Oil-weathering behavior in Arctic environments

Abstract

Oil-weathering processes in ice-free subarctic and Arctic waters include spreading, evaporatlon. dissolution, dispersion of whole-oil droplets into the water column, photochemical oxidation. water-in-oil emulsification, microbial degradation, adsorption onto suspended particulate material, ingestion by organisms. sinking. and sedimentation. While many of these processes also are important factors in ice-covered waters, the various forms of sea ice (depending on the active state of ice growth, extent of coverage and/or decay) impart drastic, if not controlling, changes to the rates and relative importance of different oil-weathering mechanisms. Flow-through seawater wave-tank experiments in a cold room at-35°C and studies in the Chukchi Sea in late winter provide data on oil fate and effects for a variety of potential oil spill scenarios in the Arctic. Time-series chemical weathering data are presented for Prudhoe Bay crude oil released under and encapsulated in growing first-year columnar ice through spring breakup.

Relative sensitivity of Arctic species to physically and chemically dispersed oil determined from three hydrocarbon measures of aquatic toxicity

“…Increasing periods of open water in the Arctic have expanded shipping activities and opportunities for oil and gas exploration and production, resulting in greater potential for oil spills (Corbett et al, 2010;Gautier et al, 2009;Nevalainen et al, 2017;Noble et al, 2013). Exposure of Artic species in the aquatic environment to petroleum hydrocarbons may be compounded by slower hydrocarbon degradation (Brakstad and Bonaunet, 2006;Venosa and Holder, 2007) and volatilization of toxic fractions at low Arctic temperatures (Perkins et al, 2005), and oil dynamics in and under sea ice (Brandvik and Faksness, 2009;Payne et al, 1991;Seelye, 1979). Additionally, because of the limited complexity of Arctic food webs (e.g., five trophic levels; Borgå et al, 2004;Bradstreet and Cross, 1982;Hobson and Welch, 1992;Welch et al, 1992), impacts on key species such as Arctic cod Boreogadus saida and lower trophic level invertebrates may result in disruptions of energy transfer to higher trophic level vertebrates.…”

Age Dating of Middle-Distillate Fuels Released to the Subsurface Environment

“…n-alkanes lighter than n-C 11 can be lost within 9 days in a surface spill (Payne et al, 1991). In some cases, elevated salinity can increase evaporation rates and decrease dissolution (Oyewo, 1988).…”

Oil Industry Activities to Advance Oil Spill Preparedness in Cold Conditions

“…However, research and response experiences in sub-arctic and arctic areas have shown that low temperatures and ice can also enhance spill response and reduce environmental impacts under certain conditions (Shell et al 1983;Payne et al, 1991;Dickins and Buist 1999;Dickins 2004;Alaska Clean Seas 2005;SINTEF 2006;Allen and Dickins 2007;SL Ross 2007;;ExxonMobil Research and Engineering 2008). However, research and response experiences in sub-arctic and arctic areas have shown that low temperatures and ice can also enhance spill response and reduce environmental impacts under certain conditions (Shell et al 1983;Payne et al, 1991;Dickins and Buist 1999;Dickins 2004;Alaska Clean Seas 2005;SINTEF 2006;Allen and Dickins 2007;SL Ross 2007;;ExxonMobil Research and Engineering 2008).…”