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ABOUT THE LIBRARY
The LUMCON Library collection was originally housed in Ellender Memorial Library, located at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. After completion of the DeFelice Marine Center in 1986, the collection was moved to its present location. Since that time, the Library has become an active resource center for LUMCON faculty and staff as well as Consortium member institutions, visiting researchers, students, and the public.
The library contains a computer lab and several study spaces available to visiting students, scientists, or groups (such as attendees of a writing retreat).
The collection and development of library materials reflects LUMCON’s research programs. The collection has approximately:
- 4,600 monographs
- 5,800 bound volumes
- 200 journal titles
- 26 current journal subscriptions
- 850 maps
- 35 atlases
- 3,600 government documents
- 1,500 reprints
In addition, the library houses a complete collection of research products generated by DeFelice Marine Center personnel since LUMCON’s inception.
HOURS OF OPERATION
- The LUMCON Library is staffed Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM. All visitors are welcome during these hours.
- The Library is closed to the public on weekends, state holidays, and when the librarian is not on site. Before visiting the facility, please call 985-851-2875 to ensure the Library will be open.
- All LUMCON staff, summer students, and resident visitors have 24-hour access to the Library. If the doors to the Library are locked, the security guard will open them for you.
CIRCULATION
- Books can be checked out by filling out a card at the circulation desk. The length of time a book can be checked out varies depending on the patron’s status. Books may be renewed by contacting the department, but all items are subject to recall at any time.
- Interlibrary loan service is available for LUMCON faculty, postdocs, lab personnel, and summer students. Although we strive to get items at no charge, the patron may be asked to pay for interlibrary loan charges under certain circumstances.
- Reserve items, reference materials, and journals must remain in the Library. The Library has no photocopier, but copies or scans can be made in the LUMCON main office.
- All materials must be checked out before removal from the Library, without exception.
- Library materials can be placed on reserve for summer classes. A list of items to be placed on reserve should be provided to the librarian as soon as possible.
- When returning material that has been checked out, please drop off items at the circulation counter.
Food is not allowed in the Library under any circumstance. Drinks are only allowed with prior approval by the librarian or the security guard.
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The LUMCON Library is available as an internship site for graduate-level students who have completed at least two semesters toward a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science. Applications will be accepted on a continuing basis and internships may be completed during any semester. Prior library experience or an undergraduate degree in science is desirable, but not necessary. Credits will be awarded based on the number of person-hours completed (40 person-hours per credit hour).
The internship will consist of both field experience, encompassing many operations of a special library, and a special project in technical services. The Librarian will give the intern an overview of reference services, technical services, library administration, and budgeting, and will guide the intern through special projects. The LUMCON Library uses SIRSI/Dynix’s Symphony Integrated Library System as well as OCLC for Cataloging/Interlibrary Loan services.
Contact the Librarian for more information or to apply for an internship.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to thank the following individuals for their guidance and input when creating the Dispersants Bibliography:
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- Victoria Broje, Per Daling, Alun Lewis, and Francois-Xavier Merlin offered valuable assistance in the early phases of this project. Per Daling’s support was especially noteworthy, by providing conference proceedings that otherwise could not be obtained.
- Deborah Ansell, ITOPF’s librarian, contributed by sharing her sizeable list of library holdings on dispersant publications with us, and filling in gaps where existing citation information was incomplete.
- Likewise, Julie Anne Richardson, librarian for Environment Canada, compiled a publication listing on dispersants housed in her collection, which provided us with additional citations for our project.
- Qianxin Lin at Louisiana State University provided API conference proceedings for us to use in transcribing abstracts.
- Nancy Kinner at the Coastal Response Research Center provided encouragement, focus, and connected us with some of the aforementioned people.
- Finally, Don Davis and Karen Reeder Emory at OSRADP deserve special mention for all of their help and direction during the span of this project.
The LUMCON Library is a member of the International Association of Aquatic and Marine Science Libraries and Information Centers (IAMSLIC), the Southeast Affiliate of IAMSLIC Libraries (SAIL), and the Louisiana Library Network and Information Consortium (LOUIS). Additionally, the Library has access to OCLC Cataloging/Interlibrary loan services.
Click here to search LUMCON’s e-Library catalog using the LOUIS portal.
DISPERSANTS BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Baffin Island Oil Spill (BIOS) Project sponsored multidisciplinary field studies between May 1980 and August 1983 in Canada's eastern Arctic at Cape Hatt, on the northern end of Baffin Island. Forty-five cubic metres (45,000 l) of a sweet medium gravity crude oil were released in a typical coastal arctic environment for purposes of scientific investigation. The experimental spills were monitored to quantitatively assess and compare the short- and long-term fate and effects of chemically dispersed oil and a beached oil slick, as well as the effectiveness of shoreline cleanup techniques. Hydrocarbon analyses were carried out on water samples, intertidal sediments, subtidal sediments and macrofaunal tissue. Biological measurements were made on populations of macrophytic algae, benthic infauna and epifauna and microorganisms. Oceanographic, geomorphologic and meteorologic support studies were also performed. The main conclusions of the BIOS Project relate to oil spill countermeasures for arctic nearshore and shoreline areas typified by the experimental site. First, the results offer no compelling ecological reasons to prohibit the use of chemical dispersants on oil slicks in such nearshore areas. Second, the results provide no strong ecological reasons for the cleanup of oil stranded on such shorelines. Thus consideration would be given to the use of chemical dispersants in the nearshore where prevention of shoreline contamination is warranted to protect wildlife or their critical habitat or traditional human land-use sites
After four years of multidisciplinary experimental investigations in the Canadian Arctic, the Baffin Island Oil Spill (BIOS) Project has successfully completed studies which address oil spill fate, effects, and countermeasures. In particular, the findings are relevant to decisions on the nearshore use of chemical dispersants and the cleanup of oiled shorelines. Much of the information gathered can be extrapolated to other geographic areas. Within the context of the project design, the experimental results offer no compelling ecological reasons to prohibit use of dispersants on oil slicks in the arctic nearshore environment and they enable recognition of situation in which dispersant use would be advisable. The results also suggest that for much of the arctic coastline the cleanup of stranded oil is not essential. Shoreline cleanup efforts should focus on low energy beaches with characteristics conducive to the long term retention of oil, but there will be many situations where cleanup will be severely limited and impractical
The microcomputer is a very useful oil spill response tool: It can help the spill contingency planner organize and present a wide variety of information; it can help the spill response trainer create realistic scenarios and models of spill events; and it can help the spill response operations manager optimize operational decisions and expedite a variety of communications. This paper suggests some specific ways microcomputers can help plan for and respond to oil spills, and it focuses on a computer program written to help expedite operational decisions and optimize operations for the chemical dispersion of spilled oil in Alaskan waters
While there is an urgent demand to establish reliable ecotoxicological assays for reef corals, there has not been yet an available source material that can supply the high number of colony replicates needed for reliable tests. In past experiments, the major obstacle to obtaining as many fragments as possible had been the damage inflicted to donor colonies by pruning. In this paper, we present the application of coral nubbins, a novel source material for coral ecotoxicology assays. Nubbins from the branching Red Sea coral Stylophora pistillata (n>450) were used for evaluating the impacts of water soluble fractions from a crude oil, an oil dispersant and dispersed oil. Coral nubbins (minute coral fragments in the size of one to several polyps) harvested from a single colony are genetically identical to each other, may be obtained in any quantity needed and whenever research activities demand their use. Several dozens of nubbins can be obtained from a single small branch in branching coral species, a procedure that has minimal impact on donor genotypes. Nubbins production is a low cost procedure and requires limited maintenance space. Results of short and long-term acute ecotoxicological tests are revealed and discussed here, indicating the advantageous use of nubbins as ubiquitous coral material for toxicology assays and physiological studies
Prudhoe Bay crude oil has been dispersed into distilled and natural waters using a variety of mixing procedures. Gentle mixing results in a dispersion of droplets smaller than 0.03 µm enriched in one- and two-ring aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, and basic compounds tentatively identified as amines. Vigorous stirring produces dispersions of larger droplet size and composition similar to the parent crude oil. Addition of a commercial oil dispersant results in finer droplets that show little chemical fractionation. These results show that chemical and size fractionations of oil-in-water dispersions are related to each other and to the intensity of mixing. It is probable that aquatic organisms take up and store different chemical and size fractions of petroleum in different ways. Consequently, the mode of mixing of oil and water may influence the biological impact of an oil spill or its laboratory simulation
The toxicity of chemicals used to disperse oil is considered on the basis of British experience and in relation to effects on fisheries and marine life. It is concluded that although toxic dispersants may be of value in treating oil at sea, they should not be used in large quantities in shallow coastal water, over shellfish beds or fish nursery grounds, or in estuaries. When oil comes ashore the problems should be reduced by mechanical means and chemical methods used only on high-amenity beaches. Toxicity-testing procedures for dispersants have so far been based upon the determination of LC50 values in static-water aerated tanks at 15°C over a 48-hour period, but a continuous-flow apparatus is being devised. Test animals regularly used are Pandalus montagui, Crangon crangon, Carcinus maenas and Cardium edule, but the fish Solea solea and Limanda limanda and the lobster Homarus gammarus are now being included. A large number of commercially available dispersants have been tested and also some experimental formulations. Some recently-developed materials for use at sea have low toxicities but are of little value for treating oil which has come ashore. Tainting by oil and dispersants may affect fisheries by adding unwanted flavors to fish and shellfish and so affecting marketability over several weeks
Oil pollution can affect commercial fisheries in three ways: by toxic effects on commercial spp, by tainting fish and shellfish, and by fouling fishing gear. On the open sea, oil, either before or after dispersant treatment, poses little threat to fisheries. If oil is sunk on a fishing ground, however, there is a danger of net fouling, with consequent tainting of the catch. In inshore waters, toxic effects due to oil alone are likely only if a light, refined oil is involved. Tainting of intertidal mollusc fisheries can result from spilled oil. Oil dispersants, though having negligible effects on fisheries in the open sea, can have important toxic and tainting effects inshore. They should not be used near oyster, mussel, and cockle fisheries, nor should they be used on a large scale on parts of the coast where fish nursery grounds and lobster fisheries are present close inshore. Particular care should be exercised in clearing oil from estuaries which support anadromous fish populations. If it is necessary to use dispersants in estuaries of this type, a low-toxicity product should be chosen. In many cases, after mechanical removal of as much oil as possible, it should be possible to leave estuarine areas for natural weathering, supplemented, if necessary, by absorbent loosening agents, such as stearate-treated limestone dust, to clear the oil
Man-made ponds with stable microflora population characteristics were used to determine the effects of oil-dispersant (Corexit 9527) mixtures in freshwater systems. Initial reaction was a short-term increase in geoaquatic fungi, followed by sharp decrease, then recovery. There appeared to be no observable effect on vertical distribution of fungi. EC50 rates were then determined for oil utilizing fungi exposed to Corexit 9527
Following the grounding of the barge Morris J. Berman on the northern coast of Puerto Rico in January 1994, conditional approval for the use of the shoreline cleaner Corexit 9580 was granted. One requirement was the inclusion of biological effects monitoring, particularly during the first operational application. This was intended to safeguard against unforeseen ecological consequences from the treatment-to answer the question, does the use of Corexit 9580 result in adverse biological impact beyond that caused by the oil itself? The monitoring was designed to provide immediate operation feedback (Should the application continue?) but also addressed other questions of interest for future incidents and for further research. Study sites were surveyed before, immediately following, and one day after treatment with Corexit 9580. No significant nearshore effects were observed, and the monitoring team recommended the operations proceed. Followup studies of organisms transplanted into the treatment area also showed few exposure-related effects. Measurable concentrations of both Corexit and oil were found in water samples collected in the treated area, and low levels of hydrocarbons were also found in sea urchins exposed to treatment runoff water. The toxicological significance of the exposure and the tissue residues were beyond the scope of this monitoring effort, but the lack of mortalities in both resident and transplanted organisms suggested a relatively minor short-term biological effect on exposed communities
The effects of a recent bunker oil spill on the marine environment were assesed through investigation of the rocky shore fauna, phytoplankton population and macrobenthic communities over a study period of 150 days. In addition, toxicity experiments were carried out in the laboratory to ascertain the toxic effects of the oil-plus-dispersant on selected test organisms. The impacts of the spill on the marine fauna were minimal with no visible reduction in species and individual numbers. Possible reasons were the small amount of oil spilled, the rapid containment and dispersion in the clean-up operations, and the less toxic effects of the heavy bunker oil. On Hong Kong shores, the limpets can be identified as indicator species to oil pollution. A quick survey of the limpet fauna on the rocky shores immediately after a spill provides an initial assessment of the impacts on the shoreline. However, faunal recovery over a long-term period may be difficult to assess in view of the lack of baseline data on most of the marine biological communities in Hong Kong waters
Dispersant toxicity tests were performed on marine species indigenous to the Gulf of Mexico in support of Region VI Regional Response Team Dispersant Work Group. Concurrent with the toxicity testing, the group is developing a Subpart H regional contingency plan for authorization of the use of dispersants in non-life threatening situations. Static and flow-through toxicity tests were performed on five Gulf species: brown shrimp, white shrimp, blue crab, eastern oyster, and redfish. The test results indicated that when the test species were exposed to chemically dispersed Mayan or Saudi Arabian Light (SABL) crude oil, the observed toxicity occurred rapidly, usually within 6 hours after addition of the dispersed oil. During the tests, the organisms became disoriented and lethargic immediately after addition of the dispersed crude oils. However, the test animals that survived the first 6 to 12 hours of exposure usually recovered and survived for the remainder of the test period. In almost all cases, surviving test organisms were swimming normally and were not lethargic 12 to 24 hours after test material addition. Test results indicated that if the organisms were exposed to dispersed Mayan or SABL crude oil, but survived long enough for the material to decrease in concentration, the organisms could recover and survive without any apparent short-term effects
A commercially available dispersant application system of state-of-the-art design was selected for study, to improve dispersant application techniques and equipment designs for spraying from boats. Areas of concern included calibration and application rate control. Calibration of the dispersant application equipment was performed at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Oil and Hazardous Materials Simulated Environmental Test Tank (OHMSETT) facility in Leonardo, New Jersey. Initial calibration in November 1984 showed that flow rates among the nozzles varied significantly. The causes for the observed problems were later identified as plugged and defective nozzle internals. Following correction of these problems, the equipment was recalibrated in February 1986. The study shows that unless the system has been properly calibrated, the dispersant application rate cannot be accurately determined. Dispersant application rate estimates based on spray nozzle manufacturers’ published data may be erroneous owing to production variance, defective product parts, or differences in the fluid viscosity. For the specific equipment tested in this study, the flow meter integral to the system was inaccurate. The dispersant application equipment otherwise functioned well for dilute dispersant spraying. In the undiluted spraying mode, the dispersant application capacity decreased with increasing fluid (dispersant) viscosity. With fluid viscosity above 200 cs, the system developed operating difficulties. Spray application was accompanied by severe vibration at the pump unit and with greatly reduced spray angle at the nozzles. Using the calibration data, operating charts were formulated for using the dispersant application equipment aboard a 20 m utility boat. After field installation, the dispersant spray equipment would be available for field trials and experiments with dispersants in future research programs. The equipment would also be available for use in actual spill responses
Experiments were carried out to determine relative toxicities of 9 oil spill treatment chemicals, including BP 1002, on molluscs and crustaceans. The toxicity of BP 1002 was found to rapidly decrease over time, due to evaporation. Susceptibility was higher in younger stages of the shellfish. Exposure to the chemicals tainted the flesh of the organisms, rendering them unfit for human consumption
The toxicity of the oil dispersing agent Corexit® 7664 was evaluated using the early life stages of four California marine species: the red abalone (Haliotis rufescens), the topsmelt (Atherinops affinis), a mysid (Holmesimysis costata), and the giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera). Spiked-exposure, continuous-flow toxicity tests of 48-96 h were performed in triplicate in closed test chambers. Dispersant concentrations were measured by UV spectrophotometry. In terms of median-effect concentration, the order of test sensitivity was Haliotis>Atherinops>Holmesimysis>Macrocystis. NOEC data also showed Haliotis tests to be the most sensitive, with Macrocystis tests having similar values, followed by Atherinops and Holmesimysis tests, respectively. Toxicity of Corexit® 7664 was compared to that of Corexit® 9527, and the latter was found to be more toxic to all four species; interspecific rankings were similar for the two agents
The acute effects of both untreated and dispersant-treated Prudhoe Bay crude oil on the early life-stages of three marine species were investigated. Identification of which water-accommodated fraction (undispersed or chemically dispersed) was considered “more toxic” was dependent on species, time, and endpoint (and by inference, test protocol). Generally, the data showed that at roughly equivalent hydrocarbon concentrations untreated oil solutions resulted in higher initial effects (< 1 h) in mysid and topsmelt tests, whereas dispersed oil solutions elicited higher levels of larval abnormality in abalone tests and higher levels of mortality in mysid tests. While differences in test protocols existed among the species tested, topsmelt were the most sensitive species to untreated oil solutions, with mysids being most sensitive to dispersed oil solution
Two oil dispersants, Slik-A-Way and Nokomis® 3, were employed in flow-through, spiked exposure toxicity tests to determine deleterious effects on early life stages of Haliotis rufescens and Holmesimysis costata. Slick-A-Way was more toxic of the two dispersant tested to both marine organisms. Median-effect concentrations for Slick-A-Way were from 16.8 to 23.9 initial ppm for H. refescens and 25.9 to 34.6 initial ppm for H. costata. The median-effect concentrations for Nokomis® 3 were between 21.0 and 24.0 initial ppm for H. refescens and from 118.0 to 123.2 initial ppm for H. costata. Different surfactant formulations for the two dispersants were believed to be the reason for different toxicity results
Spiked concentrations of dispersants (Slick-A-Way and Nokomis® 3) were applied in continuous-flow systems to investigate acute effects on two nearshore marine species, Atherinops affinis and Macrocystis pyrifera. A. affinis was more sensitive to exposure than M. oyrifera, with median-effect concentration values for both species ranging from 48.2 to 72.9 ppm (LC50), 73.0 to 79.4 ppm (IC50) for Nokomis® 3 and 43.7 to 45.8 ppm (LC50), 73.0 to 95.9 ppm (IC50) for Slik-A-Way. NOEC values for both species suggested a significantly higher sensitivity to Slick-A-Way
Using continuous-flow toxicity tests, the effects of Corexit 9527 on early life stages of four marine species (Macrocystis pyrifera, Haliotis rufescens, Holmesimysis costata, and Athennops affinis) were investigated. For these tests, 48 and 96 h exposures to the dispersant were employed, at varying concentrations. M. pyrifera showed significant growth impairment at exposures above 2.4 ppm after 48 hours. Of the three animals tested, H. rufescens was found to be most sensitive to exposure. For the remainin organisms, sensitivity to exposure was as follows: NOEC = 0.63 to 1.50 ppm, LC50 = 1.60 to 2.20 ppm for H. costata and NOEC = 12.27 to 14.18 ppm, LC50 = 25.51 to 40.63 ppm for A. affinis
Spiked exposure, continuous-flow tests were carried out with Corexit 9527 on four marine species to determine if initial exposure to the dispersant impacted the organisms. After initial exposure of the dispersant at concentrations up to 100 ppm, filtered seawater was used to restore water quality over a 5-6 h period. Haliotis rufescens appeared to be the most sensitive to spiked exposure, while Atherinops affinis showed no observed effects. The other species, Macrocystis pyrifera and Holmesimysis costata, showed moderate sensitivity to the dispersant
By virtue of their nature and usage, the exposure potential of aquatic organisms to oil dispersants is highly ephemeral. To address this circumstance, in addition to traditional constant-concentration exposures, more realistic spiked-exposure, continuous-flow toxicity tests using the oil dispersant Corexit 9527) were performed using the early life stages of four California marine species: the giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), the red abalone (Haliotis rufescens), a kelp forest mysid (Holmesimysis costata), and the topsmelt (Atherinops affinis), were inoculated with concentrated dispersant, then allowed to flush with clean, filtered seawater. Spectrophotometric monitoring of tests showed dispersant levels diminishing to below detection limits within 5 to 6 h or less. Comparison of spiked-exposure results with previous data obtained using the same species and dispersant under constant-exposure conditions showed higher values for both EC/LC50s and NOECs under spiked conditions
Oil spill dispersants contain one or more surface-active agents. The surfactant properties that allow dispersants to work are nonspecific and can also affect the lipid-bilayer membranes of living cells. One important parameter used to characterize the physical behavior of surfactants is the concentration at which dissolved surfactant monomers begin to aggregate—the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The CMC can be toxicologically relevant because toxic effects are generally linked to monomers rather than micelles. The CMCs of four different oil dispersants (Corexit® 9527, Corexit® 7664, Nokomis® 3, and Slik-A-Way®) in seawater were measured using surface tension as the indicative metric. From these data, predicted surface tensions were calculated for NOEC and median-effect concentration estimates obtained with the same dispersants for the early life stages of four marine species. In three of the four agents, toxicity to all four species occurred below the CMC; however, in the fourth, toxicity to three of the species occurred well above the CMC. No biologically significant relationship between surface tension and toxicity was noted
The acute effects of untreated and chemically dispersed Prudhoe Bay crude oil was investigated using modeled-exposure toxicity tests. Testing was accomplished under closed, flow-through conditions using the sensitive early life-stages of two coastal California marine species. Water-accommodated fractions of untreated oil were prepared using low energy equilibrium methods, whereas chemical dispersions were prepared at somewhat higher energies. Exposure concentrations were measured using gas chromatography. Results showed substantial differences in toxicity both among species, and between dispersed and undispersed oil
The acute toxicity of a surfactant-based oil dispersant, Corexit 9554, to the early life stages of four marine species was identified using a closed, flow-through exposure system. Standardized, spiked exposures were used in order to impart a measure of reality to the data. The species were taxonomically diverse: a mollusc, the red abalone (Haliotis rufescens); a fish, the topsmelt (Atherinops affinis); a crustacean, the kelp forest mysid (Holmesimysis costata); and a macroalga, the giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera). Results indicated the Haliotis test to be most sensitive, followed by the Macrocystis test, and the Atherinops test, with the Holmesimysis test being least sensitive. Median-effect concentration estimates for the four species ranged from 8.0 to 184.3 initial ppm, a >20-fold difference. Differences in sensitivity of the four tests were likely the result of both internal (morphological, physiological, etc.) and external (life stage, endpoint, etc.) factors
The acute aquatic toxicity of a new Corexit series dispersant, Corexit 9500, was evaluated and compared with that of others in the series using early life stages of two common nearshore marine organisms: the red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) and a kelp forest mysid (Holmesimysis costota). Spiked-concentration testing was performed under closed, flowthrough conditions, with dispersant concentrations measured in real time using UV spectrophotometry. Median-effect concentrations ranged from 12.8 to 19.7 initial ppm for Haliotis and from 158.0 to 245.4 initial ppm for Holmesimysis. The difference in sensitivity of the two types of tests was consistent with patterns seen with other oil dispersants. Also, these data indicate Corexit 95110 to be of similar toxicity to Corexit 9527 and 9554. Corexit 9500 represents a reformulation of a longtime industry “standard,” Corexit 9527, to allow use on higher viscosity oils and emulsions. The present data suggest that acute aquatic toxicity concerns surrounding the use of this newer dispersant should not be significantly different from those associated with the use of Corexit 9527
The acute aquatic toxicity of untreated and chemically dispersed Prudhoe Bay crude oil has been investigated using spiked exposure toxicity tests. Testing was accomplished under closed, flow-through conditions using the sensitive early life stages of three coastal California marine species. Water-accommodated fractions of untreated oil were prepared using low-energy, equilibrium methods, whereas chemical dispersions were prepared at somewhat higher energies. Results showed substantial differences in toxicity both among species and between dispersed and undispersed oil
Oil spill response can be highly affected by the perceived costs and benefits of a particular countermeasure. Responders' perceptions of these can be influenced by the way in which scientific data are collected and presented. To date, a large amount of information has been generated on the aquatic toxicity of oil, dispersants and dispersed oil. Unfortunately, much of these data are not comparable because of differing toxicological and analytical methods used, as well as frequent lack of analytical verification of exposures. Recently, a group of federal, state, academic and industry representatives from North America and Europe have been working toward standardizing both biological and analytical methods used to produce acute toxicity estimates of complex mixtures such as oil, dispersants and dispersed oil. This standardization provides guidelines for future investigations to be conducted in a sufficiently rigorous manner that both inter- and intra-laboratory datasets will be comparable, thus providing a more coherent and robust database from which to derive response guidance
An oil spill scenario, consisting of a release of 100 cu m of crude oil, was the basis for using the Oil Spill Contingency and Response (OSCAR) 2000 Model System. OSCAR performed oil spill response analyses and compared alternative response strategies, dispersant use regulations, and strategy options for integrating the use of dispersants in an initial response to the spill
This report investigates the possibility of using dispersants on the Balder, Jotun and Ringhorne oil fields in the North Sea. OSCAR simulations demonstrate that dispersants could be used in a fairly large blow out spill in the area, even with a continuous flow of oil from the spill site. Immediate dispersant use should be supplemented with mechanical recovery in a later phase of response. A revised decision model should reflect the use of larger amounts of dispersants, extended application period, and extended application logistics
The Exxon Valdez incident highlights the need to improve our knowledge of the distribution and behavior of crude oil spilled in cold seas, to evaluate the real interest of chemical dispersion and its effectiveness in icy conditions. Severe weather conditions often do not allow field experiments and sampling of the water column during winter. Results of an experimental approach using protected mesocosms are reported here. A group of five tanks (V = 3.5 m3 each) providing facilities to work under an ice cover has been used. The surface microlayer, both particulate and dissolved fractions in water column, and particles collected in sediment traps have been analyzed during four experiments ranging from 21 to 63 days. The seawater temperatures ranged from – 2° to 5° C. The coupling of tanks in a cascade-like system allowed the simulation of a spatio-temporal diffusion of dispersed oil from a source point. In comparisons of the fate of treated and untreated oil, the increase of crude oil dispersed in the water column under the action of chemical surfactants had to following effects: 1) It improved bacterial growth, allowing biodegradation of the dispersed oil even under icy conditions (< 0° C); 2) It did not change the amount of oil accumulated in the surface film (500 µm thickness), which was negligible with regard to the amount of spilled oil; 3) It did not increase proportionately the dissolved fraction (passed through a 0.7-µm filter) of oil in the water column; 4) It did not increase significantly the amount of oil settling with suspended particles naturally present in coast waters. In both cases, the resurfaced oil trapped in an ice cover during winter became a source of contamination for the underlaying water in spring by resuspending fresh nondegraded material in both particulate and dissolved forms. Results of the quantitative budget together with the toxicological study of dispersed oil on planktonic algae demonstrate the value of mesocale studies to decision making about the use of chemical dispersants in cold seawater
The fate of the chemically dispersed crude oil Forties, the effects on natural phytoplankton and bacteria and the hydrocarbon biodegradation were studied in mesocosms during a two-week period in winter. Five double-walled stainless steel tanks (3 m height; 3·5 m3) were used. Each tank was equipped with a cooling system maintaining entrapped seawater below zero (−1·6 ± 0·2°C) and under an ice coverage, simulating winter conditions prevailing in boreal/sub-boreal environments. A flow-through cascade set-up between three tanks simulated the progressive dilution of the oil in the water mass. A total oil concentration of 7·5 mg liter-1 was measured in the water column of the oiled cascading tanks, four days after the addition of 435 g (nominal concentration of 124 mg liter-1) of dispersed crude oil. At this time, most of the oil (> 90%) initially introduced into mesocosms had escaped the water column, mainly toward the surface. A non-negligible portion of the oil (5·7%) was settling during the course of the experiment. The low efficiency of the dispersant mixture used and the oil settling seemed to be due to the very low seawater temperature tested here. In the first days following the oil addition, a slight decline of viable heterotrophic bacteria was noted in the tanks, and then the oil improved the heterotrophic activity by the end of the experiment. The marked increase of both density and proportion of oil-degrading bacteria observed two days after the oil addition gave evidence of the potential capability of the indigenous bacterial community to adapt to an oil spill event. However, under such extreme icy conditions, the biodegradation of the dispersed oil was reduced and only the aliphatic hydrocarbon fraction, mainly recovered as dispersed oil droplets, was slightly degraded. The aromata hydrocarbon fraction, on the other hand, essentially recovered as dissolved/colloidal compounds (< 0·7 μm), was not altered after two weeks. Oil biodegradation in the material collected in sediment traps progressed more rapidly than in the water column. At the end of the experiment, about 1–2 mg liter-1 of oil remained in the water column and still induced a chl-a inhibition, but no significant change of the specific composition of the phytoplankton was noted, microflagellates remaining dominant throughout the experiment (40·5–76% in number)
This database consists of citations found in journals, conference proceedings, government reports and gray literature covering over 40 years of published research on oil spill dispersants. Citations were collected from 1960 through June 2008. This bibliography was compiled and edited by John Conover, Associate Librarian at LUMCON, and funded by a grant from the Louisiana Applied and Educational Oil Spill Research and Development Program (OSRADP).
EFFECTS OF OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT BIBLIOGRAPHY
Quarterly Issues
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Compilations
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- Biology
- Ecological, anatomical, and physiological effects of oil and/or gas, Species as biomarkers, PAH uptake and bioaccumulation, etc.
- Chemistry/Geochemistry/Geology
- Biochemistry, Biodegradation, Bioremediation, Hydrocarbon degradation, Environmental sampling, Soil contamination, etc.
- Engineering/Physics
- Technological advancements in facility/equipment design and use, Spill response and recovery equipment, Physical properties of oil and gas, etc.
- Environment/Ecosystem Management/Spills
- Environmental assessment and management, Oil and/or gas spill description and analysis, etc.
- Socioeconomic/Regulation/General
- Social and economic ramifications, Politics, Governmental policy and legislation, Organizational policy, General interest, etc.
This bibliography is a quarterly compilation of current publications (citations with abstracts) from a wide variety of electronic and print information sources relating to offshore oil and gas development. It is compiled and edited by John Conover, Associate Librarian at LUMCON. Items listed may or may not be available at the LUMCON Library. Items without annotations were unavailable for perusal prior to publication.
All questions about using library facilities, locating library resources, or searching LUMCON catalogs should be directed to the Librarian.