RESPONSE TO BUNKER FUEL OIL: THE OPTIONS

摘要

As a general “rule of thumb,” a dispersant responseis not the most appropriate response to a spill ofIntermediate Fuel Oil (IFO)-380 bunker fuel oil. However, aswith all rules of thumb, there are some exceptions. There hasbeen increasing evidence that a limited number of oil spilldispersants can be used on certain types of oil spill wherepreviously dispersants would not have been considered. A newdispersant tested in field trials carried out by AEA Technology in1997 (Lunel and Lewis, 1999), indicated that there might be anopportunity to treat viscous emulsions and bunker fuel oils bydispersant spraying. Following these field trials, AEA Technologyundertook a number of laboratory-based studies, including testsin France during the first week of the Erika spill, which indicatethat IFO-180 and IFO-380 bunker fuel oils may be dispersibleunder favorable conditions when fresh and when lightlyemulsified.At present, the authors conclude that the rule of thumb-adispersant response is not likely to be the most appropriateresponse to most spills of IFO-380-holds. However, the authorsbelieve that there may be some conditions when a dispersantresponse can be considered as part of a response to a spill ofIFO-380 to reduce the volume of oil beaching. It has beenrecognized by most experts dealing with this issue that a fieldtrial is needed to establish the validity of this assertion. In theabsence of a field trial, the authors believe that a dispersantresponse to IFO-380 can be considered providing that:? The reduction of volume beaching will result in asignificant net environmental or economic benefit.? The sea temperature is 10 °–15 °C or greater.? The dispersant to be used is COREXIT?9500, DasicSlickgone LTSW, Inipol 90, or Superdispersant 25.? The characteristics of the IFO-380 are known and havebeen assessed by an oil spill expert at the time of the spill.? In situ monitoring is in place to assess whether theresponse is effective.