Browsing by Subject "Deepwater Horizon"

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Evaluation of petroleum hydrocarbon weathering on coastal Louisiana beaches and salt marshes following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill using ramped pyrolysis – gas chromatography – mass spectrometry
(2016-05) Evans, Meredith Moss; Liu, Zhanfei; Hardison, Amber K; Rosenheim, Brad E
In spring of 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill polluted hundreds of miles of coastline in the Gulf of Mexico. A combination of human-mediated and natural weathering processes then altered the chemical composition (i.e. toxicity) of this spilled crude oil over time and space. One of the most important, yet challenging, aspects of oil spill science is to quantify these chemical changes in natural environments. In this study we evaluate the chemical transformation of petroleum hydrocarbons from the Deepwater Horizon spill on a coastal Louisiana beach and salt marsh from 2010-2012. Using gas chromatographic analysis, we quantify the depletion of n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylated PAHs and hopanes relative to source oil to evaluate weathering trends across spatial and temporal differences. We report overall depletion of low molecular weight (LMW) n-alkanes and PAHs in all locations with time. The magnitude of depletion at any given time, however, depends on the sampling location, whereby the sites with the highest wave energy have the highest percentage of compound depletion. Oiled sediment from an enclosed bay shows highest retention of high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs, which may have been contributed from sources other than the Deepwater Horizon spill. This provides information regarding where petroleum hydrocarbons are likely to persist in coastal environments, which can be used to inform policy makers and responders for future petroleum pollution. In addition, we confirm these results with the novel application of ramped pyrolysis – gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). We show that bulk flow Py-GC-MS can quantify overall weathering degree of oil samples, and that thermal slicing Py-GC-MS can quantify specific petroleum hydrocarbons as well as qualify changes in non-GC amenable petroleum hydrocarbons with weathering. Our data suggests an increase in HMW (i.e. resin and asphaltene) petroleum fractions and oxygenated products with weathering. This analysis not only elucidates weathering trends with current samples, but also illustrates the analytical capacity of this method for future petroleum hydrocarbon investigations.
Impacts of oil spills: Ecological, human health and economic
(2011-05-06) Lee, Hannah; Katz, Lynn E.; Min, Dong-Ha
The 1979 Ixtoc I and 2010 Deepwater Horizon are the two largest accidental oil spills that have occurred in history, and both have been near United States waters. After an oil spill occurs, ecology, human health and economy are major concerns. Specifically, this thesis discusses the impacts of oil spills on microbes, marine organisms, human health and revenue. The major focus of this research was on the oil spills near the Gulf of Mexico. Although there have been numerous oil spills in history, these two spills were chosen because they were the largest in volume and time. While spills from oil tankers are more common, both of these oil spills were caused by broken wellheads. Most of the data and analysis conducted in this research utilized information from Ixtoc I and Deepwater Horizon. However, Ixtoc I was not highly publicized and there was not sufficient data on the long term impacts of Ixtoc I in the Gulf of Mexico. Therefore, data was extracted from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The research methodology consisted of a review of published journal articles that provided information to address the question “What are the long term and short term effects of oil spills on ecology, human health and the economy?” Short term impacts included the creation of hypoxia closer to the surface of the ocean causing marine life to die or flee, closure of waters to fishing resulting in economic impacts on surrounding communities, and various human health symptoms such as respiratory, ocular and dermal. Many animal species at risk of being endangered before the spill were at risk of long term consequences due to an inability to return to pre-spill population sizes.
Improved regulatory oversight using real-time data monitoring technologies in the wake of Macondo
(2014-08) Carter, Kyle Michael; Van Oort, Eric
As shown by the Macondo blowout, a deepwater well control event can result in loss of life, harm to the environment, and significant damage to company and industry reputation. Consistent adherence to safety regulations is a recurring issue in deepwater well construction. The two federal entities responsible for offshore U.S. safety regulation are the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), with regulatory authorities that span well planning, drilling, completions, emergency evacuation, environmental response, etc. With such a wide range of rules these agencies are responsible for, safety compliance cannot be comprehensively verified with the current infrequency of on-site inspections. Offshore regulation and operational safety could be greatly improved through continuous remote real-time data monitoring. Many government agencies have adopted monitoring regimes dependent on real-time data for improved oversight (e.g. NASA Mission Control, USGS Earthquake Early Warning System, USCG Vessel Traffic Services, etc.). Appropriately, real-time data monitoring was either re-developed or introduced in the wake of catastrophic events within those sectors (e.g. Challenger, tsunamis, Exxon Valdez, etc.). Over recent decades, oil and gas operators have developed Real-Time Operations Centers (RTOCs) for continuous, pro-active operations oversight and remote interaction with on-site personnel. Commonly seen as collaborative hubs, RTOCs provide a central conduit for shared knowledge, experience, and improved decision-making, thus optimizing performance, reducing operational risk, and improving safety. In particular, RTOCs have been useful in identifying and mitigating potential well construction incidents that could have resulted in significant non-productive time and trouble cost. In this thesis, a comprehensive set of recommendations is made to BSEE and USCG to expand and improve their regulatory oversight activities through remote real-time data monitoring and application of emerging real-time technologies that aid in data acquisition and performance optimization for improved safety. Data sets and tools necessary for regulators to effectively monitor and regulate deepwater operations (Gulf of Mexico, Arctic, etc.) on a continuous basis are identified. Data from actual GOM field cases are used to support the recommendations. In addition, the case is made for the regulator to build a collaborative foundation with deepwater operators, academia and other stakeholders, through the employment of state-of-the-art knowledge management tools and techniques. This will allow the regulator to do “more with less”, in order to address the fast pace of activity expansion and technology adoption in deepwater well construction, while maximizing corporate knowledge and retention. Knowledge management provides a connection that can foster a truly collaborative relationship between regulators, industry, and non-governmental organizations with a common goal of safety assurance and without confusing lines of authority or responsibility. This solves several key issues for regulators with respect to having access to experience and technical know-how, by leveraging industry experts who would not normally have been inaccessible. On implementation of the proposed real-time and knowledge management technologies and workflows, a phased approach is advocated to be carried out under the auspices of the Center for Offshore Safety (COS) and/or the Offshore Energy Safety Institute (OESI). Academia can play an important role, particularly in early phases of the program, as a neutral playing ground where tools, techniques and workflows can be tried and tested before wider adoption takes place.
Remediation of soiled masonry in historic structures contaminated by the Gulf Coast oil spill of 2010
(2011-08) Vora, Payal Rashmikant; Holleran, Michael; Gale, Frances R.
The objective of this thesis was to understand the factors that affect the selection of remedial treatments for the complex staining of masonry materials on cultural resources located in environmentally sensitive sites such as Fort Livingston, Louisiana, on the Gulf Coast of the United States and other locations impacted by pollutants including crude oil. After the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010, the brick-and-tabby Fort was stained by crude oil. The EPA recommends SWA for removal of oil from solid surfaces such as masonry; however, limited research has been conducted into SWA effective for removal of crude oil from masonry, particularly in remote and environmentally sensitive locations. Research was conducted collaboratively at NCPTT and UT-Austin to identify a series of suitable SWA and to develop methods for evaluating SWA effectiveness in the laboratory. Products were selected for laboratory evaluation that do not require long dwell times, are easy to transport to the site, can be applied with portable equipment, produce effluent that can be collected for off-site disposal, and are listed on the EPA-published NCP Product Schedule. Two sets of 36 brick samples each were soiled with crude oil from the Fort. One set of samples was artificially weathered and one set was unweathered prior to being cleaned with selected six SWA. Laboratory evaluation shows that the primary factor affecting cleaner selection for remediation of brick masonry stained by light crude oil is the extent of weathering of oil on the masonry. For light crude oil, such as that spilled in the Gulf, organic solvent-based cleaners may be most effective if cleaning is possible soon after the staining occurs. Aqueous surfactant cleaners are most effective for removing weathered light crude oil from masonry. The following SWA listed in order of performance are recommended for field trials at Fort Livingston: 1. Cytosol; 2. SC-1000; 3. De-Solv-It APC; 4. De-Solv-It Industrial followed by De-Solv-It APC; 5. De-Solv-It Industrial followed by SC-1000.