Guidelines to Prepare for Oil Sands Product Spills in Varied Aquatic Environments

Abstract

On July 24, 2007, the Westridge Transfer Line in Burnaby, British Columbia, ruptured spilling 1,400 barrels of oil sands product into the area's storm water systems and eventually into the Burrard Inlet at Vancouver Harbor. The response to this spill was considered successful and there is no record of oil sinking. Several years later, in July of 2010, the Line 6B pipeline operated by Enbridge Energy Partners LLP ruptured spilling 20,082 barrels of oil sands product into the Kalamazoo River. In contrast to the Burnaby spill, this response was extremely difficult due to the sinking of large quantities of oil. The variance in fate and behavior of the oil sands products in these two spills demonstrates how environmental factors can result in different response challenges.Many environmental factors affect the fate of spilled oil sands products in aquatic environments because bitumen, a large component of oil sands products, has a density greater than freshwater. By analyzing specific factors in areas at risk, responders can better prepare for, and expect, submergence in oil sands product spills. Areas identified to have low salinity, rough sedimentation, high turbidity, strong sunlight exposure, high temperatures, and strong currents have a high risk of submergence. Response teams in these areas of high risk should have submerged oil recovery equipment readily available for rapid deployment.