Movement of fuel spills in the Ross Ice Shelf

Journal Article · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Antarctic Journal of the United States

OSTI ID:181806

Tumeo, M A; Larson, M K ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK (United States)

Williams Field provides logistical support to McMurdo Station in Antarctica and managers large amounts of fuel for their cargo planes. Numerous spills have occurred at this site with little recovery or remediation of the spilled fuel. From 1980 to 1989, approximately 380,000 liters (L) leaked during documented fuel spills-197,600 L of that total came from one spill alone, in October of 1989, when fuel leaked onto the ice at Williams Field. An additional 20 spills of unknown quantities have also occurred at McMurdo Station and Williams Field. Although recent improvements in equipment and procedures in Antarctica have significantly reduced the accidental release of fuel and all but eliminated the risk of a large fuel spill, the potential for small releases still exists. To track the movement of fuel spills on the ice shelf more accurately and to established the basis for remediation methods NSF funded a 3-year study. This article discusses information obtained about the movement of fuel from a small oil spill from a flexible pipeline between McMurdo Station and Williams Field on the Ross Ice Shelf. 1 fig., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 181806
• Journal Information: Antarctic Journal of the United States, Journal Name: Antarctic Journal of the United States Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 29; ISSN AJUSAF; ISSN 0003-5335
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
ANTARCTICA
CONTAMINATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
ICE CAPS
JET ENGINE FUELS
OIL SPILLS