The Basics of Oil Spill Cleanup

An examination of pollution caused by crude oils and petroleum products derived from them, this book covers how oil spills are measured and detected, the properties of the oil, and oil’s long-term fate in the environment. Reflecting the rapid progress in cleanup technology since the previous edition, it covers the latest techniques as well as recent spills, including the Gulf of Mexico. Written for the general public as well as those directly involved with spill cleanup, this edition provides broad, up-to-date knowledge of the cleanup and control of oil spills.

Reflecting the rapid progress in cleanup technology since the previous edition, this revised and expanded third edition of The Basics of Oil Spill Cleanup covers current cleanup techniques, how oil spills are measured and detected, and the properties of the oil and its long-term fate in the environment. It also deals with why, how often, and where oil spills occur as well as the chemical composition and physical properties of various oil types.

The chapters describe surface and remote sensing technologies used to detect and track oil slicks, and methods to contain oil on water (booms and ancillary equipment) and recover oil from the water surface (skimmers, sorbents, and manual recovery). The author discusses the use of pumps, in-situ burning, and chemical agents, such as dispersants, for oil removal. He also addresses oil-contaminated shorelines and the effects and behavior of oil on different ecosystems and the various organisms within them. Written for the general public as well as those directly involved with oil spill cleanup, this edition provides broad, up-to-date knowledge of the cleanup and control of spills.