Estimating cleanup costs for oil spills

Abstract

The factors that affect cleanup cost are complex and interrelated. Each spill involves a unique set of circumstances that determine cleanup cost. Estimating a universal per-unit cleanup cost is essentially meaningless without taking into consideration factors such as location and oil type, which can profoundly influence costs. This paper examines the host of factors that impact cleanup cost in an effort to more accurately assess per-unit cleanup cost. A cost-estimation model, based on an analysis of cost data in the Oil Spill Intelligence Report (OSIR) International Oil Spill Database (a 38-year record of over 8,600 oil spills worldwide) is presented as an alternative to a universal per-unit cost value.