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Study Identifies Deepwater Horizon Debris as Likely Source of Gulf of Mexico Oil Sheens

By Guest PostAugust 5, 2013Environmentbp, chemical makeup, chris reddy, christoph aeppli, coast guard, cofferdam, dave valentine, deepwater horizon debris, deepwater horizon rig, drilling operations, environmental, fingerprint, gas chromatography, gcxgc, gulf of mexico, industrial chemicals, legal concerns, macondo well, matthias kellermann, oil samples, oil sheens, olefins, preliminary data, real world problem, robert k nelson, source, study, synthetic hydrocarbons, technique, two dimensional, ucsb, united states, university of california, whoi

A chemical analysis of oil sheens found floating recently at the ocean’s surface near the site of the Deepwater Horizon disaster indicates that the source is pockets of oil trapped within the wreckage of the sunken rig. Both the Macondo well and natural oil seeps common to the Gulf of Mexico were confidently ruled out.

Researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) used a recently-patented method to fingerprint the chemical makeup of the sheens and to estimate the location of the source based on the extent to which gasoline-like compounds evaporated from the oil sheens. The study was published online in Environmental Science & Technology. (more…)

Gulf Coast Monitor: Sensor Designed to Detect Oil Contaminants in Saltwater

By Guest PostMarch 15, 2011Environmentaromatic hydrocarbons, ccd detector, chemical compounds, deepwater horizon rig, ecosystem, gas, georgia tech research institute, gtri, gulf of mexico, interferometry, joel keelor, john devitt, kevin caravati, louisiana coast, Mississippi, oil, oil leaks, oil wells, optical waveguide, phase shift, polymer films, ray doyle, saltwater, semi volatile organic compounds, sensor, solar power, spills, tarballs, volatile organic compounds, water sample

With more than 20,000 abandoned and active gas and oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico, oil leaks and spills pose a continuous threat to the region’s ecosystem. Monitoring the health of the ecosystems helps ensure the sustainability of natural resources, and helps protect human health and the environment.

Researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) are developing an advanced-warning system to detect the presence of oil in saltwater. The sensor-based system offers the potential for remotely, autonomously and continuously monitoring bodies of water for oil. (more…)

Tag Archives: deepwater horizon rig

Study Identifies Deepwater Horizon Debris as Likely Source of Gulf of Mexico Oil Sheens

Gulf Coast Monitor: Sensor Designed to Detect Oil Contaminants in Saltwater