Oil Fingerprinting and Spill Source Identification

Abstract

Oil spills pose a range of environmental risks and causes wide public concern, whether as catastrophic spills or chronic discharges. Therefore, to unambiguously characterize, identify and quantify spill oil hydrocarbons is extremely important for environmental damage assessment; understanding the fate, behaviour and predicting the potential long-term impact of spilled oil on the environment; selecting appropriate spill response measures; and, helping to settle legal liability. The oil fingerprinting and data interpretation techniques briefly discussed in this presentation include the following:

• 1. Oil spill historic perspective

• 2. Development of oil hydrocarbon fingerprinting techniques

• 3. Factors controlling the chemical fingerprints of spilled oil:

  • Primary controls: crude oil genesis — composition of crude oil

  • Secondary controls: petroleum refining — chemical composition of refined products

  • Tertiary controls: effects of weathering

• 4. Oil correlation and source identification by PAH fingerprinting analysis:

  • PAH distribution pattern recognition

  • Diagnostic ratios of PAHs

  • PAH isomer and cluster PAH analysis

  • Characterization of additives for source identification of refined products

• 5. Distinguishing biogenic and pyrogenic hydrocarbons from petrogenic hydrocarbons

• 6. Fingerprinting biomarkers for oil correlation and source identification:

  • Tri- to penta-cyclic biomarker distributions in oils and refined products

  • Unique biomarkers

  • Weathering check using biomarkers

  • Diagnostic indices and cross-plots of biomarkers

  • Biodegradation of biomarkers

  • Application of biomarkers for spill source identification, oil correlation and differentiation

• 7. Using sesquiterpane and diamondoids for source identification of spilled lighter fuels

• 8. Oil spill identification by statistical and numerical analysis.