Chemical and biological assessment of two offshore drilling sites in the Alaskan Arctic
| Autor: | Kenneth H. Dunton, Susan V. Schonberg, Nathan D. McTigue, Robert P. Trocine, John H. Trefry, Eric S. Hersh, Thomas J. McDonald |
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| Rok vydání: | 2013 |
| Předmět: |
Geologic Sediments
Oceans and Seas education Aquatic Science Oceanography Extraction and Processing Industry chemistry.chemical_compound Metals Heavy Drilling fluid otorhinolaryngologic diseases Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Offshore drilling Retrospective Studies Biomass (ecology) Arctic Regions Spectrophotometry Atomic Drilling General Medicine Pollution Petroleum chemistry Arctic Benthic zone Regression Analysis Environmental science Environmental Pollutants Bay Alaska Environmental Monitoring |
| Zdroj: | Marine Environmental Research. 86:35-45 |
| ISSN: | 0141-1136 |
| Popis: | A retrospective chemical and biological study was carried out in Camden Bay, Alaskan Beaufort Sea, where single exploratory oil wells were drilled at two sites more than two decades ago. Barium from discharged drilling mud was present in sediments at concentrations as high as 14%, ~200 times above background, with significantly higher concentrations of Ba, but not other metals, within 250 m of the drilling site versus reference stations. Elevated concentrations of Cr, Cu, Hg and Pb were found only at two stations within 25 m of one drilling site. Concentrations of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (TPAH) were not significantly different at reference versus drilling-site stations; however, TPAH were elevated in Ba-rich layers from naturally occurring perylene in ancient formation cuttings. Infaunal biomass and species abundance were not significantly different at reference versus drilling-site stations; infauna were less diverse at drilling-site stations. Our assessment showed that discharges from single wells within large areas caused minimal long-term, adverse impacts to the benthic ecosystem. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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