Fate of the oil spilled from the Exxon Valdez

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Environmental Science and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00062a712· OSTI ID:6917156

Wolfe, D A; Hameedi, M J ^[1]; Galt, J A; Watabayashi, G ^[2]; Short, J; O'Claire, C; Rice, S ^[3]; Michel, J ^[4]; Payne, J R ^[5]; Braddock, J ^[6]

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1. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD (United States)
2. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA (United States)
3. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Auke Bay, AK (United States)
4. Research Planning, Inc., Columbia, SC (United States)
5. Sound Environmental Services, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (United States)
6. Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK (United States); and others

Just after midnight on March 24, 1989, the 987-foot tank vessel Exxon Valdez grounded on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska, releasing approximately 10.8 million gallons of North Slope crude oil into the Sound. The energetic environmental conditions in PWS and the extensive cleanup activities led to wide dispersion of the Exxon Valdez oil, which simultaneously underwent biodegradation and photooxidation. Although some more refractory residuals of the petroleum (e.g., high molecular weight PAH, resins, and asphaltenes) persist, many of these constituents are not readily distinguishable from other petroleum sources and naturally occurring hydrocarbon residues. We estimate that approximately 20% of the spilled oil evaporated and underwent photolysis in the atmosphere; approximately 50% biodegraded either in-situ on beaches or in the water column; approximately 14% was recovered or disposed; < 1% remained in the water column (except as biodegradation products); approximately 2% remained on intertidal shorelines; and approximately 13% remained in subtidal sediments, mostly in the GOA and again mostly as highly weathered residuals. 60 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6917156
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States) Vol. 28:13; ISSN ESTHAG; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (1990-)
ALASKA
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPILED DATA
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EVAPORATION
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OIL SPILLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOLYSIS
SEDIMENTS
SHIPS
TANKER SHIPS
USA