Application of Oil Fingerprinting Method to Identify the Source of Mystery Oil Stranded on the spill site one year after the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill

Abstract

In April 2009, mystery oils were stranded at found at Mallipo beach, Taean and Ueui-do, Shinan, which were previously affected by spilled oil from the Hebei Spirit in December 2007. Upon their emergence, which can evoke debate regarding spill sources, further cleanup, and compensation issues occurred. Mallipo beach located near the Hebei Spirit oil spill site was heavily oiled in early December 2007, while Ueui-do located at Jeonnam Province far away from Mallipo beach was stranded small amount of emulsified and (or) tar from the Hebei Spirit in the end of December 2007. However, liquid type crude oils were stranded again on Mallipo beach and concurrently highly weathered oils were re-stranded on Ueui-do shoreline sixteen months after the spill. For the identification of spill sources, tiered approaches were applied. Essential part of the tiered approach is GC/FID analysis, GC/MS analysis and diagnostic ratio and/or statistical analysis for level 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Stranded oil samples in Mallipo and in Ueui-do were analyzed and their fingerprints were compared with crude oils and weathered oils from the Hebei Spirit. European Committee for Standardization protocol was used for diagnosis. GC/FID screening revealed that one sample in Mallipo does not have typical alkane chromatogram pattern, but and the other stranded oils had weathered chromatogram pattern. GC/MS fingerprint an