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Oil
Spill Weathering Studies |
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Oil
Weathering Studies are critical to Oil Spill
Contingency Planning.
Leeder Consulting offer a range of tests which
can assist in defining a justifiable spill response
as well as providing invaluable information
for the actual treatment of oil spills.
Laboratory studies on the weathering of spilled
oil and the performance of chemical dispersants
can be undertaken under a range of environmental
conditions using the internationally recognised
"Mackay Test Procedure" as well as
the "Swirling Flask Test". |
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The studies are used
to predict the behavior and effect of spills of
crude oils and to estimate the likely persistence
of the oils in the marine environment.
The physical and chemical characteristics of fresh
and weathered crude oils are studied as well as
the efficiency of a range of chemical dispersants.
Toxicity studies using crude oils, dispersants
and oil dispersant mixtures can also be undertaken.
The tests determine how well chemical dispersants
work on various types of oils and emulsions under
given wind and wave conditions as well as water
salinities and temperatures.
The method can also determine the relative performance
of different chemical dispersants under the same
conditions.
The results of the tests form the basis for deciding
what types and amounts of dispersants are effective
for treating oil spills. This information is especially
useful in spill contingency planning as well as
the actual treatment of oil spills.
In this way, the environmental risk posed by the
crude oils and the various spill management and
cleanup options available are better defined.
The laboratory studies, combined with a risk assessment,
provide a basis for the accurate allocation of
priorities and definition of environmental risk,
together with an improved efficient and justifiable
spill response.
Leeder
Consulting are designated "Approved Analysts"
under MARPOL 73/78, the International Convention
for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. The
approval is made by AMSA, (The Australian Maritime
Safety Authority) as part of the National Plan
to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and Other
Noxious and Hazardous Substances and is under
the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution
from Ships) Act 1983. |
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