FIELD INFRARED METHOD TO DISCRIMINATE NATURAL SEEPS FROM NON-SEEPS (SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA AREA)

A field infrared method has been developed to distinguish oil due to natural seepage in the Santa Barbara (California) Channel region from closely similar oils derived from spills at offshore drilling platforms or from shipping accidents. Differences between seep and non-seep oils have been found to persist in weathering studies carried out in outdoor tanks for one week. This method involving simple infrared instrumentation and a minimum of sample preparation. It permits rapid on-site analysis without special training. The major differences between seep and non-sweep oils appear in the comparison between the 13.8 micrometers and 13.5 micrometers peaks (for both weathered and unweathered oils) and in the carbonyl region at 5.85 micrometers (for unweathered oils only).

• Corporate Authors:

  Coast Guard

  Office of Research and Development
  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Eastwood, D L
  • Grant, D F
• Publication Date: 1976-12

Media Info

• Pagination: 25 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Crude oil; Identification systems; Infrared detectors; Infrared spectroscopy; Oil spills; Seepage
• Uncontrolled Terms: Identification
• Subject Areas: Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00166472
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CGR/DC-15/76, USCG-D-32-77
• Files: NTIS
• Created Date: Oct 29 2002 12:00AM