Oil pollution

Question 1

How are fossil fuels formed?

Answer 1

Fossil fuels are formed from dead organic material over millions of years.

Question 2

What are the sources of oil, coal, and natural gas?

Answer 2

Oil mainly comes from the accumulation of dead phytoplankton.
Coal and natural gas primarily derive from land plants.

Question 3

What factors influence the formation of oil and gas?

Answer 3

Oil formation primarily depends on the temperature at depth, with temperatures of 60-120°C being optimal.
Gas formation requires higher temperatures than oil

Question 4

What is crude oil?

Answer 4

Crude oil is a complex mixture of hundreds of different hydrocarbons along with small amounts of oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, and traces of metals.

Question 5

What is the process of refining crude oil?

Answer 5

Crude oil is refined in a refinery where it undergoes distillation and separation into petrochemicals based on their different boiling points.

Question 6

Where are the major reserves?

Answer 6

Under the sea

Question 7

What are subsea completion systems used for in offshore oil extraction?

Answer 7

Subsea completion systems are modular systems utilized in offshore oil extraction

Question 8

Where are subsea completion systems commonly used?

Answer 8

They are employed in regions such as the Gulf of Mexico, Norway, and off the coast of South America.

Question 9

What is a notable example of the application of subsea completion systems?

Answer 9

Perdido oil field utilizes subsea completion systems, connecting different wellheads to a single oil platform.

Question 10

What is the “Perdido” platform known for in the oil industry?

Answer 10

The “Perdido” platform is recognized as the deepest floating oil platform in the world.

Question 11

What is the water depth at the location of the “Perdido” platform?

Answer 11

The water depth at the “Perdido” platform location is approximately 2450 meters

Question 12

Who operates the “Perdido” platform?

Answer 12

The “Perdido” platform is operated by the Shell Oil Company.

Question 13

Where is the “Perdido” platform located?

Answer 13

The “Perdido” platform is located in the Gulf of Mexico, USA.

Question 14

What are the biological impacts of spoil and drilling in marine environments?

Answer 14

Spoil and drilling activities can lead to decreased biodiversity in areas close to the spoil or drilling sites

Question 15

What is the estimated total annual release of oil into the marine environment?

Answer 15

The total released oil into the marine environment is estimated at 1 million tonnes per year.

Question 16

What are some sources contributing to oil release into the marine environment?

Answer 16

Oil released during shipping incidents and from illegal tank cleaning.
Municipal and industrial effluents.
Routine oil rig operations

Question 17

How does the spreading of oil in the marine environment occur?

Answer 17

Spreading is dependent on the viscosity of the oil, with lower viscosity fluids spreading more quickly. The process is non-uniform, leading to large variations in the thickness of the oil slick.

Question 18

What happens during the evaporation of oil in the marine environment?

Answer 18

Lighter components of the oil, such as petrol, kerosene, and diesel, evaporate into the atmosphere. Evaporation rates are influenced by the area of the slick, which is affected by wind and waves.

Question 19

How does dispersion contribute to the breakdown of oil slicks?

Answer 19

Waves and turbulence break up the oil slick into fragments and droplets. Chemical dispersants, such as surfactants, can accelerate this dispersion process.

Question 20

What is emulsification and how does it affect oil in the marine environment?

Answer 20

Emulsification occurs when seawater droplets become suspended in the oil, forming viscous and persistent emulsions. Emulsions can increase the volume of pollutants by 3-4 times.

Question 21

What is dissolution and how does it impact oil pollution?

Answer 21

Water-soluble compounds in the oil dissolve in the surrounding water, depending on their composition and surface area. Light aromatic hydrocarbons are the most soluble and volatile.

Question 22

How does biodegradation contribute to the breakdown of oil in the marine environment?

Answer 22

Microorganisms degrade the oil, but this process only occurs at the oil/water interface due to insufficient oxygen within the oil. Biodegradation rates depend on oxygen and nutrient levels, with nutrients sometimes added to enhance biodegradation.

Question 22

How does sedimentation/sinking affect oil pollution in the marine environment?

Answer 22

Crude oil compounds typically do not sink in seawater. Sedimentation may occur due to the adhesion of sediment particles or residues left after burning oil.

Question 23

What is oxidation in relation to oil pollution in the marine environment?

Answer 23

Oxidation is the process by which oils react with oxygen, leading to the breakdown of oils into soluble products or the formation of persistent compounds known as tars. This process is promoted by sunlight.

Question 24

What is the rate of oxidation for oil in the marine environment?

Answer 24

Oxidation is a very slow process, with thin films of oil breaking down at no more than 0.1% per day

Question 25

How does the oxidation of thick layers of oil or emulsions contribute to the formation of mousse lumps or tars?

Answer 25

The oxidation of thick layers of high viscosity oils or emulsions can lead to the formation of mousse lumps or tars. These formations create an outer protective coating of heavy compounds, significantly increasing the persistence of the oil.

Question 26

What factors influence the impact of oil spills on the environment?

Answer 26

The impact of oil spills is highly dependent on various circumstances, including:
Distance to sensitive habitats.
Weather conditions.
Nature of the oil spilled.
Size of the spill.

Question 27

How does oil penetration differ in fine-grained sand compared to coarse-grained sand?

Answer 27

Oil penetration into fine-grained sand is typically restricted to the upper 15 cm, whereas in coarse-grained sand, it can penetrate deeper, reaching approximately 25 cm.

Question 28

What factors influence the biological breakdown of oil?

Answer 28

Biological breakdown of oil is typically faster under warm conditions. However, it requires oxygen and moisture for the process to occur effectively.

Question 29

What are examples of sensitive habitats prone to damage from oil spills?

Answer 29

Sensitive habitats such as mangroves and tidal flats are particularly vulnerable to damage from oil spills.

Question 30

What is an example of mangrove restoration following an oil spill incident?

Answer 30

Mangrove restoration efforts were undertaken following the ‘Katina P’ heavy fuel oil (HFO) spill in the River Incomati estuary and mangroves in Mozambique in May 1992.

Question 31

How can coral reefs come in contact with oil?

Answer 31

• Rough seas can mix lighter oil products into the water column.
• Oil floating on the water’s surface can be deposited directly on corals in an intertidal zone when the water level drops at low tide.
• As heavy oil weathers or gets mixed with sand or sediment, it can become dense enough to sink below the ocean surface and smother corals below.

Question 32

What are the potential impacts of oil on coral reefs?

Answer 32

Once oil comes into contact with corals, it can kill them or impede their reproduction, growth, behavior, and development, thereby affecting the entire reef ecosystem.

Question 33

What are the biological impacts of oil spills on seabirds?

Answer 33

Compromised insulation due to oil coating feathers.
Waterlogging of feathers leading to hypothermia.
Toxicity from ingesting oil while preening or consuming contaminated food sources.
Impacts can occur both at sea and onshore.

Question 34

What are the impacts of oil spills on sea mammals?

Answer 34

Hypothermia in fur-bearing species like polar bears, sea otters, and beavers due to the loss of insulation from oil coating their fur.
Ingestion of oils can lead to organ failure.
Congested lungs from inhalation of oil fumes or ingestion of oil-contaminated water.
Decreased body mass due to reduced feeding or metabolic changes.
Stress induced by exposure to oil and disturbance to their natural habitats

Question 35

What were the findings from the collection of 29 dolphins along the coast?

Answer 35

48% were very sick.
25% were underweight.
17% were not expected to survive.

Question 36

What was the observed phenomenon involving over 1,000 dolphins along the coast of Texas?

Answer 36

Over 1,000 dolphins were stranded dead along the coast of Texas

Question 37

Was the mass stranding of dolphins likely related to oil pollution?

Answer 37

The mass stranding of dolphins raises the question of whether it was related to oil pollution, given the symptoms observed in the collected dolphins.

Question 38

What are the impacts of oil spills on fish and shellfish populations?

Answer 38

• Mortality and contamination of fish stocks, affecting fisheries and aquaculture industries.
• Accumulation of oil in sediments, which can affect shellfish habitats.
• Fish may ingest large amounts of oils through their gills, leading to changes in heart and respiratory rate, enlarged livers, reduced growth, and altered spawning.

Question 39

What are the impacts of oil spills on zooplankton?

Answer 39

Oil spills can impact zooplankton populations. Smaller organisms with fast reproductive rates tend to be the most adaptable to ecosystem stresses

Question 40

What were the findings regarding the biological impacts of oil on zooplankton in terms of generations?

Answer 40

In the 1st generation, pyrene exposure reduced survival, grazing, and egg production.
In the 2nd generation, egg production and hatching success were recovered, indicating an increased tolerance to pyrene exposure.

Question 40

What are the long-term impacts of oil spills on ecosystems?

Answer 40

Long-term impacts of oil spills can include branch loss ultimately leading to delayed mortality, detectable even years after the spill. These impacts may persist for decades after the spill occurred.

Question 41

How do oil spills affect corals?

Answer 41

Branch loss and delayed mortality, observable even years after the spill.
Long-term consequences that may persist for decades after the initial spill event

Question 42

What is skimming in the context of oil spill response?

Answer 42

Skimming involves the removal of oil from the water surface using specialized equipment like booms and skimmers

Question 43

How is burning utilized in oil spill response?

Answer 43

Burning, or in-situ burning, is used to ignite oil slicks, reducing their volume and minimizing environmental impact, particularly suitable for thicker oils in open water areas.

Question 44

What are sorbents used for in oil spill cleanup?

Answer 44

Sorbents are materials utilized for the absorption or adsorption of oil from water, including natural substances like straw, hay, or synthetic materials like polypropylene pads.

Question 45

How does agglutination aid in oil spill response?

Answer 45

Agglutination involves encouraging oil clumping with dispersants or chemicals to facilitate its removal from the water.

Question 46

What is the purpose of bioremediation in oil spill cleanup?

Answer 46

Bioremediation utilizes microorganisms to degrade oil contaminants, accelerating natural breakdown processes.

Question 47

What role do chemical dispersants play in oil spill response?

Answer 47

Chemical dispersants are sprayed onto oil slicks to break down oil into smaller droplets, preventing it from reaching sensitive areas.

Question 48

What does onshore cleanup involve in oil spill response?

Answer 48

Onshore cleanup consists of manual removal of oil from shorelines and affected areas using tools like absorbents and shovels

Question 49

When might the approach of “doing nothing” be considered in oil spill response?

Answer 49

Allowing natural processes to mitigate spill impact is considered in remote or inaccessible areas.