Coastline in-situ burning of oil spills, analysis of a Greenland field experiment

Janne Fritt-Rasmussen; Susse Wegeberg; Pia Lassen; Lonnie Bogø Wilms; Lars Renvald; Morten Birch Larsen; Ole Geertz-Hansen; Józef Wiktor; Kim Gustavson

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129976

Coastline in-situ burning of oil spills, analysis of a Greenland field experiment

Janne Fritt-Rasmussen^*, Susse Wegeberg, Pia Lassen, Lonnie Bogø Wilms, Lars Renvald, Morten Birch Larsen, Ole Geertz-Hansen, Józef Wiktor, Kim Gustavson

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In-situ burning is a well-proven technology for combatting oil spills offshore. However, as a coastline oil spill response at rocky shores it is novel and investigated here for the first time. The viability and efficiency of coastline in-situ burning of oil spills and the fate of the resulting burn residue was studied through a field experiment. The experiment included a controlled release of 600 L crude oil and subsequent burn of the oil on a remote coast in Greenland. In line with other documented large-scale offshore burns, a high burn efficiency was estimated. Fate studies and chemical analysis of the burn residue diversely caught in the tidal seaweed vegetation showed varying compositions depending on the specific burn intensity. In general, however, a relative increase in high ring numbered PAHs was observed compared to fresh oil. After 4 days, waves and tidal flushing markedly reduced visible oil and burn residue from the burn area. Elevated concentrations of total hydrocarbons were found from the fresh oil in the seawater, but the impacts on the coastal water was below levels of ecotoxic concern. Overall, coastline in-situ burning proved efficient, with a high operational potential. In addition, when the oil is in place at the coast, with a possible increased operational time window compared to an offshore burn.

Original language	English
Article number	129976
Journal	Journal of Hazardous Materials
Volume	441
ISSN	0304-3894
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129976
Publication status	Published - 5 Jan 2023

Keywords

Coastline
Environment
In-situ burning
Oil spill response
Residue

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10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129976

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title = "Coastline in-situ burning of oil spills, analysis of a Greenland field experiment",

abstract = "In-situ burning is a well-proven technology for combatting oil spills offshore. However, as a coastline oil spill response at rocky shores it is novel and investigated here for the first time. The viability and efficiency of coastline in-situ burning of oil spills and the fate of the resulting burn residue was studied through a field experiment. The experiment included a controlled release of 600 L crude oil and subsequent burn of the oil on a remote coast in Greenland. In line with other documented large-scale offshore burns, a high burn efficiency was estimated. Fate studies and chemical analysis of the burn residue diversely caught in the tidal seaweed vegetation showed varying compositions depending on the specific burn intensity. In general, however, a relative increase in high ring numbered PAHs was observed compared to fresh oil. After 4 days, waves and tidal flushing markedly reduced visible oil and burn residue from the burn area. Elevated concentrations of total hydrocarbons were found from the fresh oil in the seawater, but the impacts on the coastal water was below levels of ecotoxic concern. Overall, coastline in-situ burning proved efficient, with a high operational potential. In addition, when the oil is in place at the coast, with a possible increased operational time window compared to an offshore burn.",

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AU - Fritt-Rasmussen, Janne

AU - Wegeberg, Susse

AU - Lassen, Pia

AU - Wilms, Lonnie Bogø

AU - Renvald, Lars

AU - Larsen, Morten Birch

AU - Geertz-Hansen, Ole

AU - Wiktor, Józef

AU - Gustavson, Kim

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N2 - In-situ burning is a well-proven technology for combatting oil spills offshore. However, as a coastline oil spill response at rocky shores it is novel and investigated here for the first time. The viability and efficiency of coastline in-situ burning of oil spills and the fate of the resulting burn residue was studied through a field experiment. The experiment included a controlled release of 600 L crude oil and subsequent burn of the oil on a remote coast in Greenland. In line with other documented large-scale offshore burns, a high burn efficiency was estimated. Fate studies and chemical analysis of the burn residue diversely caught in the tidal seaweed vegetation showed varying compositions depending on the specific burn intensity. In general, however, a relative increase in high ring numbered PAHs was observed compared to fresh oil. After 4 days, waves and tidal flushing markedly reduced visible oil and burn residue from the burn area. Elevated concentrations of total hydrocarbons were found from the fresh oil in the seawater, but the impacts on the coastal water was below levels of ecotoxic concern. Overall, coastline in-situ burning proved efficient, with a high operational potential. In addition, when the oil is in place at the coast, with a possible increased operational time window compared to an offshore burn.

AB - In-situ burning is a well-proven technology for combatting oil spills offshore. However, as a coastline oil spill response at rocky shores it is novel and investigated here for the first time. The viability and efficiency of coastline in-situ burning of oil spills and the fate of the resulting burn residue was studied through a field experiment. The experiment included a controlled release of 600 L crude oil and subsequent burn of the oil on a remote coast in Greenland. In line with other documented large-scale offshore burns, a high burn efficiency was estimated. Fate studies and chemical analysis of the burn residue diversely caught in the tidal seaweed vegetation showed varying compositions depending on the specific burn intensity. In general, however, a relative increase in high ring numbered PAHs was observed compared to fresh oil. After 4 days, waves and tidal flushing markedly reduced visible oil and burn residue from the burn area. Elevated concentrations of total hydrocarbons were found from the fresh oil in the seawater, but the impacts on the coastal water was below levels of ecotoxic concern. Overall, coastline in-situ burning proved efficient, with a high operational potential. In addition, when the oil is in place at the coast, with a possible increased operational time window compared to an offshore burn.

KW - Coastline

KW - Environment

KW - In-situ burning

KW - Oil spill response

KW - Residue

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Coastline in-situ burning of oil spills, analysis of a Greenland field experiment

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Keywords

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