Absorption
Any process that causes one substance to penetrate the
inside of another substance. In the case of oil spill
clean-up, oil is drawn into porous sorbent materials.
Accute effects
Effects having a sudden onset and lasting a short
time.
Adsorption
The process that causes one substance to be attracted
to and stick to the surface of
another substance, without actually penetrating its
surface.
Asphalt
A brown to black residue formed from weathered petroleum
products, consisting chiefly of a mixture of hydrocarbons,
varies in texture from hard and brittle to plastic.
Aromatic hydrocarbon
Carbon-hydrogen compound characterized by the presence
of at least one six-carbon ring structure.
Ballast water
Water taken on board a ship to control trim, list,
draught, stability or stresses of a ship.
Barrel
A unit of volume equal to 42 U.S. gallons or 159
litres at 60 degrees F, often used to measure volume
in oil production, transportation and trade.
Bentonite
A naturally occurring clay, which is often a major
constituent of drilling muds.
Bilge water
The bilge is the parts of a vessel between the lower-most
floorboards and the bottom, where oil-contaminated wastewater
- bilge water - drains until further processing. Bilge
water is produced when the machinery spaces of a vessel
are cleaned.
Bioaugmentation
The adding of microorganisms to the existing native
oil-degrading population ( also known as seeding,
fertilization, biostimulation or bioremediation).
Biodegradation
The breakdown of organic compounds by microorganisms.
Biological agent
Nutrients, enzymes, or microorganisms that increase
the rate at which natural biodegradation occurs.
Bioremediation
The process of accelerating the rate of natural
bio-degradation of hydrocarbons by adding fertilizer
to provide nitrogen and phosphorus. Following a spill,
there are too few of these chemicals compared with the
amount of hydrocarbons. (See also bioaugmentation,
biostimulation, fertilization, and seeding).
Biostimulation
Also known as nutrient enrichment, the method of
adding nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, to
a contaminated environment to stimulate the growth of
the microorganisms capable of biodegradation. See also
bioaugmentation, bioremediation, fertilization, and
seeding).
Black oil
A black or very dark brown layer of oil. depending
on the quantity spilled oil tends to quickly spread
out over the water surface to a thickness of about 1
millimeter. However, from the air, it is impossible
to tell how thick a black oil layer is.
Block
Subdivision of sea area for the purpose of licensing
to a company or companies for exploration/production
right. A block in the UK is approximately 200-250 sq.km.
Blowout
Uncontrolled flow of of oil or gas from a well which
occurs when formation pressure exceeds the pressure
applied to it by the column of drilling fluid. Every
modern rig has a set of large control valves, known
as blowout preventers, to stop the flow of oil, gas
and other well fluids if problems occur during drilling.
Boom
Containment booms are used to control the spread
of oil to reduce the possibility of polluting shorelines
and other resources, as well as to concentrate oil in
thicker surface layers, making recovery easier.
Bottom (single, double)
See Single hull or Double hull
Bulk carrier
All vessels designed to carry bulk cargos such as
grain, fertilizers, ore and oil.
Cargo transfer
When oil is moved from one vessel to another by means
of pumping.
Clean ballast water
Ballast water carried in a tank which has, since
it was last used to carry oil, been thoroughly cleaned
and the residues resulting from the cleaning have been
discharged and the tank emptied.
Coke
A solid-fuel product containing about 80 per cent
of carbon produced by distillation of coal to drive
off its volatile constitutents.
Combatting
Response to oil spills (fighting oil spills).
Combatting vessel
Vessel specifically designed for the purpose of
combatting spills of oil and other hazardous substances
at sea.
Combination carrier
Means a ship designed to carry either oil or solid cargos
in bulk.
Contingency plan
A document that describes a set of procedures and
guidelines for containing and cleaning up oil spills.
Convergence line
A line on the water surface where floating objects
and oil collect. Convergences are common in the marine
environment.
Continental shelf
A geological term that refers to the zone of the
sea floor around a continent that extends from the shoreline
and where the water depth is much shallower than in
the open sea. Typical depths range from 100 to 800 metres
compared to 2,000 to 7,000 metres or more for the open
ocean.
Cracking
A process in which molecules are cracked, e.g.,
the oil-refining process in which heavy oils are broken
down into hydrocarbons of lower molecular weight by
heat or with a catalyst.
Cracker
A unit in an oil refinery in which heavy fractions
from crude oil are broken down (cracked), using a catalyst,
into lighter distillates.
Crude oil (crude oil petroleum)
A fossil fuel formed from plant and animal remains many
million of years ago. It comprises organic compounds
built up from hydrogen and carbon atoms and is, accordingly,
often referred to as hydrocarbons. Crude oil is occasionally
found in springs or pools but is usually drilled from
wells beneath the earth's surface.
Crude oil tanker
An oil tanker engaged in the trade of carrying crude
oil.
Crude oil washing
Crude oil washing (COW) is a system whereby oil
tanks on a tanker are cleaned out between voyages not
with water, but with crude oil - the cargo itself. The
solvent action of the crude oil makes the cleaning process
far more effective than when water is used. COW is mandatory
on new tankers under the International Convention for
the Prevention of Pollution by Ships (MARPOL 73/78).
Cutting
The fragments of rock dislodged by the bit and brought
to the surface in the drilling mud.
Decommissioning
Removal of production equipment from depleted oil
fields.
Dedicated clean ballast tanks (DBT)
Dedicated clean ballast tanks (CBT) means that specific
cargo tanks are dedicated to carry ballast water only.
Development well (also production well)
Well drilled in order to produce oil or gas after
an appraisal has proved the reserves to be sufficiently
large for exploitation.
Dispersant - Dispersing agent
Chemicals that are used to break down spilled oil
in small droplets (see surfactant)
Dispersion
The breaking up of an oil slick into small droplets
that are mixed into the water column by breaking waves
and other sea surface turbulence.
Dissolution
Water
soluble compounds in an oil may dissolve into the surrounding
water. This depends on the composition and state of
the oil, and occurs most quickly when the oil is finely
dispersed in the water column. Components that are most
soluble in sea water are the light aromatic hydrocarbons
compounds, such as benzene and toluene.
Double bottom Double sides Double hull
Single
hull is
a ship construction term. In tankers with single hulls,
oil in the cargo tanks is separated from the seawater
only by a bottom and a side plate. Should this plate
be damaged as a result of a collision or stranding,
the contents of the cargo tanks risks spilling into
the sea. An effective way of avoiding the risk is to
surround the cargo tanks with a second internal plate
which is at a sufficient distance from the external
plate (generally 1.5-2 metres). This design, known as
a double hull, safeguards
cargo tanks from damage and thus reduces the risk of
oil pollution. The double hull construction incorporates
both double bottoms and double sides. An alternative
solution is to have ships with double
sides (double hull along the sides of
the ship, an added side-shell plating structure fitted
within the ship while the bottom of the ship has a single
plate, a single bottom.
This means that the cargo tanks are separated from
the seawater only by a bottom plate. Double
bottom, on the other hand, is a ship construction
term referring to two separate but continuous and water-tight
plating structures along some length and width of a
ship's bottom.
Drilling mud, drilling fluid
Specialized fluid made up of a mixture of clays,
water (sometimes oil) and chemicals, which is pumped
down a well during drilling operations to lubricate
the system, remove cuttings and control pressure.
Drilling rig
The complete machinery and structure needed for drilling
a well.
Emergency response
The actions taken when an oil spill has occurred.
Emulsification
The formation of a mixture of two liquids, such
as oil and water, in which one of the liquids is in
the form of fine droplets and is dispersed in the other.
Different oils show different tendencies to emulsify.
An emulsified mixture of water and oil is commonly called
"mousse"; its presence indicates a spill that
has been on the water for some time.
Entrainment
The loss of oil from containment when it is pulled
under a boom by a strong current.
Evaporation
The physical change by which any substance is converted
from a liquid to a vapour or gas.
Exploration well
A collective term for appraisal wells drilled to
search for oil and gas.
Fertilization
The method of adding nutrients such as phosphorus
and nitrogen to a contaminated environment to stimulate
the growth of the microorganisms capable of biodegradation.
(See also seeding, biostimulation, bioaugumentation
or bioremediation).
Flag State
Country of registry of a sea-going vessel. A sea-going
vessel is subject to the maritime regulations in respect
of manning scales, safety standards and consular representation
abroad of its country of registration.
Flaring
Controlled burn-off of gas which must be released
from an oil producing facility for safety reasons.
Fuel oil
A liquid petroleum product having a flash point
above 37,8 degrees C used, e.g., in industrial furnaces,
domestic heaters, and ships.
Gelling agent
Gelling agents, also known as solidifiers, are chemicals
that react with oil to form rubber-like solids. The gelled
oil is removed from the water using nets, suction equipment,
or skimmers. gelling agents can be used in calm to moderately
rough seas.
Hull
See Single hull or Double hull
Hydrocarbons
A large group of organic compounds containing only
carbon and hydrogen; common in petroleum products, vegetable
oils etc.
Hydrophobic
Having a tendency to repeal water; hydrophobic materials
will not easily absorb water.
Illegal discharge, illicit discharge
Discharge of a pollutant, e.g., oil, in contravention
of national and/or international legislation.
Incineration
The destruction of wastes by burning at high temperatures.
In-situ burning
In-situ burning of oil involves the ignition and
controlled combustion of oil. It can be used when oil
is spilled on a water body or on land.
Jack-up rig
Mobile offshore drilling platform with retractable
legs, on which the platform rests on the seabed when in
operation.
Lethal
effects
Effects
that are fatal (deadly) to the victim.
LNG
Liquified Natural Gas, mainly methane, liquified
under pressure and low temperature.
LPG
Liquified Petroleum Gas. Propane and butane, liquified
under pressure or refrigeration.
MARPOL 73/78
The most important convention regulating and preventing
marine pollution by ships is the IMO International Convention
for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified
by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78).
It covers accidental and operational oil pollution, as
well as pollution by chemicals, goods in packaged form,
sewage, garbage and air pollution.
MARPOL Special Areas
In Annexes I, II and V of MARPOL 73/78, certain sea
areas are defined as "special areas" in
which, for technical reasons relating to their oceanographic
and ecological condition and to their sea traffic, the
adoption of special mandatory methods for the prevention
of sea pollution is required. Under the Convention,
these special areas are provided with a higher level
of protection than other areas of the sea.
MARPOL Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas, PSSAs
A PSSA is an area that needs special protection
through action by IMO because of its significance for
recognized ecological or socio-economic or scientific
reasons and which may be vulnerable to damage by international
maritime activities. The criteria for the identification
of particularly sensitive sea areas, and the criteria
for the designation of special areas are not mutually
exclusive.
In many cases a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area may
be identified within a Special Area and vice versa.
Mechanical containment
The most common type of equipment for mechanical
containment of oil following a spill is floating barriers,
i.e., different types of booms, barriers and skimmers.
Mechanical recovery
Recovery of oil from the water surface by mechanical
means, e.g. skimmers and booms.
Mousse
A thick foamy oil-and-water mixture formed when
petroleum products are subjected to mixing with water
by the action of waves and wind. Mousse can range in
colour from dark brown to nearly red or tan, and typically
has a thickened or pudding-like consistency. Incorporation
of up to 75 per cent water into the oil will cause the
apparent volume of a given quantity of oil to increase
by up to four times.
Natural seep
See oil seep.
Non-petroleum oils
Oils that are not derived from petroleum; this group
of oils include, e.g., vegetable oils (olive oil, palm
oil, etc.) and animal fats (fish oil, etc).
Offshore blowout
Blowout that occurs at an offshore oil or gas platform.
See blowout.
Offshore drilling
Drilling for oil and gas from platforms located
offshore, on the continental shelf.
Oil, oils
Crude oil and refined products such as motor oils,
fuels, lubricants etc. Also vegetable oils, animal fats
and other non-petroleum oils.
Oil field
A productive oil or gas formation comprising one
or more reservoirs, usually related to the same geological
features.
Oil platform
A fixed structure resting on the seabed or piled
into it from which development wells are drilled to
exploit an oil or gas field.
Oil recovery
See recoverable oil.
Oil seep
Crude oil and natural gas seeps naturally out of
fissures in the ocean seabed and eroding sedimentary
rock. These seeps are natural springs where liquid and
gaseous hydrocarbons leak out of the ground (like springs
that ooze oil and gas instead of water).
Oil separation/filtering equipment
Equipment used onboard ships to separate oil from
water in bilge water in order to reduce the concentrations
of oil in the waters, so that the bilge water can be
discharged into the sea in accordance with international
standards.
Oil slick
A layer of oil floating on the surface of water.
See also slick.
Oil spill
Accidental release of oil into the marine or terrestrial
environment.
Oil spill response
Action taken when an oil spill occurs, to mitigate
the effects of the spill as much as possible.
Oleophilic
Having a strong affinity for oils; oleophilic materials
absorb or stick to oils.
Operational discharge
Discharge occurring during the regular operation
of a ship.
Oxidation
A chemical reaction that occurs when a substance
is combined with oxygen; oxidation may lead to degradation
or deterioration of the substance.
Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Include around a hundred of the petroleum hydrocarbons
and are natural constituents of oil. When fossil fuels
are burnt, especially on a small scale when combustion
is often incomplete, PAH compounds form and escape to
the atmosphere or to water. PAHs occur both in gaseous
form and bound to particles (soot).
Pancakes
Isolated, roughly circular patches of oil, ranging
in size from a few feet across to hundreds of meters
in diameter.
Petroleum, petroleum oils
The term petroleum is nowadays used as a common
denotation for crude oil (mineral oil) and natural gas,
i.e., the hydrocarbons from which various oil and gas
products are made. Petroleum, then, is a collective
term for hydrocarbons, whether solid, liquid or gaseous.
Platform drainage
Drainage water from an offshore platform machinery
space, but does not include any water from processing
and production.
Port State
The
state (nation) in which is located the port of use of
a ship, and which has legal jurisdiction over those
ships which enter the port, irrespective of the ship's
flag of registry.
Port State Control, PSC
Port State Control is the inspection of foreign ships
in national ports to verify that the condition of the
ship and its equipment comply with the requirements
of international regulations and that the ship is manned
and operated in compliance with these rules.
Product carrier
An oil tanker engaged in the trade of carrying oil other
than crude oil.
Reception
facility
Installation in a port where ships may discharge different
types of waste generated onboard.
Recoverable oil (exploration)
The total volume of hydrocarbons that has been or
is anticipated to be produced from a well or field.
Recoverable oil (combatting)
Oil in a thick enough layer on the water to be recovered
by conventional techniques and equipment. Only black
or brown oil, mousse and heavy sheens are generally
considered to be thick enough to be effectively recovered
by skimmers.
Refinery
Utility for processing crude oil into various fractions,
e.g., fuel oil, gasoline (petrol), etc.
Reservoir
A subsurface, porous, permeable rock formation in
which oil and gas are found.
Sedimentation/Sinking
Some
heavy refined products have densities greater than one
and so will sink in fresh or brackish water. However sea
water has a density of approximately 1.025 and very few
crudes are dense enough or weather sufficiently, so that
their residues will sink in the marine environment. Sinking
usually occurs due to the adhesion of particles of sediment
or organic matter to the oil. Shallow waters are often
laden with suspended solids providing favourable conditions
for sedimentation. Oil stranded on sandy shorelines often
becomes mixed with sand and other sediments. If this mixture
is subsequently washed off the beach back into the sea
it may then sink. In addition, if the oil catches fire
after it has been spilled, the residues that sometimes
form can be sufficiently dense to sink.
Segregated ballast tanks (SBT)
Ship's tanks which are completely separated from
cargo oil and fuel oil systems and are permanently allocated
to the carriage of ballast water.
Segregated ballast
Ballast water introduced to a tank (a segregated ballast
tank) which is completely separated from the cargo oil
and oil fuel system and which is permanently allocated
to the carriage of ballast.
Seeding
Adding microorganisms to the environment to speed
up biodegradation. See also fertilization,
biostimulation, bioaugumentation or bioremediation).
Semi-submersible
Mobile offshore drilling platform which has floats
or pontoons submerged to give stability while operating,
kept in position by anchors or dynamic positioning.
Sensitive areas
There are a number of factors that influence whether
an area is considered sensitive: the use of area by
people (fishing, beach); the presence of habitats important
to marine life for spawning, feeding or migration and
the presence of rare or endangered species.
Sensitivity map
Sensitivity maps identify biological and human resources
at risk from an oil spill. They can also outline spill
response countermeasures and priorities for protective
measures. These maps show shoreline habitats, identify
environmentally sensitive biological resources such
as fish, birds and associated shore or marine mammals,
and show recreational beaches, marina sites or locations
of archaeological significance.
Sewage
Sewage from vessels is defined as drainage and other
wastes from any form of toilet and urinal.
Sheen
A very thin layer of oil (less than 0.0003 mm in
thickness) floating on the water surface. Sheen is the
commonly-observed form of oil during the later stages
of a spill. Depending on thickness, sheens range in
colour from dull brown for the thickest sheens to rainbow,
grays, silver, and near-transparancy in the case of
the thinnest sheens.
Single hull Single bottom
Single hull is
a ship construction term. In tankers with single hulls,
oil in the cargo tanks is separated from the seawater
only by a bottom and a side plate. Should this plate
be damaged as a result of a collision or stranding,
the contents of the cargo tanks risks spilling into
the sea. An effective way of avoiding the risk is to
surround the cargo tanks with a second internal plate
which is at a sufficient distance from the external
plate (generally 1.5-2 metres). This design, known as
a double hull, safeguards
cargo tanks from damage and thus reduces the risk of
oil pollution. The double hull construction incorporates
both double bottoms and double sides. An alternative
solution is to have ships with double
sides (double hull along the sides of
the ship, an added side-shell plating structure fitted
within the ship while the bottom of the ship has a single
plate, a single bottom.
This means that the cargo tanks are separated from
the seawater only by a bottom plate. Double
bottom, on the other hand, is a ship construction
term referring to two separate but continuous and water-tight
plating structures along some length and width of a
ship's bottom.
Sinking
See Sedimentation.
Skimmer
A skimmer is a device for recovering spilled oil
from the water's surface. Skimmers may be self-propelled,
used from the shore, or operated from vessels.
Slick
The common term used to describe a film of oil on
the water surface. Most oils tend to spread horizontally
into a smooth and slippery surface, called a slick,
on top of the water.
Slop tank
A tank specifically designated for the collection of
tank drainings, tank washings and other oily mixtures.
SOLAS
The 1974 International Convention for the Safety
of Life at Sea contains internationally agreed rules
and standards to secure that ships are constructed,
equipped and manned in ways that will ensure safety
of life at sea.
Sorbents
Substances that take up and hold water or oil. Sorbents
that are used in oil spill cleanup are made of oleophilic
materials.
Specific gravity
The ratio of the density of a substance to the density
of water; substances with a specific gravity greater
than one are denser than water and sink. Substances
that have a specific gravity less than one are less
dense than water and float.
Spill
Accidental release of oil or other hazardous substance
into the marine or terrestrial environment.
Spreading
As soon as oil is spilled, it starts to spread out
over the sea surface, initially as a single slick. The
speed at which this takes place depends to a great extent
upon the viscosity of the oil. Slicks quickly spread
to cover extensive areas of the sea surface. Spreading
is rarely uniform and large variations in the thickness
of the oil are typical. After a few hours the slick
will begin to break up and, because of winds, wave action
and water turbulence, will then form narrow bands or
windrows parallel to the wind direction. The rate at
which the oil spreads is also determined by the prevailing
conditions such as temperature, water currents, tidal
streams and wind speeds. The more severe the conditions,
the more rapid the spreading and breaking up of the
oil.
Stormwater
Waste water (stormwater) flushed into the the general
sewer system or into storm drains along roadsides when
streets, roofs, handling areas in ports, and other hard
surfaces are washed
by rain and snow.
Streamers
A narrow line of oil, mousse or sheen on the water
surface, surrounded on both sides by clean water. Streamers
result from the combined effects of wind, currents,
and/or natural convergence zones.
Sub-lethal effects
Injuries that affect the health and physical condition
of organisms (including eggs and larvae) but do not
result in the death of juveniles or adult organisms.
Surface tension
The attractive force exerted upon the surface molecules
of a liquid by the molecules beneath the surface. When
oil is spilled on water, this tension makes the oil
behave as a continuous sheet that is difficult to separate
or break up.
Surfactant
A substance that breaks up oil into small droplets.
Surveillance (airborne)
Surveillance of sea areas undertaken by aircraft
with the purpose to detect discharges (mainly illegal)
of hazardous substances from ships.
Tanker
Means a ship constructed or adapted primarily to carry
oil in bulk in its cargo spaces and includes any combination
carrier or chemical tanker. Tankers are often characterized
according to size:
Supertanker: Tankers
of greater size and carrying capacity. Generally considered
to be any tanker of over 100,000 deadweight tonnes (dwt).
Handymax tanker: Small-sized
oil tankers with less than 50,000 dwt .
Panamax tanker:A maritime
standard corresponding to about 65,000 dwt. Refers to
a ship with dimensions that allow it to pass through the
Panama Canal.
Suezmax tanker:This standard,
which represents the limitations of the Suez Canal, has
evolved. Before 1967, the Suez Canal could only accommodate
tanker ships with a maximum of 80,000 dwt. When the Canal
reopened in 1975, the Suezmax capacity went to 150,000
dwt.
Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC),
are tankers with a deadweight of 150,000-300.000 tonnes.
They can be ballasted through the Suez Canal.
Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCC),
are tankers ranging from 300,000 to 550,000 dwt in size.
Used for carrying crude oil on long haul routes from the
Persian Gulf to Europe, America and East Asia, via the
Cape of Good Hope or the Strait of Malacca.
Tank washing
After oil is unloaded, a ship's tanks are cleaned.
This process is known as tank washing. Current practice
is to use crude oil as the cleaning solution to remove
the oil residue from the tank walls. The oil residue
and the cleaning solution are then transferred to the
load being delivered.
Tar
A black or brown hydrocarbon material that ranges
in consistency from a heavy liquid to a solid.
Tar balls
Dense, black sticky spheres of hydrocarbons formed
from weathered oil.
Terminal
A facility where ships land to load, transfer or
unload their cargo.
Vapour
recovery
Collecting and condensing petroleum product vapour formed
when oil is being loaded and unloaded at terminals, refineries
and petrol stations. The vapours are then condensed to
a liquid, thereby significantly reducing air pollution.
Viscosity
Having a resistance to flow; substances that are
extremely viscous do not flow easily.
Viscuos
The tendency of a liquid to hold itself together.
Viscous liquids do pour freely and have the consistency
of syrup or honey.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
A mixture of propane, butane and several other gases
given off through the vaporization of crude oil and
refined products, such as petrol. VOCs are usually divided
into non-methane (nmVOCs) and methane. As soon as petroleum
is handled in the open air, vapours escape unless something
is done to contain them. These hydrocarbons in gaseous
form can be emitted into the atmosphere from platforms
(extraction of oil), tankers (transportation of oil),
terminals (loading and unloading of oil), filling stations
(petrol tanking) refineries (processing of oil), pipelines
(leakages of oil), and aircraft ( fuel dumping). Hydrocarbon
vapours can be recovered and "recycled" as
liquid fuel. They are collected and condensed when petroleum
products are being loaded and unloaded at terminals,
refineries and petrol stations.
Wax
Any of a class of pliable substances of plant, animal,
mineral or synthetic origin. Waxes generally consist of
long-chain organic compounds. Waxes are included in the
residue formed following the refining of crude oil.
Weathering
Action of the wind, waves and water on a substance,
such as oil, that leads to disintegration or deterioration
of the substance.
Weir
An underwater structure that controls the flow of
water. Weir type oil skimmers use a damlike underwater
barrier that lets oil flow into the skimmer while holding
back the water.
Windrows
Streaks of oil that line up in the direction of
the wind.
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