Arianne Almera Adol

Identification and Comparative Analysis of Remediation Technologies Applicable to Marine Oil Spills in Panay Island, Philippines and Sapporo Island, Japan Arianne F. Almera, 2003 - 55845 Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman QC ______________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT Problem Statement: Two tankers leave Saudi Arabia with 50,000 gallons of crude oil bound for the Philippines and Japan in January. One runs aground near Boracay in Panay Island, and spills its oil in the Sibuyan Sea between Carabao and Boracay Island. The other tanker continues on bound for Sapporo Island in Northeastern Japan via the infamous West Philippine Sea. Some 5 km before reaching its destination, this ship also meets with disaster; it hits a medium size boat also spilling its oil. Since oil spills can cause adverse effects to existing flaura and fauna, as well as to the aesthetic, commercial and recreational importance of the affected area and nearby places, environmental consultants for the oil company must identify the proper remediation techniques to be applied at both sites. Approach: Prepare a site characterization, wherein the physical attributes of the affected area is understood and analyzed. Spatial and software modeling may be necessary for detection of oil extent. From these, the best remediation procedure shall be designed, as well as the corresponding clean-up technique. Conclusion: For Panay islands, where tropical conditions and warm climate are existent, the best remediation technology is mechanical and/or manual oil recovery followed by bioremediation. This set-up is also to protect the biodiversity abundant in the area. In Sapporo where ice formations are present, mechanical and or manual oil recovery using conventional equipment and procedures may not be as effective, but the ice can serve as natural containment and protection against inland contamination. Oil thickening using chemical herders, followed by controlled burning might be the best option for this cold region. 2 I. INTRODUCTION A. Site Characterization Ever since man discovered fire, heat and energy became one of our most basic needs. The onset of Industrialization in Europe has made further the search for more energy source in form of fuels. Nowadays, scientists and researchers are highly vigorous in exploring and excavating petroleum-rich lands and even deep seas. 1. Geography and Geology Oil explorations and production, like other technologies, have setbacks however, like marine and fresh water pollution, which are due to oil spills and discharges. Although oil spillages are naturally a problem that their posed threat became almost trivial, like those caused by shipping activities, there have been cases that were too catastrophic. One unforgettable tragedy that has marred history is the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, also known as Macondo Blowout, wherein a mobile, semi-submersible off-shore oil exploration and drilling rig exploded and claimed 11 lives. Legal and environmental issues are still existent up to this year. Panay is an island belonging to the group of islands that make up the main Visayas region. Two (2) kilometers from its northwestern tip is Boracay Island which is famous for its seven kilometer stretch composing mostly of white, sandy beaches. The island has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers. Carabao Island used to be a part of Capiz in the late ‘80s but was reinstated as part of Romblon province. Like Boracay, Carabao or Hambil Island is also well-known for its powder-white beaches. Due to such events, and the adverse effects that result in such, several laws and policies which vary from one country or state to another have been drafted many times. Remediation techniques, or the processes involved in minimizing oil spills as well as its by-products present in water, were also designed. Construction of strategical plans for remediation that will ensure the best results with the least cost however, must first consider site characterization of the two areas. Understanding the features and conditions existent in the area affected will give a clearer picture on what to expect on the extent of oil spill and its effects, and what actions may be done to minimize, if not fully eliminate, the problems that go with oil spillage. Figure 1. Location of Boracay and Carabao islands (Google Satellite Image) The geological characteristics of the shoreline for both islands according to government records vary at specific locations but mostly fall under the following categories: a) Sand Beaches; b)a gravel beaches; and c) mixed sand and gravel beaches. Density and diversity of 3 flora (attached algae) and fauna (turtles, mussels, etc) increases from sand to gravel beaches. January. As to precipitation, January falls within the dry season (January 1 to May 28) Sapporo Island, on the other hand, is a large city in Hokkaido, one of the major islands of Japan. It is a part of the Ishikari coastal plain, bordered by the Sea of Okhotsk which is an important sea access route being used by numerous marine vessels bound southwards from Japan to Indonesia. Its shoreline is characterized as rocky and exposed to waves. with an average precipitation of 0.5 inches (1.51 inches below normal). Thunderstorms are rare during this time of the year. From a summary of January wind data for the period-, prevailing wind direction is 12 miles per hour NE and the peak gusty wind is at 58 mph. For Sapporo, it has four seasons, with climate temperatures varying in wide ranges. It has a moderate temperature with no humidity even in summers. It experiences heavy snowfall and very cold temperatures during winter season. 3. Biological Diversity Figure 2. Location of Sapporo (Google Satellite Image) 2. Climatic Conditions In Panay group of islands, two (2) seasons are common, mainly dry and wet season. The change of seasons is determined by the change of wind conditions and directions. Such conditions are termed in Visayan as Amihan and Habagat. The former is characterized by very cool to moderately cool wind coming from the northeast, while the latter is hot and humid, with frequent rainfall, coming from the southwest direction. During the incident of oil spillage which happened in January, as described in this paper, the overall average temperature recorded was around 70.2 oF which is 0.3 degrees above normal for the area in In Panay islands, marine life is abundant as evidenced by the presence of extensive barrier reef systems. Several dive sites are located approximately six miles south of the spill site. However, manmade and natural events during the last decade have contributed to the degradation of the coral reefs. In 2000 coral bleaching, massive algae blooms, snail predation and coral diseases occurred in this reef. Other reefs nearby have been similarly affected. The area also has a high density of tourist attractions such as resorts, and diving schools. The existence of a sewage outfall into the waters off Boracay can be viewed both as bane or boon to the environment. For one it supplies some of the needed nutrients for biodegradation of the spilled oil. B. Observation and Modeling In cases of oil spills, the best actions taken must be done with sure speed. No matter what methods are available for oil remediation, being quick and accurate in detecting oil extent will 4 always give the experts a head-on. Trapping and removing oil at the soonest possible time can significantly reduce its harmful consequences. Detection can be done by visual observation, either from the air or on the water. Actual videos and pictures might be of great help but only if not limited by weather conditions such as rain, fog or strong winds. Remote sensors and satellite images with very high accuracy are now being employed, with results being delivered in real-time and automatically, at 24/7. However, such equipment tend to be more costly than the conventional visual detection techniques. Data gathered from the detection process, as well as other sampling tests, can be used in designing a model that will give patterns on how and where the oil will naturally spread. This in turn will aid in designing more appropriate remediation techniques and carry them out at the soonest time possible. One example is hydrodynamics, wherein the direction flow of waters is automatically presented by software as a result of water flow gauge results. II. REMEDIATION FOR EACH SITE TECHNOLOGIES A. Boracay and Carabao Islands During oil spills, the first step to always remember and perform is to limit the oil spread as soon as possible. Since there are no other islands, rocks or features that can physically block the oil spill between the two (2) islands, a containment using booms will be an ideal mitigation start. Booms are composed of buoyant rubbers on top and a heavier, submersible skirt that sinks to the bottom and traps oil on the surface and some which may have immersed in water. The idea is to encircle the floating oil. Since January is a dry season and waves and winds will not be rough at this month, sloshing of oil over the booms may be controlled or better, be minimized. To add up to the containment capability of booms, there are modified ones which are designed with both oil barrier and oil absorber portions. Since the islands are in the tropics, coconut husks or coco coirs, can be used as natural oil sorbents. Manual or automatic oil skimming, although of low technology, can also aid in significantly reducing the present oil in marine waters. Controlled burning may be considered, but only if in far off-shores. Since there are a lot of tourist spots and biodiversities present in the affected area, burning must be performed only if too much oil cannot be controlled and if such is present at a farther distance from the shores as well as natural habitats of marine animals. Since the weather existent in the affected area is warm, and naturally-occurring flora and fauna are abundant in these areas, a cornucopia of microbes is definitely present on the waters as well. Figure 3. Sample Hydrodynamics Map 5 The use on in-situ bioremediation is advantageous in these areas as well, especially with the sewage fall off from the tourist-packed Boracay Island. These microbes present in such will add up to the microbes that are already naturally habituating the oil spill affected area between the Boracay Island and Carabao Island. This however, is a slow process, and must only be used in conjunction to mechanical and physical methods of oil containment and recovery. B. Sapporo Island In January, there may be some ice formations in Sapporo city, like the rest of Hokkaido Island. Oil spills in uncontrollable waves and with existent ice rock formation on the shoreline may or may not be easy to remediate. For instance, the broken ice rocks can make mechanical and physical containment and recovery by boom and skimmer respectively, as well as any clean-up operations, rather difficult. Equipment which may act as a vacuum that will suck oil in between rocky ice may be a good alternative to skimmers. Added to these scenarios, the cold temperature in this area will not be advantageous in in-situ bioremediation, since bioactivity decreases with lowered temperatures. Another disadvantage is the geographical characteristic of Sapporo, wherein its shoreline faces open waters, which can make control of oil oil spread challenging. A speedy detection and containment therefore is a must. Although there are disadvantages which come with the geographical, geological and climatic conditions in Sapporo, there are some advantages which can still be utilized. One is the presence of ice along the shores and adjacent near shore water which can act as natural containment to prevent inland contamination. Ice can also trap oil inside when it grows and further solidifies, therefore working as a natural oil-recovering material. Also during the ice growth phase, oil can get encapsulated within the ice making removal easier. Using ice as natural booms in addition to conventional fire booms, controlled, in-situ burning might be the best action to remediate oil spills in the Sapporo area. This is with the aid of chemical herders, which round up the oil and make them thicker and more contracted before burning. Sorbents like sponges can be used also although in less significant results. Solid ice with oil slicks inside as well as slush coated with oil must be scraped and manually collected to be disposed. III. CLEAN-UP MONITORING AND POST- Clean-up of oil spills on shorelines or inland is basically a manual procedure. Tar balls and mats are often scraped off using shovels by trained personnel wearing appropriate, protective gears. In Boracay and Carabao islads, sand, which is a natural, inorganic oil sorbent, can trap oil and prevent it from further affecting inland. Since waves are continuously present on the shores, oil can be washed away, therefore removing oil from the shoreline. Clean-up is a rather messy process, and cooperation of community involved must be done. Sampling oil and water in the affected areas is necessary for analysis of the type of oil and extent of spillage. Monitoring after the oil spillage event is very important to determine 6 the damage levels on the marine environment and nearby leisure spots affected. From the results of monitoring, clean-up procedures and restoration measures can be designed. Monitoring must be done over a specific period of time. itself in the long run, prevention is always better than cure. Strict observance of rules and regulations, as well as operational procedures in handling oil-utilizing equipment and machineries, must be carried out at all times, to avoid oil spill events altogether. 1V. CONCLUSION V. REFERENCES The following remediation techniques in the affected areas and reasons for choosing it are enumerated as follows: 1. S.n. Advancing Oil Response in IceCovered Waters. March 2004. DF Dickins Associates, Ltd. Affected Area Boracay/ Carabao 2. Dicks, B. The Environmental Impact of Marine Oil Spills – Effects, Recovery and Compensation. November 1998. Sapporo Remediation Boom Skimmer followed by: Adsorbent, Bioremediation Chemical Herders In situ burning Reason Physical Containment due to Open Waters Must be environmentfriendly to protect biodiversity Containments already provided by ice Biodegradation not advisable due to cold temperature Remediation for oil spills are commonly and more effectively done by manual or automatic oil recovery, followed by slower processes like bioremediation. But such techniques must consider the type of oil, the biodiversity present and the physical features and conditions of the affected area. However, remediation technologies must always be a worst case scenario measures only, since early detection and containment is always the preliminary action that must be done with speed and accuracy. While nature can cure 3. D. Dave and A.E. Ghaly. Remediation Technologies for Marine Oil Spills: A Critical Review and Comparative Analysis. 2011.American Journal of Environmental Sciences. 4. Graham P. Deep Sea Oil Spill Cleanup Techniques: Applicability, Trade-offs and Advantages.www.csa.com/discoveryguides/oil/ review.pdf