Close

Presentation

How Much Oil Entered the Ocean from the Line 901 (Refugio Beach) Pipeline Spill?: An Empirical Approach
DescriptionThe accurate determination of the quantity and rate of oil released to the marine environment is central to spill response efforts, natural resource damage assessments, and legal actions. In the case of the Line 901 (Refugio Beach) oil spill in 2015, heavy crude oil with diluent was released from an upland pipeline incident. Oil was released below the soil surface, flowed over land and through culverts, and finally cascaded over a cliff before reaching the ocean. While engineering calculations determined the amount and rate of release from the pipeline, and were accepted by the responsible agencies, the amount of oil actually entering the ocean was unknown and subject to controversy. This case study delves into the outcomes of a comprehensive analysis that utilized information from the pipeline release, details of the release scenario, oil characteristics, chemical data and weathering information, and a robust set of spill response details related to the upland cleanup. This case study not only determined the amount of oil that reached the ocean, but also quantified the uncertainty in this calculation. The methodology employed in this investigation is outlined, presenting insights that can be applied to future oil releases.
Authors
Principal Scientist
Managing Scientist