skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Movement of fuel spills in the Ross Ice Shelf

Abstract

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.

Authors:
;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
181806
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Antarctic Journal of the United States
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 29; Journal Issue: 5; Other Information: PBD: 1994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
02 PETROLEUM; ANTARCTICA; OIL SPILLS; JET ENGINE FUELS; ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT; ICE CAPS; CONTAMINATION

Citation Formats

Tumeo, M A, and Larson, M K. Movement of fuel spills in the Ross Ice Shelf. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
Tumeo, M A, & Larson, M K. Movement of fuel spills in the Ross Ice Shelf. United States.
Tumeo, M A, and Larson, M K. 1994. "Movement of fuel spills in the Ross Ice Shelf". United States.
@article{osti_181806,
title = {Movement of fuel spills in the Ross Ice Shelf},
author = {Tumeo, M A and Larson, M K},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/181806}, journal = {Antarctic Journal of the United States},
number = 5,
volume = 29,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1994},
month = {Sat Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1994}
}