Footprint, weathering, and persistence of synthetic-base drilling mud olefins in deep-sea sediments following the Deepwater Horizon disaster

Details

• Journal Title:
  Marine Pollution Bulletin
• Personal Author:
  Stout, Scott A. ; Payne, James R.
• NOAA Program & Office:
  DWH (Deepwater Horizon)
• Description:
  Olefin-based synthetic-based drilling mud (SBM) was released into the Gulf of Mexico as a result of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster in 2010. We studied the composition of neat SBM and, using conventional GC-FID, the extent, concentration, and chemical character of SBM-derived olefins in > 3600 seafloor sediments collected in 2010/2011 and 2014. SBM-derived (C14–C20) olefins occurred (up to 10 cm deep) within a 6.5 km2 “footprint” around the well. The olefin concentration in most sediments decreased an order of magnitude between 2010/2011 and 2014, at least in part due to biodegradation, evidenced by the preferential loss C16 and C18 linear (α- and internal) versus branched olefins. Based on their persistence for 4-years in sediments around the Macondo well, and 13-years near a former unrelated drill site (~ 62 km away), weathered SBM-derived olefins released during the DWH disaster are anticipated to persist in deep-sea sediment for (at least) a comparable duration.
• Keywords:
  Aquatic Science Oceanography Pollution
• Source:
  Marine Pollution Bulletin, 118(1-2), 328-340
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.03.013
• ISSN:
  0025-326X
• Format:
  PDF
• Publisher:
  Elsevier BV
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Rights Information:
  Accepted Manuscript
• Compliance:
  Library
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:1e649b8927b93d8da05fede2377f215838b13a21fe5f80b1b228ba3501537536
• Download URL:
  https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/57966/noaa_57966_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.09 MB ]