TYPES OF OIL SPILL
A superficial oil spill occurs when oil is released onto the surface of a body of water, such as oceans, seas, lakes, or rivers. These spills can happen due to various reasons, including accidents during oil extraction, transportation, storage, or usage.
Here's a general explanation of how a superficial oil spill occurs:
Oil Release: An oil spill can happen as a result of a human-made incident or a natural disaster. For example, a tanker accident, pipeline rupture, offshore drilling mishap, or even deliberate discharge of oil can cause a release of oil into the water.
Oil Spreading: Once the oil is released, it starts spreading across the water surface due to its buoyancy. The spreading rate and extent depend on several factors, including the quantity of oil spilled, the type of oil (e.g., crude oil or refined oil products), weather conditions (e.g., wind, waves, and currents), and the physical properties of the water body.
Oil Sheen Formation: As the oil spreads, it forms a thin layer called an oil sheen on the water's surface. This sheen appears as a shiny, colorful film and is composed of a very thin layer of oil molecules. It can extend over a wide area, even if the spill is relatively small.
Weathering: Over time, the spilled oil undergoes weathering processes. Exposure to sunlight, wind, and wave action causes physical and chemical changes in the oil. Evaporation of volatile components occurs, which reduces the volume of the oil and can release toxic fumes into the air.
Emulsification and Dispersion: The spreading oil can mix with water, forming emulsions or dispersed oil droplets. Emulsification occurs when the oil mixes with water to form a stable, creamy mixture, while dispersion happens when the oil breaks down into tiny droplets that remain suspended in the water. These processes can make the spill more difficult to contain and clean up.
Environmental Impact: Superficial oil spills have significant environmental impacts. The oil can harm aquatic life, such as fish, birds, mammals, and plants, by coating their feathers, fur, or gills, reducing their ability to move, fly, or breathe properly. The toxic components of the oil can also affect the reproductive, immune, and respiratory systems of organisms, leading to long-term ecological damage.
Response and Cleanup: When an oil spill occurs, response efforts are initiated to minimize its environmental impact. These may include containment measures using booms and barriers to prevent the spread of oil, skimming or vacuuming to remove the oil from the surface, and dispersants or sorbents to break down or absorb the oil. Cleanup can be a complex and challenging process, often requiring the coordinated efforts of government agencies, environmental organizations, and industry experts.
It's important to note that the response to an oil spill should be swift and well-coordinated to mitigate the damage and protect the affected ecosystems and communities. Additionally, preventive measures, such as improved safety protocols, regular maintenance of infrastructure, and stricter regulations, can help reduce the occurrence of superficial oil spills.
1. Superficial oil slick: “Classical” almost-instantaneous spill with surface drift, may have been resulted from a failure during shipto-ship (STS) transfer, hull rupture or clean-up dumping:
2. Non-floating drift: A complex undersurface drift of non-floating oil with near-water density heterogeneously composed of “overwashed” tar balls and smaller droplets, which may have resulted from intentional hidden dumping with inappropriate/ineffective use of dispersants:
3. Bottom-puff: A spill from an old wrecked tanker or a submerged well, which has suffered a sudden hull rupture due corrosion and it leaked a sequence of “puffs” over the period of a few days
4. On-route spill: “In-line” spill with surface drift, which may have been caused by hull rupture or dumping due to tanker clean-up with the tanker moving on route
