Environmental Response in a New Crude Landscape
This article discussed how the nation has experienced an increase in unconventional petroleum product transportation over the last five years. One of these products, known as diluted bitumen or dilbit, is created by blending the dense and viscous bitumen found in Canadian oil sands with lighter hydrocarbon products known as diluents. The bitumen’s density and viscosity is reduced, which allowed it to flow in transport, and this has added complexity to potential spills, compared to more conventional crude oils. Because there has only been two major dilbit spills in North American waters, both attributed to pipelines. information is limited. One of these spills occurred in the brackish water of Burrard Inlet, Burnaby, British Columbia, and resulted in a discharge of about 59,000 gallons. The other occurred near Marshall, Michigan, where more than 840,000 gallons was spilled into a creek that led to the Kalamazoo River. Compared to conventional crude oil, diluted bitumen has increased airborne hazards, and an increased probability of sinking.
- Record URL:
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Authors:
- Hansen, Kurt
- Booth, Sara
- Publication Date: 2015
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Bibliography; Figures; Photos; References;
- Pagination: pp 60-62
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Serial:
- Coast Guard Journal of Safety & Security at Sea, Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council
- Volume: 72
- Issue Number: 3
- Publisher: U.S. Coast Guard
- Serial URL: http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bitumen; Chemical spills; Crude oil; Dilution; Environmental impacts; Spills (Pollution); Underwater pipelines; Viscosity
- Identifier Terms: Marshall (Michigan)
- Geographic Terms: British Columbia
- Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Freight Transportation; Marine Transportation; Pipelines;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01609392
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Aug 31 2016 8:14AM