INFLUX OF PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS INTO THE OCEAN

Four definitive studies have been published in the past five years regarding the influx of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC) into the world ocean. The first three studies--those by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1970), University of Oklahoma (1973), and the U.S. Coast Guard (1973)--omitted the contribution of PHC from natural seepage, coastal municipal wastes, and direct urban runoff outside the riverine systems. The fourth study by a National Academy of Science Panel (1975) now includes these factors and concludes that approximately 6.1 million metric tons of PHC--or about 0.25% of that produced--entered the ocean annually in the 1971-1972 time frame.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Offshore Technology Conference, 7th Annual, Proceeding, V3, Houston, Texas, May 5-8, 1975.
• Corporate Authors:

  Offshore Technology Conference

  6200 North Central Expressway
  Dallas, TX  United States  45206
• Authors:
  • Bates, C
  • Pearson, E
• Conference:
  • Offshore Technology Conference, 7th Annual, Proceeding, V3, Houston, Texas, May 5-8, 1975.
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 535-544

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Oil spills; Water pollution
• Old TRIS Terms: Ocean pollution
• Subject Areas: Environment; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00129774
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Report/Paper Numbers: Pap OTC 2390 Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 10 1976 12:00AM