oil spill

OIL SPILL

Oil is the main energy source for many human activities of modern society, such as industry, mining, and transportation (other energy sources are coal, natural gas and fall of river water).





Oil and refined products are unique and specific substances, as are mixtures of various hydrocarbons and other compounds whose physical and chemical properties vary widely. This fact determines its behavior and impact on environmental factors (physical resources, biological resources and socio-economic activities) when a spill occurs. The exploitation and transportation of oil are the main sources of hydrocarbon pollution as about 60% of global oil production is transported by sea and an estimated 0.1% of it spills into the sea (about 2.2 million tonnes per year).





It is considered spill or release of hydrocarbons to any dumping or unloading the same in the environment, which causes the hydrocarbon mentioned beyond the control of who handles them. After a spill or leak occurs hydrocarbon physical behavior is an important contributing factor to consider when evaluating the hazards on the environment.





For example, once the download has occurred or oil spill in the sea forms a thin layer on the surface of the water and produce a range of physical, chemical and biological processes determine the degree of harm they cause to the oil marine environment. Knowledge of these processes and the interaction between them is essential for making appropriate decisions spill response. Therefore, whenever there is a spill or leak the owner or dealer shall take immediate action aimed at the repair, recovery and / or necessary cleaning of the affected area. The oil, though not necessarily the most dangerous substance in bulk transported by sea, it is undoubtedly the most important from the standpoint of tonnage hauled, and therefore the substance more likely to spill into the sea and producing damage to the marine environment. Refined products for domestic consumption, are transported along routes to points of distribution and sea to storage and distribution plants along our coast.





As we can infer the possibility of the occurrence of a marine casualty involving oil spill at sea is not remote. The damage involving an oil spill could constitute a catastrophe and the costs arising from the same, easily reach large numbers. For these reasons an adequate CONTINGENCY PLAN to address oil spills or other harmful substances to facilitate response operations, is the key element that can transform a potential disaster in a situation of moderate damage.





ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS





An oil spill involves a series of gradual changes in physical-chemical properties which are attributed to the weathering process, which includes: evaporation, dissolution, dispersion, oxidation, emulsification, sedimentation and biodegradation.The weathering is the loss of certain components of the oil through a series of natural processes that begin after the stroke and continue indefinitely.





EVAPORATION:This process affects the composition of the spilled product: its density and viscosity increases and decreases its solubility in water, thereby reducing the level of toxicity.As the more volatile compounds evaporate, oil is heavier and may even collapse. After 24 hours almost 40% of the oil has evaporated.These percentages will vary according to the degree of viscosity of oil, for which the evaporation process plays an important role in stroke, especially when it comes to gasoline or light crudes.