Effects of oil and a dispersant on intertidal organisms in field experiments with a Mesocosm,the Bremerhaven Caisson

Three medium-scale field experiments on the effects of oil, a dispersant and an oil/dispersant mixture were carried out in an intertidal mud flat ecosystem of the Wadden Sea (German Bight). For six successive tides each contaminant was added to the water enclosed in a mesocosm during submersion of the flat. The fate of the oil in the sediment and effects on phytobenthos, bacteria and macrozoobenthos were studied. Penetration of the oil into the sediment was mainly observed at the surface layer. were present when oil was chemically dispersed. Sublethal effects were found in some macrofauna species (reduced feeding activity) and in phytobenthic organisms (increased activity); oil degrading bacteria increased. No major effects were observed when the dispersant alone was added.     

Long-term sublethal and short-term high dose effects of physically and chemically dispersed oil on accumulation and clearance from various tissues of juvenile coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch

The toxicity of crude oil and the dispersant BP1100X was tested in sea water and in each case was much less than the toxicity to fish in fresh water. Uptake of oil from water, with or without dispersant, was similar after a short exposure to 200 ppm. The oil was cleared from the fish in three weeks. A long-term exposure to oil or oil plus dispersant at a concentration of 5 ppm showed a slow accumulation but significantly above exposure levels. Thus, salmon exposed to oil in sea water can take up the hydrocarbons but appear to cleanse themselves rapidly.     

Hydrodynamics of oil jets without and with dispersant: Experimental and numerical characterization

In this paper, we present the analysis of an underwater horizontal oil jet experimental measurement and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) using the Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) equations. Two oil subsurface releases were conducted: one with crude oil and another with crude oil premixed with dispersant at the dispersant to oil ratio (DOR) of 1:20. The jet profile was captured by a camera at moderate resolution, and the instantaneous velocity was measured by a Vectrino Profiler. The velocity components, turbulence kinetic energy, and turbulence dissipation rate from the experiment agreed well with those from the CFD simulation using the k-epsilon turbulence model. The spread angle of the jet was found to be around 21° and 24° from the experiment measurement, for oil without dispersant and oil with dispersant, respectively. The latter is close to the angle of miscible jets at 23°. The jet profile of oil with dispersant had a smaller buoyancy than that without dispersant, which is probably due to the large water entrainment for the oil with dispersant jet. The cross sections of the jet for both cases gradually became flattened with distance, as the plume turned upward.     

Field experiments on the effects of crude oil and dispersant on the common animals and plants of rocky sea shores

In experiments on the Somerset coast, Forties crude oil and BP 1100WD dispersant were sprayed on to small areas of the rocky shore over a period of several days to stimulate conditions following an oil spill. Detailed observations were made at monthly intervals of marked 0.1 m² quadrats within (and without) the treated areas. Some areas received oil only, others dispersant only, and the third set received oil followed by dispersant.The experiments were in two parts, the one to simulate a July incident and the other a January incident.Limpets and the small winkles living in and between empty barnacle shells were the most obviously affected organisms. The sites that received both oil and dispersant were most seriously upset, but the oil areas came next. The effect of BP 1100WD on its own as applied in this experiment was relatively slight.     

Effects of MV Rena heavy fuel oil and dispersed oil on yellowtail kingfish early life stages

ABSTRACT

The grounding of the MV Rena has highlighted the lack of information concerning the effects of oil-related compounds on New Zealand marine life. Yellowtail kingfish (YTK), Seriola lalandi, embryos were exposed in static incubations to the water-accommodated fraction (WAF) of Rena heavy fuel oil as well as a similar preparation treated with the commercial dispersant Corexit 9500. Mortality in WAF treatments generally increased in association with total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (tPAH) concentration over a 24-h period. Physical abnormalities were observed in some of the larvae exposed to WAF for 48 h. There was no survival in dispersed oil treatments after 24 h of exposure. These treatments had greater tPAH concentrations (2–53?µgL^?1) than equivalent WAF dilutions (0.2–1.5?µgL^?1?tPAH). Indications are that significant morbidity is induced in YTK at ecologically relevant tPAH concentrations. This highlights the need for further research into oil and dispersant toxicity in New Zealand marine species.     

A comparison between the physiological effects in fish exposed to lethal and sublethal concentrations of a dispersant and dispersed oil

The acute and sublethal effects of a dispersant and crude oil on anisosmotic and isosmotic regulation in flounder have been tested. Flounder were exposed to different concentrations of Corexit 9527 and crude oil by use of a biotest system. Fourteen days' exposure to 20 ppm of Corexit 9527, alone or in a 1:1 mixture with crude oil, had no effect on the blood parameters. On the other hand, 96 hours' exposure to 80 ppm of the same compounds led to 50 % mortality and significant effects on the blood parameters in surviving fish. The comparability between effects obtained in fish exposed to lethal and sublethal concentrations of toxicants, respectively, is discussed.     

Fate of dispersed marine fuel oil in sediment under pre-spill application strategy

A comparison of the movement of dispersed oil in marine sediment under two dispersant application scenarios, applied prior to and after oil being spilled overboard, was examined. The pre-spill application scenario caused much less oil to be retained in the top sediment than post-spill scenario. The difference in oil retention in the top sediment between pre- and post-spill application scenario increased with increase in fuel oil temperature. For fuel oil above 40 °C, the difference in the effect of pre-spill application strategy under various water temperatures was negligible. When soap water was used as replacement for chemical dispersant, almost one-half as much oil was retained in the top sediment as that when using chemical dispersant. The adsorption of dispersed oil to the top sediment was almost proportionally decreased with doubling of soap dosage.     

Geological roles of the siltstones in tight oil play

Understanding the hydrocarbon accumulation pattern in unconventional tight reservoirs is crucial for hydrocarbon evaluation and oil/gas extraction from such reservoirs. Previous studies on tight oil accumulation are mostly concerned with self-generation or from source to reservoir rock over short distances. However, the Lucaogou tight oil in Jimusar Sag of Junggar Basin shows transitional feature in between. The Lucaogou Formation comprises fine-grain sedimentary rocks characterized by thin laminations and frequently alternating beds. The Lucaogou tight silt/fine sandstones are poorly sorted. Dissolved pores are the primary pore spaces, with average porosity of 9.20%. Although the TOC of most silt/fine sandstones after Soxhlet extraction is lower than that before extraction, they show that the Lucaogou siltstones in the area of study have fair to good hydrocarbon generation potential (average TOC of 1.19%, average S₂ of 4.33 mg/g), while fine sandstones are relatively weak in terms of hydrocarbon generation (average TOC of 0.4%, average S₂ of 0.78 mg/g). The hydrocarbon generation amount of siltstones, which was calculated according to basin modeling transformation ratio combined with original TOC based on source rock parameters, occupies 16%–72% of oil retention amount. Although siltstones cannot produce the entire oil reserve, they certainly provide part of them. Grain size is negatively correlated with organic matter content in the Lucaogou silt/fine sandstones. Fine grain sediments are characterized by lower deposition rate, stronger adsorption capacity and oxidation resistance, which are favorable for formation of high quality source rocks. Low energy depositional environment is the primary reason for the formation of siltstones containing organic matter. Positive correlation between organic matter content and clay content in Lucaogou siltstones supports this view point. Lucaogou siltstones appear to be effective reservoir rocks due to there relatively high porosity, and also act as source rocks due to the fair to good hydrocarbon generation capability.     

Effects of crude oil on the supralittoral meiofauna of a sandy beach

The supralittoral zone of an open sandy beach was dosed with crude oil and changes in the meiofauna monitored. Treatments included weathered and fresh oil on the surface, fresh oil mixed with dispersant on the surface and weathered oil at the water table, all in layers 0·8 cm thick. In all cases the meiofauna was reduced 1 month after dosing but numbers had returned to normal by 5 months except in the site dosed with fresh oil mixed with dispersant. Oil on the surface had greater effects than oil at the water table; fresh oil had a greater effect than weathered oil and fresh oil with dispersant was more toxic than fresh oil alone. Nematodes were least sensitive to the oil and oligochaetes more sensitive, their numbers being correlated with oil concentrations and depth in the substrate. It is concluded that, under all but the heaviest conditions of pollution in their environment, recovery from oil contamination should occur within 5 months in the meiofauna.     

Effects of a crude oil and an oil dispersant (Corexit 9527) on populations of the littleneck clam (protothaca staminea)

Field and laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of Alberta crude oil and an oil dispersant (Corexit 9527) on the larval settlement, survival, siphon activities and behaviour of the littleneck clam (Protothaca staminea). Corexit 9527 was much more toxic than crude oil, and the highest toxicity was obtained when Corexit 9527 was mixed with crude oil. Siphon activities were impaired and abnormal behaviour was exhibited when adult clams were treated with 100 ppm Corexit 9527, 1000 ppm crude oil or a combination of both. Larval settlement was not affected when the substratum was treated with 1000ppm crude oil but was retarded when the substratum was treated with a mixture of 1000 ppm oil and 100 ppm Corexit 9527. Gas chromatograms also showed that the retention time and depth of penetration of hydrocarbons in the substratum was increased when Corexit 9527 was used with crude oil.     

Alteration and multi-stage accumulation of oil and gas in the Ordovician of the Tabei Uplift,Tarim Basin,NW China: Implications for genetic origin of the diverse hydrocarbons

The Ordovician is the most important exploration target in the Tabei Uplift of the Tarim Basin, which contains a range of petroleum types including solid bitumen, heavy oil, light oil, condensate, wet gas and dry gas. The density of the black oils ranges from 0.81 g/cm³ to 1.01 g/cm³ (20 °C) and gas oil ratio (GOR) ranges from 4 m³/m³ to 9300 m³/m³. Oil-source correlations established that most of the oils were derived from the Mid-Upper Ordovician marine shale and carbonate and that the difference in oil properties is mainly attributed to hydrocarbon alteration and multi-stage accumulation. In the Tabei Uplift, there were three main periods of hydrocarbon accumulation in the late Caledonian stage (ca. 450–430 Ma), late Hercynian stage (ca. 293–255 Ma) and the late Himalayan stage (ca. 12–2 Ma). The oil charging events mainly occurred in the late Caledonian and late Hercynian stage, while gas charging occurred in the late Hercynian stage. During the late Caledonian stage, petroleum charged the reservoirs lying east of the uplift. However, due to a crustal uplifting episode in the early Hercynian (ca. 386–372 Ma), most of the hydrocarbons were transformed by processes such as biodegradation, resulting in residual solid bitumen in the fractures of the reservoirs. During the late Hercynian Stage, a major episode of oil charging into Ordovician reservoirs took place. Subsequent crustal uplift and severe alteration by biodegradation in the west-central Basin resulted in heavy oil formation. Since the late Himalayan stage when rapid subsidence of the crust occurred, the oil residing in reservoirs was exposed to high temperature cracking conditions resulting in the production of gas and charged from the southeast further altering the pre-existing oils in the eastern reservoirs. A suite of representative samples of various crude oils including condensates, lights oils and heavy oils have been collected for detailed analysis to investigate the mechanism of formation. Based on the research it was concluded that the diversity of hydrocarbon physical and chemical properties in the Tabei Uplift was mainly attributable to the processes of biodegradation and gas washing. The understanding of the processes is very helpful to predict the spatial distribution of hydrocarbon in the Tabei Uplift and provides a reference case study for other areas.     

Geological control factors of micro oil distribution in tight reservoirs

Understanding the oil distribution characteristics in unconventional tight reservoirs is crucial for hydrocarbon evaluation and oil/gas extraction from such reservoirs. Previous studies on tight oil distribution characteristics are mostly concerned with the basin scale. Based on Lucaogou core samples, geochemical approaches including Soxhlet extraction, total organic carbon (TOC), and Rock-Eval are combined with reservoir physical approaches including mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) and porosity-permeability analysis, to quantitatively evaluate oil distribution of tight reservoirs on micro scale. The emphasis is to identify the key geological control factors of micro oil distribution in such tight reservoirs. Dolomicrites and non-detrital mudstones have excellent hydrocarbon generation capacity while detritus-containing dolomites, siltstones, and silty mudstones have higher porosity and oil content, and coarser pore throat radius. Oil content is mainly controlled by porosity, pore throat radius, and hydrocarbon generation capacity. Porosity is positively correlated with oil content in almost all samples including various lithologies, indicating that it is a primary constraint for providing storage space. Pore throat radius is also an important factor, as oil migration is inhibited by the capillary pressure which must be overcome. If the reservoir rock with suitable porosity has no hydrocarbon generation capacity, pore throat radius will be decisive. As tight reservoirs are generally characterized by widely distributed nanoscale pore throats and high capillary pressure, hydrocarbon generation capacity plays an important role in reservoir rocks with suitable porosity and fine pore throats. Because such reservoir rocks cannot be charged completely. The positive correlation between hydrocarbon generation capacity and oil content in three types of high porosity lithologies (detritus-containing dolomites, siltstones, and silty mudstones) supports this assertion.     

A hazard assessment of chemically dispersed oil spills and seabirds

The effects of dispersants on both the exposure to and toxicity of oil to seabirds are considered in order to assess the hazard. Ideally the dispersant mixes with oil and disperses it into the water column. This process is rapid but generally incomplete. The toxicology of one dispersant (Corexit 9527), for which data are available, shows that the toxicity of oil-Corexit mixtures is similar to that of oil alone. The effect of two feeding regimes, pursuit diving and surface diving, is considered. Calculations indicate that the amount of oil that is likely to be taken up by the bird while moving through the water column is small. It is concluded that there is little evidence of synergistic effects between oil and dispersant. The major oiling of birds occurs at the surface and thus dispersants must be highly effective to reduce the exposure of birds to oil.     

溢油污染物在海底沉积物中的识别与垂向迁移——大连湾海底沉积物研究

沉积物插管短柱样品于2013年4月采自大连湾2010年“7·16”溢油事故污染区,BQ050站与BQ007站分别位于生物分散剂和化学分散剂喷洒区。沉积物的可溶有机质含量(沥青A)、有机碳同位素组成(δ¹³C_org)和²¹⁰Pb比活度分析结果表明:喷洒生物分散剂的重污染区(BQ050站),沉积物中TOC含量为0.58%～1.51%,平均为1.15%;δ¹³C_org值为-22.2‰～-20.5‰PDB,平均为-21.74‰PDB;沥青A含量为0.061 5%～0.566 4%,平均为0.174 9%;沥青A/TOC比值为7.0%～34.8%,平均为14.13%;²¹⁰Pb_ex比活度存在异常峰值分布,垂向分布特征与沥青A相似;2～16 cm段沉积物的可溶有机质具有明显的外来输入特征。喷洒化学分散剂的较轻污染区(BQ007站),沉积物中TOC含量为0.61%～1.14%,平均为0.87%,除8～14 cm层段外,比BQ050站略低;但沥青A含量与沥青A/TOC比值明显低于前者;δ¹³C_org值较BQ050站轻;²¹⁰Pb_ex比活度随柱样深度呈指数衰减,对数相关;外来有机质输入量较低。截至2013年4月,BQ050站溢油污染物在海底下16 cm深度处有特征信号,溢油污染物沥青A 组分垂向迁移距离约为15 cm。     

油气差异聚集原理应用效果分析——以黄河口凹陷为例

黄河口凹陷是渤海湾盆地的富烃凹陷之一,近几年勘探发现原油超过2×108m3,天然气超过100×108m3,成果显著。但成功的背后,仍存在众多疑问：地质条件良好的构造上竟然钻了干井,同一个油源的相似构造,钻井结果有的以油层为主,而有的井含气层位多;同一深度段的油层,在不同井中原油密度却存在较大差异。为解决这些疑问,笔者运用差异聚集原理,首先对黄河口凹陷渤中28-2E空圈闭的形成原因进行了分析,建立了本区油气运移的模式。在此模式的指导下对渤中29-4构造开展了评价,准确预测了该构造含油气区域的分布范围,结果证明黄河口凹陷的油气运聚符合差异聚集原理。该原理能够很好的指导本区下一步的勘探,可以取得很好的经济效益。     

Exposure to hydrocarbons 10 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill: evidence from cytochrome P4501A expression and biliary FACs in nearshore demersal fishes

Three biomarkers of hydrocarbon exposure, CYP1A in liver vascular endothelium, liver ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), and biliary fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs), were examined in the nearshore fishes, masked greenling (Hexagrammos octogrammus) and crescent gunnel (Pholis laeta), collected in Prince William Sound, Alaska, 7-10 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS). All biomarkers were elevated in fish collected from sites originally oiled, in comparison to fish from unoiled sites. In 1998, endothelial CYP1A in masked greenling from sites that were heavily oiled in 1989 was significantly higher than in fish collected outside the spill trajectory. In 1999, fishes collected from sites adjacent to intertidal mussel beds containing lingering Exxon Valdez oil had elevated endothelial CYP1A and EROD, and high concentrations of biliary FACs. Fishes from sites near unoiled mussel beds, but within the original spill trajectory, also showed evidence of hydrocarbon exposure, although there were no correlations between sediment petroleum hydrocarbon and any of the biomarkers. Our data show that 10 years after the spill, nearshore fishes within the original spill zone were still exposed to residual EVOS hydrocarbons.     

横流环境中水下溢油输移扩散的实验研究

文章基于自制的组合式环形水槽（周长9.7 m、宽0.45 m、深1.0 m）,分别以阿曼原油及其消油剂混合物和淡水（含示踪剂）为模拟污染物,开展水下溢油的物理模拟实验,以浮射流输移轨迹、污染物扩散范围和油滴粒径分布为考察指标,研究横流环境和消油剂的使用对水下溢油输移扩散的影响。实验结果表明:在横流环境中,浮射流输移轨迹开始弯曲的高度随着流速的增加而降低;与淡水浮射流主要在水中输移扩散的情况不同,当污染物为原油时,大粒径油滴脱离浮射流主体并上浮至水面,导致扩散范围更大;消油剂的添加会使原油浮射流内部油滴的体积中值粒径变小,油滴粒径分布曲线向小尺寸方向偏移。实验结果可为后续的物理模拟实验和数值模拟研究提供参考。     

南黄海盆地北部坳陷海底沉积物酸解烃类气体地球化学异常与深部油气属性

南黄海盆地北部坳陷海底沉积物酸解烃甲烷和酸解烃乙烷异常分布显示相同的特征,在西部存在1个高异常区,东部存在1个低异常区。酸解烃类气体的C1/(C2+C3)—δ13C1相关图显示酸解烃类气体属于热成因类型。烃类气体的C1—C2交会图和C1/(C2+C3)—C2/(C3+C4)交会图指示异常区的深部油气属性属于"油气并存"区和"干气"区,其中西部异常区以"油气并存"为主,东部异常区以"干气"为主。     

Characterization of tar-like material and producible oil in Misoa C2 and C3 reservoir sands of the Area 2 South (Ceuta Field,Venezuela)

Here we characterized asphaltic oil occurrences in the Misoa C2 and C3 reservoirs within Area 2 South of the Ceuta Field (Lake Maracaibo Basin, NW Venezuela). To perform the geochemical and petrological characterization of the C2 and C3 sub-units, which cover an interval in which tar-like material was detected, we analyzed core (18) and cutting (123) samples using the Rock-Eval 6 technique in reservoir mode. Samples were studied under fluorescence light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), showing the presence of two charges of oils and the relationships within silica cements and clay minerals. To evaluate vertical inter-reservoir communication and lateral intra-reservoir continuity, we also studied 12 oil samples from wells in Area 2 South. Biomarkers and isotopic signatures were examined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). The results suggest that oil and core extracts belongs to a single family derived from two pulses of hydrocarbon generation from the La Luna source rock, which was deposited in a marine reducing environment. The oil samples are a mixture of a paleobiodegraded oil charge and a later fresh, more mature oil recharge. The geochemical analyses also evidence that the formation of heavy oil tar zones can be related to biodegradation and in-reservoir oil mixing, though other formation mechanisms for the tar are also feasible. Finally, the GC fingerprints of the oils are indicative of lateral reservoir continuities across the F-1 and F-2 faults and vertical communication between the Misoa C2 and C3 sub-units in Area 2 South, suggesting that tar occurrences do not act as permeability barriers within the two reservoirs studied.     

Acute sublethal toxicity of MV Rena contaminants (heavy fuel oil,oil dispersant and cryolite) to finfish and rock lobster

ABSTRACT

The wreck of the MV Rena in October 2011 discharged large quantities of potentially toxic materials in the coastal marine environment of the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. We evaluated sublethal effects of the water soluble fractions of physically and chemically dispersed heavy fuel oil (HFO) and the water soluble fraction of cryolite on the haematology of subadult or adult snapper (Chrysophrys auratus), spotted wrasse (Notolabrus celidotus) and red rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii). Small but transient effects occurred, the most significant of which were changes in circulating immune cell populations in fish and lobster that recovered by the conclusion of a 96-h exposure period. No post-exposure effects were observed during a 10-day recovery in toxicant-free seawater. Corexit 9500 oil dispersant increased polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) uptake from HFO in fish and lobster by around two-fold and four-fold, respectively, and caused a larger change in immune cell abundance in snapper than exposure to HFO alone. While depuration of PAHs was more rapid in fish than lobster, significantly elevated PAH levels were still evident after 10 days of depuration.