Oil Spills Flashcards
(39 cards)
we transport a lot of fuel, such as crude oil, diluted bitumen, and petroleum. Define each
Crude Oil= liquid mixture of hundreds of different petrochemicals (Hydrocarbons), later refined to make products like gasoline
Diluted Bitumen (dilbit)= bitumen (crude oil + sand) diluted with lighter petroleum (usually naphtha) to make it less viscous
Petroleum= broad category that includes both crude oil and petroleum products
T/F
“oil” and “petroleum” are used interchangeably
true, but not entirely accurate b/c petroleum is broader
Most of Canada’s oil is transported by ___
Name the 4 major ones
pipeline
- transmountain
- keystone
- express
- enbridge
__% of the oil that Canada exports goes to the USA
99%
Terrestrial vs Marine Oil Spills
Terrestrial:
- most common (ruptured pipeline)
- impacts localized area- easier to contain on land)
Marine:
- less frequent, but much more petroleum is released
- very hard to contain= major impacts (oil is transported by sea currents/ winds)
Fates of Spilled Petroleum (by weathering):
Evaporation=
evaporation of fumes / vapors reduces volume of spillage and can eliminate up to :
- 100% of gasoline
- 50% of crude oil
- 10% of denser bunker fuel
Fates of Spilled Petroleum (by weathering) :
Spreading=
the movement of an oil slick over water or land
- slow on land (soil is very absorbent)
- faster on water (due to water currents/ winds)
Fates of Spilled Petroleum (by weathering):
Dissolution=
pollution of the water beneath an oil slick, lighter hydrocarbons become dissolved in water
Fates of Spilled Petroleum (by weathering):
Residual Materials=
heavier hydrocarbons (lighter ones evaporate or dissolve) form a gelatinous emulsion (water-oil) known as mousse
- mousse can wash up onto shorelines or sink to bottom
- also tar balls
Fates of Spilled Petroleum (by Weathering):
degradation=
the slow decomposition of petroleum by either microbes (biodegradation) or photo-oxidation by UV radiation
what makes petroleum toxic?
- contains many volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- VOCs are irritants and carcinogens
Toxicity of oil depends on its ___ and level of ___
source
processing
What are the 2 types of crude oil?
- Sweet Crude Oil
- low sulfur
- better for making gasoline - Sour Crude Oil
- high sulfur
- requires much more processing to be used
When a bird’s feathers become soaked in oil, what are the risks?
oil mats the feathers and separates the tiny barbs in the wing, which impairs the waterproofing
this puts the bird at risk of hypothermia
why are fish less impacted by other animals (ducks, for example) by oil spills
fish are more mobile, so they can typically avoid the oil
What risk do oil slicks pose for aquatic organisms
suffocation!
- oil slicks form a barrier between air and epilimnion, preventing atmospheric exchange
- especially impacts organisms that live at the surface, because they’re adapted to living with high oxygen
How does an oil spill impact soils?
The biggest concern: petroleum will seep into groundwater
may kill soil organisms/ higher organisms (can disrupt food webs)
can also produce harmful fumes if it evaporates from the soil
____ ___ help stabilize food webs; if they’re impacted, the whole food web is in trouble
carnivorous fish
(they’re “critically resilient” in the food web)
How could an oil spill increase coastal erosion?
oil is toxic to marsh/ coastal grasses
- kill grass= reduce protection from wind/ water, and erosion increases
How Oil Spills Are Cleaned Up:
Mechanical Recovery=
physical containment and collection of spilled oil
How Oil Spills Are Cleaned Up:
In-Situ Burning=
controlled burning of spilled oil to remove it
- this is fast
How Oil Spills Are Cleaned Up:
Chemical Recovery=
use of dispersants or gelling agents to either break down the oil into smaller droplets, or to congeal it together
How Oil Spills Are Cleaned Up:
Bioremediation=
use of fertilizers and nutrient to increase microorganism growth, which in turn break down the oil
How Oil Spills Are Cleaned Up:
List and describe 3 methods of mechanical recovery
- containment booms= floating barriers used to contain the oil on the surface (works b/c oil floats)
- skimmers= work like a vacuum to suck the oil away, but not the water (hydrophobic/ oleophilic)
- Sorbents= straw, clay, nylon etc- used to soak up the oil (works for smaller terrestrial spills)
