase in the risk of incidents involving hazardous and noxious substances (HNS). Typically, during HNS spills and during scenario planning the impact upon marine organisms is estimated using spill model predictions of time-weighted average (TWA) or peak concentration compared to a predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) derived from laboratory based constant exposure toxicity studies. This paper evaluates two marine transported chemicals, aniline and benzalkonium chloride, and compares their toxicity during standard (constant) and brief (spill-profiled) exposures.

Toxicity was evaluated for the copepod Tisbe battagliai, the red algae Ceramium tenuicorne and the brown algae Fucus vesiculosus. Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and aniline exhibited toxicity in similar concentration range with EC50s typically 1–2 mg l−1 range during constant exposures. When brief or spill-profiled exposures were considered, contrasting effects for the two test chemicals were shown across the range of test species. Exposure to BAC resulted in significant effects to T. battagliai (the most sensitive species to this chemical) after 1-hour exposure to a concentration of 5 mg l−1 but for aniline recovery of the test organisms still occurred in exposures of a few hours at concentrations up to 300 mg l−1.

Thus, a spill of a chemical with a specific mode of toxicity results in greater effects following relatively brief exposures, and exposed organisms show little or no recovery. In such cases impacts might be expected to be more extensive and persistent.

In conclusion, for chemicals with specific modes of toxic action brief exposures, and possibly limited spill profile studies may be useful to support chemical spill risk assessment. Considerations of concentration exposure profiles during spills may also be relevant to take account of when considering oil spill impact plans and predictions.
Quantitative Evaluation of Risks from Crude-by-Rail Spills: A Case Study using the Proposed Shell Puget Sound Refinery Anacortes Rail Unloading Facility
Authors: Horn Matthew , Etkin Dagmar Schmidt , Wolford Andrew
Published: December 2017

Abstract ID: 2017-143 – Industry considerations, regulatory recommendations, and public concerns have necessitated a quantitative approach to addressing the risks associated with crude-by-rail shipments. Risk is defined as the product of the probability of an event occurring and the potential consequences that may result. To adequately address both the probability and consequence sides of risk, a three-phased approach was developed for use. First, a probability assessment used historical freight rail accident data to calculate the probability of an accident occurring with adjustments specific to crude-by-rail transport, the likelihood that an accident involving a crude-by-rail unit train would result in the release of oil, and the potential size of that release. These results were then used as inputs to a consequence assessment. This necessitated an assumption that a spill had taken place and there either was or was not an ignition source nearby. In the second phase, two computational oil spill models (OILMAP Land and SIMAP) were used to determine the trajectory, fate, and effects of released oil onto land and into water. This analysis included determining where oil may be transported within the environment, how long it would take to get there, how it would weather and behave, what resources of interest may potentially be affected, and what the potential acute effects may be to specific biological receptors. The third phase included a fire and explosion analysis, which was used to determine the thermal radiation from pool fires and the overpressure from a vapor cloud explosion and boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE). This assessment was used to quantitatively discuss both the probability and consequence sides of the risk associated with the proposed Shell Puget Sound Refinery Anacortes Rail Unloading Facility and was included in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) addressing Environmental Health and Risk.
Complexities of Oil Spill Contingency Planning for Railroads – Lessons Learned In Washington State
Authors: Pilkey-Jarvis Linda , Irwin Nhi
Published: December 2017

Abstract 2017-405

With the energy renaissance in the United States and the lack of inland pipeline distribution systems, increasingly railroads are transporting crude oil to coastal ports for refining and for further distribution over the water. In Washington State, rapidly changing modes of crude oil transportation, shifting away from vessel and towards rail delivery, resulted in a regulatory requirement for rail operators to develop state approved oil spill contingency plans. Oil spill planning for railroads can be complex, for instance, planning for spills in all types of terrains, environments and habitats, as railroads cross both inland and marine waters. Washington State regulations for railroad contingency plans have been developed in response to changes in oil movement and this paper presents lessons learned from that endeavor. During the rule process, a unit train carrying Bakken crude oil derailed in the Columbia River Gorge, providing an opportunity to draw those lessons into the final rules as adopted. This paper describes the State’s approach to working with large and small rail operators and concerned citizens, and shares the lessons that address the obstacles and opportunities unique to complex railroad oil spill planning.
Experiments at Sea with Herders and In Situ Burning (HISB)
Authors: Cooper David , Buist Ian , Potter Steve , Daling Per , Singsaas Ivar , Lewis Alun
Published: December 2017

A series of experiments involving herders and ISB (designated HISB) were conducted at sea on 14th – 15th June 2016, near the Frigg Field in the North Sea. The primary objective of the experiments described in this paper was to demonstrate, at near-full scale, the use of herders followed by in situ burning (ISB) in open water conditions and validate the findings of an earlier field study of herders in conjunction with ISB. Two experimental releases of 6 m3 (approximately 40 barrels) and one of 4 m3 of Grane Blend crude oil were undertaken. The released oil spread out differently on the sea surface in each of the slicks due to slight variations in release conditions and prevailing wind conditions. Herder (ThickSlick 6535) was applied around two of the slicks by spraying from a small boat; a third slick was not herded before ignition. In the first test, approximately 80% of the total amount of thick oil was herded to form a coherent slick with an average oil layer thickness of approximately 3 mm to 5 mm. The second herded slick accounted for 40% of the amount of oil released and resulted in an average layer thickness of approximately 2 mm to 3 mm present as several discrete areas of thick oil. The average oil layer thickness in the non-herded slick was 2.5 mm to 3 mm (under very calm weather conditions) and this slick had also been broken up into several discrete areas of thick oil.

Ignition with gelled gasoline igniters was carried out approximately one hour after oil release. All three slicks were successfully ignited. Approximately 3.4 m3 of the available oil in the first herded slick was consumed in three distinct burns, while the second herded slick consumed 0.8 m3 of oil in only one burn. The remaining test involving an unherded slick consumed approximately 1.2 m3 of oil in three burns.
Oil Droplet Surfacing Probabilities Under Realistic Low Turbulence in Arctic Ice
Authors: Beegle-Krause CJ , Nordam Tor , Davies Emlyn John , Smith Alex Nimmo , McPhee Miles , Faksness Liv-Guri , Reed Mark , Daae Ragnhild Lundmark , Golbraikh Ephim
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 2017-081

Responders need to choose among oil spill response options to combat spills in ice covered waters as effectively as possible. A decision to apply dispersants in remote ice covered waters requires an estimation of whether or not the oil will initially disperse and then remain dispersed. A concern is that an effectively dispersed plume of oil will not remain dispersed under ice because the mixing energy required is insufficient. We are advancing the predictive capability to determine whether small oil droplets will rise in the calmer, more stable conditions that can occur in ice covered waters. The results will be presented as lookup tables that can be used to assess whether or not oil has been successfully dispersed in ice covered waters.

Ice covered waters can have very low vertical turbulence (mixing) energy, so smaller droplets may rise to the surface in ice covered waters than in open water at lower latitudes. Laboratory studies with oil droplets and field experiments to measure the turbulence directly under ice are being used to provide input and validation data to numerically simulate an oil spill in ice. We assumed that oil slicks were effectively dispersed to form plumes in the water column. Dispersion was assumed to be from natural mixing energy or forced by applying the propeller wash from vessels. The numerical simulations will be performed to determine if these dispersed plumes could significantly resurface.

The International Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) funded the Joint Industry Project (JIP) “Fate of Dispersed Oil Under Ice”. Sintef led two field campaigns (2015 and 2016) with fast ice (ice attached to land) in Van Miljenfjorden in Svalbard. These data for realistic water currents and mixing energy (turbulence) were used in model development. In the second field experiment, dye was released and followed under the ice in order to measure dilution of the dye, as a check on our model. Neap tide periods were targeted in order to look at low mixing energy conditions. At the Plymouth University mesoscale laboratory, studies in a 30 m flume allowed oil droplets of known size to be released in water flowing under synthetic ice under controlled water velocity and under ice roughness conditions. In addition, an analytical model is being developed to estimate the magnitude and dissipation rate of prop wash turbulence. This was necessary to give the time zero basis for estimating how quickly droplets produced by prop wash would rise to the surface. Size classes of oil droplets that do not rise in low vertical turbulence will certainly not rise in higher turbulence. This will allow future research to target larger oil droplet size classes in the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ). This project was led by SINTEF (Norway) with participation by McPhee Research (USA), University of Plymouth (UK), and Ben Gurion University (Israel).
Using dogs to detect oil spills hidden in snow and ice - A new tool to detect oil in Arctic environments
Authors: Brandvik Per Johan , Buvik Turid
Published: December 2017

The main objective of this project has been to train dogs to find oil spills hidden in snow or ice. Previous tests performed during 2007 in a laboratory environment in Trondheim showed that dogs are able to detect and identify the smell of oil, both weathered crude and bunker fuels. Outdoor tests in the Trondheim area in Norway (63°N) have also shown that dogs detect the smell of oil and can find point sources of oil at an outdoor temperature down to −5°C. This was confirmed in phase I of this project.

Realistic field tests conducted in 2008 on Svalbard (78°N) confirmed that dogs can be used to detect oil spills covered with snow and ice in Arctic environments. The dogs were able to locate single point sources and determine the approximate dimensions of a larger oil spill. The dogs also verified the bearing to a larger oil spill (400 liters, covered in snow) in increasing downwind distances up to 5 km from the oil spill.

This fieldwork on Svalbard has shown that the search dog teams perform well under very harsh Arctic conditions. The dogs and the handlers were able to work in temperatures below −20° C for multiple days. The dogs also managed to keep their full concentration and operative sensitivity for several days even after being transported, first by large aircraft (3 hours), then by small aircraft (0.5 hour) and finally the search site in cages strapped on snow scooter sledges. The use of snow scooters for transporting the dogs made it possible to reach remote areas, arriving with rested dogs ready for action.

This study has showed that specially trained dogs are a sensitive and effective tool to search large snow and ice covered areas to detect possible oil spills.
Why Sample? - Understanding Common Sampling Objectives for Oil Spill Response
Authors: Morrow Angeline , Pfeifer Christopher , Broje Victoria , Grunberg Rachel
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT #2017-204:

There is a growing recognition of the role science plays in supporting oil spill response coupled with increasing reliance on data-driven management and decision-making approaches. Collecting samples for analysis of hydrocarbons and other chemicals potentially used during oil spill response (e.g., dispersants) has become common place on many spills. While the rationale and approaches for oil spill sampling may be well known to experienced chemists and environmental scientists, the response community is still gaining experience in integrating sampling programs into dynamic oil spill response and decision-making. This paper reviews common sampling objectives for three key aspects of spill response: operational decision-support, environmental impact assessment (including natural resource damage assessment), and source identification. These broad categories span a range of interrelated sub-topics including, among others, public/worker health and safety; understanding how physical and chemical properties of oil influence selection of response options; monitoring cleanup effectiveness, especially for alternative response technologies such as dispersants; identifying and differentiating between spill and non-spill pollution sources; and evaluating potential impacts to resources at risk. Methods for achieving sampling objectives, including development of Sampling and Analysis Plans, are discussed with the goal of increasing awareness among response managers and improving response capability among staff who may be tasked with sampling support during training exercises or actual incidents. Relevant considerations for study design, collection methods, and analytical parameters are also reviewed.
The Evolution of a Dispersant Spraying Platform from Turboprop to Jet Engine Aircraft
Authors: Caetano Claudia , White Daniel
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT Abstract 2017-370.

As a result of a successful modification to an Oil Spill Response Limited Boeing 727 aircraft (registration G-OSRA) to enable aerial dispersant spraying, a paper has been written, aiming to provide an insight into the introduction of a turbine aircraft dispersant-application platform and the implications of the evolution from turboprop to jet engine aircraft. Furthermore, Oil Spill Response Limited has recently commissioned and introduced a second aircraft of the same modification specification (registration G-OSRB).

As a response technique, dispersant application can have a significant impact on tackling large quantities of oil at sea; however, much of its effectiveness relies on targeting the oil during the window of opportunity in which dispersant will work successfully, in the early stages of the weathering processes.

Time is, therefore, a critical factor and it is this key aspect, as well as others explored in detail throughout the paper, that led to the development of a pioneering system, specifically designed to respond to oil spills, that will undoubtedly prove to have a positive impact in terms of response times to incident sites.

The paper also presents the reasons supporting the choice of a Boeing 727-2S2F (RE) aircraft as the chosen platform for dispersant spraying operations, such as the power to weight ratio, cargo capacity, and rearward mounted engine positions, to name but a few.

It is also important to analyse the benefits of the Boeing 727-2S2F (RE) and the dispersant spraying system it contains during the different stages of the incident life cycle, be it during the preparation phase or the response phase. In the preparation phase, one of the advantages to highlight is the resilience of having two aircraft operated under a back to back schedule of maintenance as envisioned by a maintenance program specially designed to ensure continuous operational availability. During the response phase, aircraft such as G-OSRA and G-OSRB benefit from reduced transit times to incident sites due to the higher speed through the air that is possible with jet aircraft. Also, the paper also compares some key performance indicators such as range and speed between the turboprop aircraft of choice, Hercules L-382 and the Boeing 727-2S2F (RE).
Fingerprinting of Weathered Oil Residues from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: The Importance of Multiple Lines of Investigation
Authors: Murray Karen J. , Brown John S. , Cook Linda L. , Boehm Paul D.
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 2017-189

The crude oil released from the Macondo Well, also known for its location in Mississippi Canyon area as the MC252 well during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, entered an environment already containing a complex mixture of hydrocarbons from both natural and anthropogenic sources, many of which have closely related chemical profiles. To understand the impact of the released oil in offshore areas, a method was needed to distinguish MC252-related hydrocarbons from other sources. A multiple lines of evidence approach was developed to identify weathered MC252 oil in offshore sediments in the Gulf of Mexico. Chemical data for alkanes, PAH, petroleum biomarkers and metals were combined with spatial, temporal, and observational information to examine the fingerprints for more than 4,000 sediment samples collected over the span of five years. The unique conditions of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), with many natural petroleum seeps and tepid seas, provided an ideal environment to support microbial degradation of petroleum. As a result of these conditions, the initial fingerprint of the MC252 was rapidly and extensively altered in the environment including depletion of petroleum biomarkers, usually assumed to be recalcitrant and often used in ratios to identify petroleum residues. Revised biomarker match criteria were defined to account for biodegradation within this fraction. Applying this methodology to the offshore sediment data from the GOM provided a comprehensive understanding of the distribution of the MC252 oil in offshore sediment and an understanding of the various transport pathways which conveyed the oil to the sediments.
Cooperation between Response Crews and Land Managers Protects Snowy Plovers during the Refugio Oil Spill
Authors: Nielsen Jessica , Hampton Steve , Sandoval Cris
Published: December 2017

During the Refugio oil spill of May 2015 along the southern California coast, thousands of cleanup crews scoured beaches for oil, tar patties, and oiled wrack (washed-up kelp and seaweed). At the same time, federally threatened Western Snowy Plovers were feeding with their recently hatched chicks. Because they primarily forage on invertebrates in the wrack and wave-washed swash zone, they were directly threatened by both the oil and the actions of the cleanup crews. At several sites, land managers worked cooperatively to educate cleanup crews, monitor the birds, and develop cleanup strategies that balanced the benefits and impacts of the response actions. This included limiting the presence of cleanup crews to allow time for the birds to forage at regular intervals, and adopting techniques that left some unoiled wrack in place. This careful management served to minimize impacts to the birds. At Coal Oil Point Reserve, the effects of the oil and response actions on the nesting plovers and their chicks were closely studied. The results suggest that the oil and the presence of cleanup crews both affected the birds. The birds were directly oiled and suffered reduced fertility a year later. During the spill, nest attendance and feeding behavior were impacted by the presence of response crews. Careful management and coordination between biologists and response crews helps to minimize the negative effects of disturbance while achieving the benefits of removing oil from the beaches.
Global Dispersant Approvals in Asia Pacific – Current Status and On Going Challenges
Authors: Coolbaugh Thomas , Varghese Geeva , Li Lau Siau
Published: December 2017

Following the Macondo Incident, the international oil and gas industry spent significant time and effort analyzing lessons learned and implementing key projects to ensure that critical response and preparedness issues that were identified are addressed to improve response capabilities. The Global Dispersant Stockpile (GDS) was established as part of a post-Macondo Joint Industry Project through Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL), recognizing that delivery of sufficient quantities of dispersant is a key element for a successful dispersant operation, especially during the initial phases of a large scale response to an event such as a subsea well blowout. Taking into account the global approval status and proven effectiveness on a range of crude oils, three key oil dispersants, Finasol® OSR 52 (Total), Corexit® EC9500A (Nalco) and Slickgone® NS (Dasic) were selected for the Global Dispersant Stockpile. A total of 5,000 m3 of these dispersants are now stored and ready to be deployed from five strategically positioned global locations. For example, sizable volumes of two of these products (total volume = 700 m3) are located at OSRL’s response base in Singapore, which can be quickly mobilized to support a response in the Asia Pacific region.

An ongoing effort associated with the management of the GDS is to enable the pre-approval of at least one of the three products for countries in the region where spill response may be required. At present, this is not the case in the region for a variety of reasons, e.g., toxicity concerns and biodegradation processes of dispersed oil. A particularly cautious approach by regulatory authorities following the Macondo incident, coupled with a number of other specific regional concerns, has exacerbated the issue of obtaining and maintaining dispersant approvals in the region.

The aim of this paper is to identify and discuss the existing regulatory framework governing the dispersant product approval process and dispersant use authorization for countries in Asia Pacific. The paper will detail the present status of regulations related to dispersant use for a number of countries in the region, the potential challenges associated with achieving permissions in countries with no regulations and a discussion of strategies to address identified obstacles. Additionally the activities that are being undertaken to expand regulatory approvals will also be addressed. It is anticipated that a greater understanding of the reasoning behind the GDS will facilitate a positive regulatory perspective and the potential for dispersant pre-approval in the region.
A True Roadmap for Response Preparedness Capacity Building in Developing States
Authors: Donohue Keith M. , Moyano Miguel , Miranda-Rodríguez Dario , Taylor Elliott , Moscoso Ian , Jensen Roxanne
Published: December 2017

Throughout much of the developing world, capacity building efforts are often delivered without implementing guidelines, whereby receiving states accept offers and/or expend their own funds for training, technical assistance and resource procurements without sound long-term plans of how to effectively capitalize on the efforts and truly build sustainable response preparedness capacity. The scope of various international, governmental and nongovernmental programs available to countries in need is potentially vast, but all too often contractors, offering organizations, or multiple agencies within the same offering organization or nation, provide capacity building that is not always linked to each other or designed to optimally build upon each other in a successive manner that moves the sovereign recipient towards a more robust response preparedness posture. This paper illustrates how a simple application of program evaluation and strategic planning, used along with very basic drills and exercises and the ARPEL RETOS™ tool assessments, can help developing states set true paths towards building better oil spill response preparedness structures in drastically resource constrained, multi-agency environments. This paper discusses how RETOS™ was used to assess oil spill response preparedness throughout the Wider Caribbean Region and presents the audience with a new outlook for conducting capacity building efforts in developing states.
Electronic Wildlife Recovery Tool
Authors: Imai Randy
Published: December 2017

Oil spills can have significant impact on wildlife. Documenting the spatial and temporal data associated with oil spills is an important component that aids in all phases of the response. After struggling long hours to incorporate hardcopy records into a Geographic Information System (GIS), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) recognized the importance of developing a wildlife recovery application specifically designed for the Wildlife Branch within the Incident Command System (ICS).

The Wildlife Recovery Application (WRA) is an iOS based program designed to work optimally on an iPhone. The objective of the application was to keep it simple intuitive, reliable, and effective. The WRA can be used with minimal training and has the ability to operate in environments without cellular service. The interface permits the user to visually review the data and photographs, allowing the user to electronically transmit the information to the GIS Unit remotely once cell service or wireless internet has been established.

Once the data is transmitted to the Incident Command Post (ICP), the information can be quickly integrated into a GIS. This eliminates the difficult task of manually inputting data from handwritten field notes that may have been compromised by the environmental elements or illegible due to variations in handwriting styles or penmanship.

Lastly, the Care and Processing Group within the Wildlife Branch can integrate the data into an on-line medical database designed specifically for wildlife rehabilitators to collect, manage and analyze data for their individual wildlife patients.