The Newfoundland Offshore Burn Experiment—nobe

Abstract

A group of 25 agencies from Canada and the United States conducted a major offshore burn experiment near Newfoundland, Canada. Two lots of oil, about 50 cubic meters (50 tons) each, were released into a fireproof boom. Each burn lasted over an hour and was monitored for emissions and physical parameters. Over 200 sensors or samplers were employed to yield data on over 2000 parameters or substances. The operation was extensive; more than 20 vessels, 7 aircraft and 230 people were involved in the operation at sea. The quantitative analytical data show that the emissions from this in-situ oil fire were less than expected. All compounds and parameters measured more than about 150 meters from the fire were below occupational health exposure levels; very little was detected beyond 500 meters. Pollutants were found to be at lower values in the Newfoundland offshore burn than they were in previous pan tests. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were found to be lower in the soot than in the starting oil and were consumed by the fire to a large degree. Particulates in the air were measured by several means and found to be of concern only up to 150 meters downwind at sea level. Combustion gases including carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and carbon monoxide did not reach levels of concern. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were abundant, however their concentrations were less than emitted from the nonburning spill. Over 50 compounds were quantified, several at levels of concern up to 150 meters downwind. Water under the burns was analyzed; no compounds of concern could be found at the detection level of the methods employed. Toxicity tests performed on this water did not show any adverse effect. The burn residue was analyzed for the same compounds as the air samples. Overall, indications from these burn trials are that 150 meters or farther from the burn source emissions from in-situ burning are lower than health criteria levels.

Characterization of emissions and residues from simulations of the Deepwater Horizon surface oil burns

“…However, the analyses of the raw crude oil for 14 of the 16 EPA PAHs (all but acenaphthylene and anthracene) showed 0.86 ± 0.047 g/kg oil, indicating a near-equivalence between 16-PAH emissions and the original oil content. This observation is contrary to determinations for total PAHs derived elsewhere [54]. We observe the particle-bound PAH 16 emissions to be 288 ± 8.3 mg/kg oil c (Table 2) or 0.5% of the PM 2.5 mass, higher than the particle-bound PAH 16 emissions observed during Gulf overflights in 2010 [2].…”

Importance of the slick thickness for effective in-situ burning of crude oil

“…This size dependency for the BE has also been observed when comparing other large [13][14][15][16][17] and small scale [16,19,20] studies. Large scale experiments are known to have higher regression rates than smaller scales [38,39], peaking at a diameter of 1-2 m, and it is speculated that the highest BEs can only be obtained for pools above this size.…”

“…While high BEs of up to 99% have been achieved in both laboratory and large scale field experiments [13][14][15][16][17], lower BEs as low as 40% have also been reported [18][19][20]. As these experiments have been performed under widely varying conditions, such as differences in temperatures, oil types, oil amounts and the weathering state of the oils, it is difficult to determine which factors are responsible for these BE variations.…”

Particle and Gas Emissions from an In Situ Burn of Crude Oil on the Ocean

“…In fact, pumping was stopped a number of times to prevent oil from spilling over the back of the boom. Further information on the logistics and some of the results from NOBE have been given by Fingas et al 15…”

“…14 The most recent study involved the burning of oil confined within a fire-resistant boom, on the ocean offshore of St. Johns, Newfoundland. 15 This study, known as the Newfoundland Offshore Burn Experiment (NOBE), was carried out on 12 August 1993, and is the subject of this paper.…”