OIL SPILL RECOVERY ACTIVITY:QUANTIFYING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS CLEAN-UP METHODS

Jean R. Anastasia, Ph.D. Biology Department, Suffolk County Community College

Deep Water Horizon/ BP Oil Spill

Oil Spills in the Real World

Deepwater Horizon:Spill Details

http://gulfcoastmaritime.com

Incident Occurred April 20, 2010

Deepwater Horizon:Spill Details

http://gulfcoastmaritime.com

End of Free-Flowing Oiltemporary cap on 7/15/10; completely stopped 9/19/10

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com

Deepwater Horizon:Spill Details

Total Oil Spilled was about 5 million barrels or 210,000,000 gallons (http://www.restorethegulf.gov)

Many endangered or threatened animals live in the oil spill area including sea turtles, beach mice, and marine and shore birds

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill?topic=50364#gen15

April-May June July August September October0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Wildlife Collected (Dead and Alive)

BirdsSea TurtlesMammalsOther Reptiles

Num

ber o

f Ind

ivid

uals

Data taken from Deepwater Horizon Response Consolidated Fish and Wildlife Reports

Melissa Weber, Jacobs, presented at NABT 2010 conference

Deepwater Horizon:Impacts to Wildlife

Deepwater Horizon: Clean Up Methods Used

Deploying Booms

http://myecoproject.org

Booms

Merriam-Webster Definition• a temporary floating barrier used to contain an oil spill• Types: floating top with a “skirt” that hangs down, sorbent, or fire-retardant

http://uscan.info http://uscan.info

http://uscan.info

Melissa Weber, Jacobs, presented at NABT 2010 conference

Deepwater Horizon: Clean Up Methods Used

Skimming

http://myecoproject.orghttp://commons.wikimedia.org

Deepwater Horizon: Clean Up Methods Used

In-Situ Burns

http://myecoproject.orghttp://commons.wikimedia.org

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews

Deepwater Horizon: Clean Up Methods Used

Use of Dispersants

http://myecoproject.orghttp://commons.wikimedia.org

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill?topic=50364#gen15

Deepwater Horizon: Concerns with Clean Up Methods Harm to wildlife during clean-up Sea turtle examples:

Burned during in-situ burns Nests destroyed by machinery used in shoreline clean-up Access to nesting areas limitedby beach clean-up Hatchlings stuck in tire tracks left by equipment Lights used during nighttime clean-up disorient turtles and hatchlings

Unknown impacts of chemical dispersants Over 1.3 million gallons used, largest use ever in a US oil spill

MC252 Planning Environmental Unit, Mobile ICC

http://www.dep.state.fl.us

Simulating Spills and Quantifying Recovery Methods

Oil Spills in the Laboratory

Chinese food take-out containers, plastic food storage containers, etc.Teaches “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”

Use Recycled Containers for Your “Ocean Basin”

Makes vegetable oil look more like crude oilMakes it easier for students to see

Color Oil Using Cocoa Powder

Use spoon to simulate skimming clean-up method

Skimming

Have students brainstorm and come up with various materials to absorb the oil. Sawdust is on exampleUseful website: 17 ways to Clean-up an Oil spill (http://www.cnbc.com/id/37593652/17_Ways_To_Clean_Up_The_Gulf_Oil_Spill?slide=1)

Sorbent materials

Use fish tank filter media bags to hold the sorbent material; these are available at any pet store

Pet Hair Booms

Use fuzzy pipe cleaners to simulate the action of booms

Containment Booms

Use liquid dishwashing detergent as a dispersantAdd one drop and have students observe effect. then stirDiscuss surface area and its affect on natural breakdown of oil by bacteria

Dispersants

Use graduated cylinders to measure oil spilled and oil recovered

Quantify Each Clean Up Method

For older students, use computer software to quantify percent coverLike Image J http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/

Quantify Each Clean Up Method

Using Image J

Select

“Run Image J as a Signed Applet”

Using Image J

Or you can download it to your computer

Select

“Download” from the first screen

Using Image J

Select “File” and “open” and use the dialog box to open a digital image of your oil spill

Using Image J

Use the rectangle or polygon selection tool to outline the ocean basin in your picture

Using Image J

Choose “Image”, “Crop” to crop out only the ocean basin in your picture

Using Image J

Select “Image” and “Type” and “8 bit” to convert the image to black and white

Using Image J

Select “Image” and “Adjust” and “Threshold” to highlight only the oil on the surface of the water

A small Threshold dialog box will open

Using Image J

Choose “B&W” from the drop down menu and your oil will appear black

Using Image J

Choose “Analyze” then “Set Measurements”

Using Image J

In the “Set Measurments” dialog box

make sure “Area fraction” and “Limit to threshold” are checked

Then click OK

Using Image J

Choose “Analyze” then “Measure”

Using Image J

A “Results” window will open and give you the percent of the area that is covered by the oil spill

Repeat for picture of basin after oil clean-up to compare

Other Ideas and Tips Have students generate waves to simulate what really

happens in the ocean Compare recovery methods with and without waves

Discuss why reptiles, birds, and mammals are more affected than fish and invertebrates (air-breathers need to surface through the oil slick to breathe)

Bring in feathers and have students pour oil on them Discuss the impact of spills on bird’s feathers and the ability of

birds to keep warm Have students clean the feathers with dish detergent

After lab exercise, dispose of the oil by pouring sawdust on the oil and scooping it out into the garbage (rather than down the drain which can clog up drains after awhile)

Bird Rehabilitation Center

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid30317506001?bctid=91041770001

By Charlie Riedel, USA Today http://www.examiner.com