*A
OIL POLLUTION RESEARCH NEWSLETTER
July 1971
* Vol. IV
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Edison Water Quality Laboratory July 1971 Vol.
OIL POLLUTION
RESEARCH NEWSLETTER
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 9 FEDERAL WATER QUALITY ADMINISTRATION
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SUMMARY OF OIL SPILL INCIDENTS
Three hundred and eighty three oil spill were reported to the
Division of Oil and Hazardous Materials, Washington, D.C., for
the first half of 1971.
The reported' number included 24 major and 359 moderate and minor
spills. The number of spills reported per month were:
January - 61
February - 56
March - 79
April - 56
May - 64
June - 67
Detailed information on all reported spills was not provided. How-
ever, available data were used to develop the summaries tabulated
below:
MAJOR OIL SPILLS
Source Date
Transmission Line Jan 6
Pipeline Jan 8
Navy barge Jan 14
Oregon Standard Jan 20
Esso Gettysburg Jan 23
Storage Tank Jan 31
Idaho Standard Feb 1
Barge Feb 5
Barge Feb 16
Storm Sewer Feb 28
Tug and Barge Mar 1
Pipeline Mar 5
Pipeline Mar 9
Tank Mar 23
Pipe Mar 28
Tank Mar 30
Pipe Apr 5
Pipe Apr 6
Barge Apr 26
Barge May 11
Tank^ Jun 4
Barge Jun 12
Dock Jun 24
Pipe Jun 25
Cause
Rupture
Rupture
Sinking
Collision
Grounding
Tank Rupture
Grounding
Grounding
Puncture
Unknown
Collision
Rupture
Unknown
Overflow
Leaking valve
Rupture
Rupture
Rupture
Overflow
Grounding
Puncture
Grounding
Unknown
Rupture
Material
Crude
Crude
Diesel
Bunker
#2 Fuel Oil
Crude
Gas & Diesel
Fuel Oil
Gasoline
Jet Fuel
Gasoline
Crude
Crude
#6 Fuel Oil
Crude
Gasoline
Bunker
Gasoline
Diesel
Kerosene
JP4
Crude
Unknown.
Crude
Volume
Bbls.
4,048
10,000
1,619
20,000
8,600
63,000
519
976
1,800
3,571
1,786
1,300
3,700
1,428
500
7,143
1,650
1,429
5,550
1,100
1,071
600
1,553
1,000
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VOLUME SPILLED
Developed from information provided on 330 incidents.
Volume Number of
(Barrels)
Unknown
5
6 - 25
26 - 100
101 - 300
301 - 1000
1000
Spills
34
82
87
59
36
13
19
Percent
Spills
10.3
24.8
26.4
17.9
10.9
3.9
5.8
SOURCE OF SPILLS
Sources of 320 incidents.
Number
Source Spills
Vessels 92
Pipelines (Incl. Transfer) 68
Shore facilities 35
Storage Tanks 33
Trucks 19
U.S.N. 14
Trains 11
Other (Includes Origin Unknown) 48
Spills
28.8
21.2
10.9
10.4
5.9
4.4
3.4
15.0
SPILL MATERIAL
The type of oil spilled for 326 incidents.
Oil Type
Oil (unknown)
Crude
Bunker (#6 Fuel Oil)
Gasoline
Diesel
#2 Fuel Oil
Fuel Oil (unknown)
Asphalt
Navy Special Fuel Oil
#4 Fuel Oil
JP-5
Kerosene
Crankcase Oil
Lube Oil
Number of
• Spills
74
62
59
28
24
20
14
11
7
6
6
5
5
5
Percent
22.6
18.9
18.0
8.6
7.3
6.1
4.3
3.4
2.1
1.8
1.8
1.5
1.5
1.5
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CAUSE OF SPILLS
For vessels, the most common causes were collisions with other
vessels or fixed objects, ship groundings and ruptured cargo com-
partments. Tank overflow, leaking valves, uncontrolled back pres-
sure, broken lines and hoses, and improper connections also contri-
buted to vessel oil spills.
The pipeline spills were generally the result of ruptured or leaking
lines. Contributing to individual spills were a blown gasket, flood-
ing, freezing and filter failure.
The most common cause of spills from onshore facilities other than
tanks were from ruptured, or leaking "\ines. There were more unknown
causes at shore facilities in this brief analysis then there were on
vessels or pipelines. Contributing to individual incidents were a
plugged separator line, a broken steam and feeder line, a ruptured
hose, improper connections, and a faulty relief valve.
For storage tank ruptures, leaks and overflows were the major causes
of spills. Truck and train spills were generally the result of
wrecks. Included in the U.S.N. spills were a barge sinking, an air-
craft carrier settling on its anchor and several unknown causes.
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STATUS OF DISPERSANT TESTS
The contractual efforts of four commercial laboratories with our
Agency on the development of standard tests for measuring toxicity
and effectiveness of oil dispersing chemicals were originally
scheduled for completion by December 1970. However, during the
course of the project, it was determined that the time and manpower
efforts needed to satisfy the requirements of the contracts were
significantly greater than that initially estimated by the four
laboratories. Accordingly, the contracting periods have been ex-
tended with final reports expected by July 30, 1971.
DISPERSANT TOXICITY
The grades of toxicity that now seem to be gaining international
acceptance according to the Marine Pollution Bulletin (Vol. 1 (NS)
No. 12, p. 183, December 1970) are listed below:
Grades of Toxicity
Practically nontoxic > 10,000 mg/1
Slightly toxic 1,000 - 10,000 mg/1
Moderately toxic 100 - 1,000 mg/1
Toxic 1 - 100 mg/1
Very Toxic < 1 mg/1
*Median tolerance level is the concentration
at which 50 percent of the test species survive.
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Report Number
12010 EZV 02/70
12020 02/70
15080 DJQ 04/70
15080 DOZ 12/70
15080 DXE 11/70
15080 DZR 11/70
15080 EAG 07/69
15080 EBZ 12/70
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION GRANT
CONTRACT, AND IN-HOUSE PROJECT REPORTS
Title/Author
Treatment of Waste Water-Waste Oil Mixtures;
by Armco Steel Corp., Middletown, Ohio
Petrochemical Effluents Treatment Practices -
Summary; by Engineering-Science, Inc./Texas,
Austin, Texas
Ultrasonic Emulsification of Oil Tanker Cargo;
by Sonics International, Inc., Dallas, Texas
Testing and Evaluation of Oil Spill Recovery
Equipment; by Maine Port Authority, Portland,
Maine
Feasibility Analysis of Incinerator Systems
for Restoration of Oil Contaminated Beaches;
by Environgenics Co., Division of Aerojet-
General Corp., El Monte, California
Santa Barbara Oil Pollution, 1969; University
of California, Santa Barbara, California
Review of Santa Barbara Channel Oil Pollution
Incident; by Pacific NW Laboratories,
Battelle Memorial Institute, Richland,
Washington
Effects of Oil Pollution on Waterfowl: A
Study of Salvage Methods; by Zoological
Society of San Diego, San Diego, California
Source *
GPO - $2.50
NTIS-PB 192 310
NTIS-PB 193-674
GPO - $1.50
GPO - $ .75
GPO - $ .55
NTIS-PB 191 712
15080 EOS 10/70-1 Evaluation of Selected Earthmpving Equipment
for the Restoration of Oil Contaminated
Beaches; by URS Research Co., San Mateo,
California
GPO - $ .50
GPO - $1.50
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Report Number
15080 EPL 04/70
15080 DJN 11/70
Title/Author
Spreading and Movement of Oil Spills; by
Henry C. Schwartzberg, New York University,
New York, New York
Gelling Crude Oils to Reduce Marine Pollu-
tion from Tanker Oil Spills; by Western Co.,
of North America, Richardson, Texas
our ..=
NTIS-PB 152-CJS2
(under review)
BC
By Johnny Hart
VWW BARRELS Y FIVE
/pees
PUMP :
* Documents are available from the Superintendent of Documents, Government
Prin&ing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, at specified price, or from the
National Technical Information Service, Department of Commerce, Springfield,
Virginia 22151, under designated number. The Project Report System, EPA,
does not sell publications. Checks should be made payable to and forwarded
to the designated office from which the document is available.
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SHELL PLATFORM FIRE
On December 1, 1970, tlie largest offshore oil fire in history exploded
on Shell Oil Company's Bay Mar-chand Platform B. One hundred thirty
three days and $36 - $47 million later, on April 12, the fire was ex-
tinguished. The oil flow from the last remaining wild well was stopped
on April 16.
Rather than kill the fire with dynamite, Shell officials chose the relief
well method to control the blaze. This prevented a large volume of un-
burned oil from reaching the water's surface. Figures 1 and 2 describe
the relief well technique used in this incident.
The pollution control fleet used in this incident included four skimmer
barges, eleven tugs with boom equipment, five oil storage barges, and
a large number of vessels, booms and sorbents in reserve at Leesville
and Venice, Louisiana.
Shell used both aerial and underwater surveillance to locate and predict
oil slick movement. EPA determined the feasibility of using video tape
to record action at the scene. The favorable results indicate that hand-
held TV cameras with back-packs will be used extensively at future spill
incidents.
STORMDRILL TSL
III,859'TO
•8-8
GUS I
13,115' TO
B-3
-o-
1 STORMDRILL SE
pi 12,600' TO
I—IB-21
(WELL KILLED V 3070)
BATTLE LINES DRAWN FOR FIGHT AGAINST BLOWOUT.
Shell Is using five mobile rigs to drill six relief wells in its
plan to halt the blowout on Platform B, located in 55-ft
water in the prolific Bay Marchand field. South Timbalier
Block 26 area off Louisiana, the diagram shows the dis-
tance of the rigs from the platform, and the true vertical
depth to which each relief well is being drilled.
Figure 1
HOW THE WELLS ARE KILLED. The jack-up at the left dulls
a relief well to intersect the producing weilbore within a
25-ft radius, pumps seawater under pressure until commu-
nication is established, then injects 17 Ib/gal mud to dis-
place the gas and oil, stopping the blowout and starving
the blaze.
Figure 2
OCEAN INDUSTRY Feb 1971
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EDISON PERSONNEL CHANGES
Oil Pollution Research Section
Mr. Frank Freestone, Mechanical/Ocean Engineer, recently discharged
from the U.S. Army, has been assigned to the Section. Mr. Freestone
served as an officer in Viet Nam after receiving his Masters Degree
in Ocean Engineering from the Institute of Marine Science, University
of Miami.
Mr. Michael Gruenfeld, Chemist, formerly with the Food and Drug Ad-
ministration, has been assigned.the responsibility for providing
analytical methodology for oils and other hazardous materials to
support the various R&D sections at Edison Water Quality Laboratory.
Dr. Joseph Lafornara. Research Chemist, has been reassigned to the
Hazardous Materials Spills Research Section as a result of an internal
reorganization necessitated by an increased work load in the Section.
Mr. Henry Jeleniewski, Physical Science Technician, will apply his
valuable mechanical ability to our ongoing in-house R&D activities.
Mr. Robert Holland, Sanitary Engineer, formerly with Edison's Construc-
tion Grants program has been assigned responsibility in the development,
testing and evaluation of oil spill hardware and hardware systems.
Mr. Holland, a licensed professional engineer, has several years back-
ground in the consulting field.
Mr. Bernard Hornstein, a Chemical Engineer with past industry and
Government R&D experience, will apply computer technology to the oil
pollution R&D program and also be involved with grants and contracts
and in-house projects.
Dr. Royal Nadeau and Mr. Thomas Roush, Biologists, will round out the
present staff by developing information on the fate and effects of oil
on the marine environment.
We wish good luck to Mr. Michael Killeen, a student chemist, as he
returns to his studies at Pratt Institute- Mike was a valuable asset
to the oil R&D program during his five month tour.
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EDISON PRODUCT MANUALS EDISON OIL SPILL LABORATORY
Updating of "Boom" and "Skimmer" Manuals
Since the Edison Water Quality Laboratory Oil Spill R&D Section is
presently preparing updated manuals on "Oil Skimming Devices" and
"Oil Containment Systems", we have not included supplements to these
reports in this issue as we have in the past. Instead we are using
this Newsletter to request brochures or other information on oil spill
containment and skimming devices which can be used in these updated
manuals.
September 15, 1971 is the deadline for publications.
Sorbants
The Edison Water Quality Laboratory Oil Spill R&D Section is compiling
information from sorbent suppliers and manufacturers to be used in the
forthcoming manual. We will be pleased to receive any information our
readers wish to supply. This manual will be similar to the "Oil Spill
Dispersants Product Data" manual published by the Edison Water Quality
Laboratory, April 1971.
A deadline for publication has not yet been established. However,
please submit your information ASAP.
EDISON OIL SPILL LABORATORY
The Edison Oil Spill R&D Section has recently expanded its laboratory
facilities. Besides supporting ongoing R&D grants and contracts and
providing analysis generated by in-house activities, the lab will de-
velop a methods manual for the passive analysis of oil spill samples.
This will require the evaluation of existing oil analysis techniques
and the development of new techniques needed to complete the oil spill
identification scheme. The identification process requires the analysis
of weathered oil samples, and therefore any scheme developed must take
into account the physical and chemical changes that occur during the
weathering process.
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NEW EPA OIL POLLUTION PROJECTS
The following is a list of grant and contract projects awarded by the Environmental
Protection Agency since December 1970.
Grantee or Contractor
JBF Scientific Corporation
Alpha Industrial Park
Chelmsford, Massachusetts 01824
"Rex Ghainbelt, Inc.
4701 West Greenfield Avenue
West Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53214
Consult ec, Inc.
2351 Research Boulevard
lockville, Maryland 20850
Phillips Scientific Corporation
Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74003
Esso Research and Engineering
P.O. Box 8
Linden, New Jersey 07036
Subject
An extension of their existing contract
to include the construction and full-
scale testing of a mechanical oil har-
vesting device based upon a submerged
hydrodynamic oil concentrator.
An extension of their existing contract
for operational evaluation of prototype
belt-type oil harvesting device.
An extension of their existing contract
for design and model testing of a pollu-
tant containment boom and an oil/water
separating device.
Development of a system for passive iden-
tification of oil pollution sources uti-
lizing characteristic carbon isotope
ratios.
Development of a system for passive iden-
tification of oil pollution sources using
several characteristics, including rela-
tive concentrations of long chain n-paraffins
and of polynuclear aromatics.
Project Officer
Expected Completion Date
Thomas Devine
9/71
Kurt Jakobson
9/71
John Riley
12/71
Joseph Lafornara
8/72
Bernard Hornstein
3/72
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Grantee or Contractor
University of California
Bodega Marine Laboratory
Bodega Bay, California 94923
Woods Hole OceanJgraphic
Institution
Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543
Allan Hancock Foundation
Univ. of Southern California
Los Angeles, California 90007
Jetco Chemical Company
P.O. Box 1278
Corsicana, Texas 75110
University of Texas
Marine Science Institute
Fort Aransas, Texas 78373
URS Research Company
155 Bovet Road
San Mateo, California 94010
Battelle Memorial Institute
Pacific Northwest Laboratories
P.O. Box 999
Richland, Washington 99352
Subject
A biological assessment of intertidal
animals and plants following contami-
nation by oil.
Develop gas chromatographic and infra-
red methodology for the identification
of oil slicks.
The temperature effects of oil in the
intertidal zone on larval settlement and
subsequent survival of these organisms.
The development and demonstration of a
synthetic nontoxic simulated crude oil.
An extension of an existing grant on the
study of microbiological seeding to ac-
celerate degradation of hydrocarbons, for
the inclusion of controlled field testing.
To develop a system for the deployment,
harvesting, and reuse/disposal of oil
sorbents utilizing vessels of opportunity.
To determine the design criteria and sys-
tem performance characteristics of a total
sorbent broadcast-harvest system using
water spray booms, shredded open cell poly-
urethane foam and vessels of opportunity.
Project Officer
Expected Completion Date
Royal Nadeau
5/72
Richard Dewling
6/71
Royal Nadeau
11/72
Robert Hiller
4/72
Fran Brezenski
12/72
J. Stephen Dorrler
6/72
Richard Dewling
6/72
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Grantee or Contractor
Shell Pipeline Corporation
Research and Development
Laboratory
Houston, Texas 77001
Hydronautics, Inc.
Findell Scholl Road
Laurel, Maryland 20810
Meloy Laboratories
6631 Iron Place
Springfield, Virginia 22151
Esso Research and Engineering
P.O. Box 101
Florham Park, New Jersey
Earth Satellite Corp.
Berkeley, California
Baird-Atomic, Inc.
Bedford, Massachusetts
Subject
To develop a light weight system utilizing
foamed on-site polyurethane foam for the
sorption of oil and a continuous type of
recovery system. System components will
be designed for use on vessels of opportu-
nity.
To develop engineering data and preliminary
designs to determine the feasibility of a
continuous oil recovery system. The program
includes the evaluation of sorbents, broad-
casting and harvesting techniques, as well
as recovery platform design.
To study broadcasting and harvesting tech-
niques as well as determining optimum con-
tact time for sorbents.
To demonstrate a procedure for gelling oil
in a model tanker compartment and to develop
the engineering data required for large scale
usage.
To develop a system for rapid synoptic aerial
surveillance of potential oil and hazardous
materials spills sources adjacent to water-
ways using color infrared, near ultraviolet,
tanchromatic and near infrared black and white
photography.
To develop and demonstrate an oil spill sur-
veillance system based on the use of ultra-
violet fluorescence emission detection.
Project Officer
Expected Completion Bate
J. Stephen Dorrler
6/72
Kurt Jakobson
6/72
Kurt Jakobson
6/72
Bernard Hornstein
2/72
John Riley
3/72
John Riley
9/72
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Grantee or Contractor
Texas Instruments, Inc.
Dallas, Texas
McDonnell Aircraft Co.
St. Louis, Missouri
Subject
To develop and demonstrate an active
infrared detector and imaging device
which will be used in an oil spill
surveillance system.
To determine the feasibility of using
standard aerial mapping cameras in a
multiband array to detect and identify
potential spill sources adjacent to
waterways.
Project Officer
Expected Completion Date
John Riley
7/72
John Riley
3/72
For further information on individual projects, please contact the Oil Spill Research and Development
Section, Edison Water Quality Laboratory, Edison, New Jersey 08817.
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