Abstract:

Gulf of Mexico (GOM) researchers have been interested in the physical properties and chemical characterization of the Mississippi Canyon lease block 252 (MC-252) oil and have requested aliquots of this oil from BP in order to determine these characteristics. Since quantities of this oil are limited, BP has prepared this report to provide researchers with a detailed description of the oil’s physical and chemical characteristics so that they do not have to replicate experimental analyses that have already been conducted on the various MC-252 reference oils. Data included with this report relate to unweathered MC-252 oil collected from the Oil Barge Massachusetts (Massachusetts) on August 15, 2010; two distinct weathered oils collected by skimmers from the GOM in July 2010 as part of the Response to the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) accident; and a surrogate oil collected from the GOM Dorado Field, Marlin Platform, which has characteristics similar to MC-252 oil. In addition, data for MC-252 oil collected on June 19, 2010, from the Q4000 Well Intervention vessel is also available as a separate data set (Reference No. O-01v01). This dataset includes data associated with the following oils: - Unweathered oil—MC-252 oil collected from the barge Massachusetts on August 15, 2010 - Weathered oils skimmed from the GOM as part of the Response to the DWH accident - Oil collected from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Juniper (Juniper) on July 19, 2010 - Oil collected from Barge No. CTC02404 on July 29, 2010 - Surrogate oil—Oil collected from the Dorado Field, Marlin Platform in November 2011, which has properties similar to MC-252 oil. The chemical and physical parameters provided in this data posting include:  Parent and alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)  Saturated hydrocarbons (SHCs)  Total extractable matter (TEM) and diesel range organics (DRO)  Benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes (BTEX) and other volatile hydrocarbons classified as paraffins, isoparaffins, aromatics, naphthenes, and olefins (PIANO)  Geochemical biomarkers (steranes and triterpanes)  Dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether (DPnB, a dispersant component)  Metals  Carbon stable isotopes for whole oil and saturate, aromatic, resin, and asphaltene fractions  Additional crude oil chemistry parameters and analytes  Saturate, aromatic, resin and asphaltene of the C15+ fraction  Selected physical properties  Simulated distillation of crude oil. Three subsamples of each of the four reference oils were analyzed for this report. Laboratory triplicates were also performed on one of the subsamples for each reference oil for all of the organic chemistry analytes and for many of the physical property parameters (where sample volumes were sufficient). For the metals analyses, a laboratory duplicate was performed on one of the Massachusetts subsamples. When applicable, samples were analyzed according to the Gulf Coast Incident Management Team Quality Assurance Project Plan (GCIMT 2011). The data files also include an Excel file that contains average values for the chemical and physical data for each of the reference oil samples, along with general information and GC-FID chromatograms.

Suggested Citation:

BP Gulf Science Data. 2016. Chemical analysis and physical properties of weathered, unweathered, and surrogate crude oils from the Deepwater Horizon accident in the Gulf of Mexico, July 2010 to January 2011. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7R78CM9

Purpose:

To provide data on the physical and chemical properties of weathered, unweathered, and surrogate crude oils from the Deepwater Horizon accident. These data were collected by BP to help guide cleanup operations under the direction of the U.S. Coast Guard and to support the Natural Resource Damage Assessment efforts by federal and state agencies and BP to evaluate potential injury to natural resources in the Gulf. The data and supplemental information are being made available to the public in a format that will facilitate the use of the data for research and other studies. GRIIDC is making these data available following the shutdown of the Gulf Science Data Portal. This will ensure that the data are available and searchable through GRIIDC data discovery

Data Parameters and Units:

Concentrations of: Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzenes and Xylenes/Paraffins, Isoparaffins, Aromatics, Naphthenes, or Olefins (BTEX/PIANO) (61 compounds) (mg/kg); PAH/aPAH Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons/alkylated Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH/aPAH) (63 compounds) (mg/kg); Saturated Hydrocarbon Compounds (SHC) (38 compounds) (mg/kg); Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (2 types) (mg/kg); Total Extractable Material (TEM) (mg/kg); Diesel Range Organics (mg/kg); Biomarkers (89 compounds) (mg/kg); Dispersant (1 compound) (mg/kg); Metals (24 metals)(mg/kg); Other Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (Other PAH) (13 compounds) (mg/kg); Stable carbon isotopes (per mil); Simulated distillation (deg F); water content (wt pct); acid number (mg KOH/g); Flash Point (deg C); pH; API Gravity at 60 deg F (degree API); Specific Gravity; Spot Test (rating); Initial Boiling Point (deg C); Vapor Pressure at 100 deg F (psi); Kinematic Viscosity at 104 deg F (mm2/s); Kinematic Viscosity at 122 deg F (mm2/s); Dynamic Viscosity at 104 deg F (mPa/s); Dynamic Viscosity at 122 deg F (mPa/s); Density at 104 deg F (g/cm3); Density at 122 deg F (g/cm3); Saturates, Aromatics, Resins, Asphaltenes (SARA) (4 fractions) (wt pct); Methanol (ppm); Salt Content (as electometric chloride) (lb/1000bbl); Hydrogen Sulfide (ppm); Silicon (ug/g); Sulfur (wt pct); Nitrogen (wt pct); Wax Content (wt pct); Asphaltene Content (wt pct); Sediment Content (wt pct); Ash Content (wt pct) Data Publication Date = Date published on BP website gulfsciencedata.bp.com (M/DD/YYYY); Data Publication Reference = A general description of data provided and a version control number; Date Analyzed = The date that the sample was analyzed to produce the reported concentration; Date Extracted = The date that the sample was extracted at the laboratory (MM/D/YYYY); Dilution Factor = The factor by which the sample was diluted for analysis; Field Fraction = Indicates whether the dissolved, particulate, or total sample was submitted for analysis (total); Field Matrix = The most general description of the substance collected for analysis (oil non-aqueous); Field Sample Material = The most specific description of the substance collected for analysis (weathered oil/source oil); Field Verification Status = Summary of the field data verification process status(Complete); Final Qualifiers = The data qualifiers that should be used with the concentration value for data analysis and interpretation. This column may contain a packed string of the qualifiers: "U", "J", "R", "T", and "F" which are defined in the AQAP; Harmonized Study Name = A BP assigned name to a group of related sample collection efforts; Interpretive Sample ID = The identifier given to represent a unique combination of location, date and time, and depth; Lab = The name of the laboratory generating the analytical chemistry data; Lab Fraction = Indicates whether the sample was filtered in the laboratory prior to analysis to obtain the dissolved fraction. This field does not capture information related to field filtration (total); Lab Material = The most specific description of the substance or fraction that is analyzed (oil); Lab Matrix = The most general description of the substance or fraction of the sample that is analyzed (oil); Lab Qualifiers = The data qualifiers original applied by the analytical laboratory; Lab Replicate = Code to distinguish multiple measurements when all other identifying attributes are identical; Laboratory Sample ID = The internal laboratory sample identifier; Location or Station ID = A name given to the location where samples were collected. Not all samples have an assigned value.; Measurement Basis = Indicates whether a concentration value is expressed in terms of the wet weight or dry weight of the environmental medium (oil); Method Detection Limit = The laboratory determined method detection limit associated with each chemical result; Nondetect Flag = Indicates whether or not the analyte was detected in a sample; Oil Source Interpretation Category = The code for the oil source interpretation; Parameter Type = The basic group to which the chemical belongs: PAH, SHC, TPH, PIANO, biomarkers, dispersants, and others; Preparation Method = Method used to prepare the sample for analysis; Reporting Limit = The laboratory determined reporting limit concentration associated with each chemical result; Sample Date = The date on which the sample was collected (MM/DD/YYYY); Sample Time = The time at which the sample was collected; Sample Type = Indicates whether the sample was a normal sample or a QC sample; SDG = Sample Delivery Group. A lab generated number for a batch of samples processed together; Study Name = The study name used by the original investigator or NOAA; Study Reference Number = Reference number assigned by BP to provide a link between data and associated work plans and study descriptions; Unit = The units of the associated concentration value; Upper Depth = The upper depth of the sample in the water column; Validation Level = The type and amount of data validation performed; see AQAP for a description of the validation levels used; Validation Qualifiers = Data qualifiers applied by the data validation firm;

Methods:

2540 Total solids; 6010 Metals by ICP-AES; 6020 Metals by ICP/MS; 7471 Mercury by cold vapor AA; 8015 Saturated hydrocarbons by GC-FID; 8260 Volatile organic compounds by GC/MS; 8270 Semi-volatile organic compounds by GC/MS; D1217 Standard test method for density and relative density (specific gravity) of liquids by Bingham Pycnometer; D2110 Standard test method for pH of water extractions of halogenated organic solvents and their admixtures; D3230 Standard test method for salts in crude oil (electrometric method); D3279 Standard test method for n-heptane insolubles; D4294 Standard test method for sulfur in petroleum and petroleum products by energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry; D4740 Standard test method for cleanliness and compatibility of residual fuels by spot test; D4807 Standard test method for sediment in crude oil by membrane filtration; D5002 Standard test method for density and relative density of crude oils by digital density analyzer; D5191 Standard test method for vapor pressure of petroleum products (mini method); D5762 Standard test method for nitrogen in petroleum and petroleum products by boat inlet chemiluminescence; D664 Standard test method for acid number of petroleum products by potentiometric titration; D7042 Standard test method for dynamic viscosity and density of liquids by Stabinger viscometer (and the calculation of kinematic viscosity); D7059 Standard test method for determination of methanol in crude oils by multidimensional GC; D7169 Standard test method for boiling point distribution of samples with residues such as crude oils and atmospheric and vacuum residues by high temperature GC; D86 Standard test method for distillation of petroleum products at atmospheric pressure; D93 Standard test methods for flash point by Pensky-Martens closed cup tester; E203 Standard test method for water using volumetric Karl Fischer titration; IP501 Determination of aluminum, silicon, vanadium, nickel, iron, sodium, calcium, zinc, and phosphorous in residual fuel oil by ashing, fusion and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry; UOP163 Hydrogen sulfide and mercaptan sulfur in liquid hydrocarbons by potentiometric titration; UOP46 Paraffin wax content of petroleum oils and asphalts; The quality guidance documents relevant to this study are the Analytical Quality Assurance Plan (U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2014. Analytical Quality Assurance Plan Mississippi Canyon 252 (Deepwater Horizon) Natural Resource Damage Assessment Version 4.0. https://pub-dwhdatadiver.orr.noaa.gov/dwh-ar-documents/945/DWH-AR0101767.pdf) and the Deepwater Horizon Quality Assurance Project Plan (Gulf Coast Incident Management Team. 2011. Deepwater Horizon Quality Assurance Project Plan for the BP MC252 Incident Sample Management Group BP-MC252-QAPP.)

Instruments:

Instruments used include, among others; ICP-AES; ICP/MS; cold vapor AA; GC-FID; GC/MS Bingham Pycnometer; energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry digital density analyzer; boat inlet chemiluminescence; Stabinger viscometer; multidimensional GC; Pensky-Martens closed cup tester; volumetric Karl Fischer titration; inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry;

Individual Files: