HALIFAX '83 SEA TRIAL OF OIL SPILL DISPERSANT CONCENTRATES

Abstract

ABSTRACT In September 1983, the Canadian Offshore Aerial Applications Task Force conducted a 3-day oil spill dispersant field trial using the commercial products Corexit 9527, Corexit 9550, and BPMA 70. A different dispersant concentrate was applied each day to one of two 15 barrel spills of 13 percent weathered Alberta crude oil using a Bell 212 transported Rotortech TC-3 spraying bucket. Both treated and control slicks were surveyed using remote sensing aircraft to determine surface area, spreading rates, and major differences in slick thickness. A water sampling program was undertaken to determine the extent of dispersant effectiveness. Sea conditions during the first two days' work (9527 then 9550) were comparable with a moderate increase in mixing energy on the third day (BPMA 700). Against these conditions, and with corresponding dispersant to oil ratios of 1:27, 1:8, and 1:9, the percentage of weathered oil dispersed into the water column was calculated to be 3.75, 20.5, and 41 respectively.