Abstract:
The focus of this data posting is chemistry data associated with submerged sediment samples collected in both federal and state jurisdictional waters in the Gulf of Mexico from April 2010 through December 2011. Additionally, sediment-associated water samples (e.g., pore water, supernatant, floc, and slurp2) are also provided in this data posting. More than 20,000 submerged sediment and associated water samples with associated chemistry analyses are included in this data posting. These samples were collected at more than 10,200 sampling stations during 48 studies, using more than 100 sampling cruises and/or surveys. These studies can be classified into four general categories: NRDA Cooperative—Studies conducted as part of the NRDA which were agreed to and executed cooperatively by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), and/or other Trustees, and BP. BP NRDA Independent—Studies conducted by BP independently to develop data to support and inform the NRDA. Trustee Independent—Studies conducted by NOAA, DOI, and/or other Trustees independently to develop data to support and inform the NRDA. Response (non-NRDA)—Studies conducted by BP and/or government representatives under the direction of the Unified Area Command and in association with activities performed in response to the DWH accident (the Response). The chemical parameters provided in this data posting include: Parent and alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Saturated hydrocarbons (SHC), Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), including parameters reported as total extractable material (TEM) and total extractable hydrocarbon (TEH), Benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes (BTEX) and other volatile hydrocarbons classified as paraffins, isoparaffins, aromatics, naphthenes, and olefins (PIANO), Geochemical biomarkers (sterane and triterpane), where available, Metals, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Percent moisture or percent solids, Grain size parameters. This dataset includes data associated with natural field samples, along with the associated field-collected quality control samples, such as field replicates, equipment blanks, field blanks, and trip blanks. No other laboratory quality control samples (e.g., laboratory blanks and spike samples) are included in this data posting. The Trustees developed an approach for screening sediments for the potential presence of oil using analysis by gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (GC/FID) and visual inspection of the resulting chromatograms. Through this visual inspection of the chromatograms, screened samples were categorized by comparing the amount of oil (of any source) present in the sample, if any, to the abundance of naturally-occurring organic matter (NOM) as determined by the chromatographic character of the extractable hydrocarbons. The Trustees developed the following four classification levels: A = Oil is present in excess of NOM, B = Oil is present in comparable abundance to NOM, C = Trace oil is present but is exceeded by NOM, D = No obvious oil, overwhelmingly comprised of NOM. All samples classified by Trustee representatives in the preliminary screening phase as Category A, B, or C were sent for further laboratory analysis. The Sediment Chemistry Sample Summary associated with this data release [see Version History] provides Trustee’s “TPH Category from Chromatogram” classification level in Column S. Within this Sediment Chemistry Data Posting of approximately of 20,350 analytical samples: 7,800 samples have TPH screening classification levels available on the Trustees website, 1,473 (19% of total screened) samples were assigned to classification levels of A, B, or C, 6,327 (81% of total screened) samples were assigned to classification levels of D. Of the 6,327 samples classified by Trustee representatives as Category D samples (no obvious oil), 845 (13%) were further analyzed for the PAH, SHC, and biomarker parameters; thus, leaving 5,482 samples in this data posting with chemistry data limited to TPH or TPH and SHCs and a Trustee assigned screening classification of “no obvious oil”.
Data Parameters and Units:
Data Publication Date = Date associated with the current data posting date (M/D/YYYY); Data Publication Reference = A general description of data provided in the data posting (i.e., Submerged Sediment Chemistry) and a version control number.; Study Reference No. = Study reference number (SRN) assigned by BP to provide a link between the data provided in the data file and the associated work plans and study descriptions ; Study Name = The study name used by the original investigator or by NOAA. Related studies are also grouped together under a single harmonized group study name (the next column). Some independent BP studies have only a single harmonized study name. This study name may be referenced by some documentation and other data systems; Harmonized Study Name = A BP assigned name to a group of related sample collection efforts to aid with organization of the data. This name is part of the primary key of this table and is used within other BP documents ; Location or Station ID = A name given to the location where samples were collected. Many samples were collected opportunistically in the field, targeting observed or suspected oil presence, and the locations were not assigned a name. Therefore, not all samples have a location ID; Interpretive Sample ID = The identifier given to represent a unique combination of location, date (and time) and depth. This identifier is part of the primary key of this table; Sample Date = The date on which the sample was collected (MM/DD/YYYY); Sample Time = The time at which the sample was collected. Times were not recorded for all samples (HH:MM); Latitude = The north latitude, in decimal degrees, where the sample was collected. This coordinate (with the corresponding longitude) may be either the specific location of the sample or the location assigned to the station where sampling was conducted. See the text for a discussion of sample coordinates and the selection of data from either the BP or Query Manager database systems; Longitude = The west longitude, in decimal degrees, where the sample was collected. See the description of the latitude column; Spatial Zone = Short coded descriptor to indicate general location of the samples. Seven zones have been assigned. Five zones are coded to capture water samples located within the state jurisdictional boundaries of Louisiana (LA), Alabama (AL), Mississippi (MS), Texas (TX) and Florida (FL). Two zones are coded to capture water sample located within the federal waters outside of the state jurisdictions. The code “Wellhead” is assigned to samples collected within a 10 nautical miles (nmi) radius of the DWH wellhead and the code “Federal” is assigned to samples collected beyond the 10 nmi radius; Upper Depth = The upper depth of the sample (cm); Lower Depth = The lower depth of the sample (cm); Depth Unit = The units for sample upper and lower depths (cm); Field Fraction = Indicates whether the dissolved fraction, the particulate fraction, or the total sample was collected and submitted for analysis; Sample Type = Indicates whether the sample is a natural environmental sample, a field QC sample (i.e., a blank), or a lab QC sample; Field Matrix = The most general description of the substance collected and submitted for analysis; Field Sample Material = The most specific description of the substance collected and submitted for analysis. Only the matrix is reported for samples with attributes taken from Query Manager; Collection or Core = An identifier that links interpretive samples that were collected together, such as by a single gear deployment. For sediment core samples, this identifies the core: all interpretive samples with the same core identifier are from the same core; Field Data Verification Status = Summary of the field data verification process status described in Appendix B. Valid entries - Not started, Underway, and Complete; Analytical Sample ID = The client sample identifier given to a portion of the interpretive sample, or to the whole interpretive sample, when submitted to a laboratory for analysis. There may be one or several analytical sample IDs for each interpretive sample ID; Lab = The laboratory generating analytical chemistry data for the sample; Laboratory Sample ID = The internal laboratory sample identifier for the sample; ASR Number = Analytical Request Form or Analytical Service Request number associated with dataset. Not all samples have an ASR or related number; SDG = The Sample Delivery Group: an identifier for a batch of samples (typically 20 samples) that are simultaneously prepared, analyzed, and reported by the laboratory; Lab Matrix = The most general description of the substance, or fraction thereof that is analyzed; Lab Material = The most specific description of the substance, or fraction thereof that is analyzed; Parameter Type = The basic group to which the chemical belongs: PAH, SHC, TPH, PIANO, biomarkers, and others; Chemical Name = The name of the chemical analyzed. An effort has been made to harmonize the chemical naming conventions, where possible. Chemical Code = A standardized system-specific code to uniquely identify each chemical. Chemical codes are one-to-one homologous with chemical names; Chemical Type = Indicates whether the chemical is a target analyte or an added standard (e.g., surrogate); Concentration – NDs at MDLs = The reported concentration of the chemical in the sample, or the detection limit for non-detect results (pct, mg/Kg, ug/Kg, ug/L, pctPass); Concentration – NDs at Zero = The reported concentration of the chemical in the sample, or a zero value for non-detect results (pct, mg/Kg, ug/Kg, ug/L, pctPass); Unit = The units of the associated concentration value; 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; Validation Qualifiers = Qualifiers applied by the data validation firm; Lab Qualifiers = The data qualifiers originally applied by the analytical laboratory; Nondetect Flag = Indicates whether or not the analyte was detected in a sample. This is equivalent to a final qualifier that includes “U”; Validation Level = The type and amount of data validation performed; see the AQAP for a description of the validation levels used; Reporting Limit = The laboratory determined reporting limit associated with each chemical result ; Method Detection Limit = The laboratory determined method detection limit associated with each chemical result; Measurement Basis = Indicates whether a concentration value is expressed in terms of the wet weight or dry weight of the environmental medium; 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; Preparation Method = Method used to prepare the sample for analysis and as reported by the laboratory; Analytical Method = Method used to produce the measured concentration and as reported by the laboratory; Base Analytical Method = A generalization of the analytical method, standardized across laboratory-specific variations in the specific analytical method to aid the data user with categorizing samples by analysis type; Lab Replicate = Code to distinguish multiple measurements when all other identifying attributes are identical; Dilution Factor = The factor by which the sample was diluted for analysis; Date Extracted = The date that the sample was extracted at the laboratory (MM/DD/YYYY); Results Count by Parameter Type (BTEX/PIANO, PAH/aPAH, Other PAH, SHC, TPH, Biomarker, Metal, Grain Size, TOC, TSS, Solid/Moisture)
Methods:
Analytical Methods; ASTM D422 - Grain Size Analysis; EPA 160.3M - Total Solids; EPA SW 8015M - Total Saturated Hydrocarbons; EPA SW 8270_SIM; EPA SW8015; SM2540G; SM5310B_M; ASTM_D422; EPA SW8260B; EPA SW-846 6010C; EPA SW6020; EPA SW7471B; EPA SW8270C_M; EPA SW8015C; EPA SW7470; SM5310C; EPA 8270M - Alkylated PAH and Petroleum Biomarkers; SM2540G - Total, Fixed, and Volatile Solids in Solid and Semisolid Samples; EPA SW 9060M - Total Organic Carbon; Metals - EPA SW 6020 - SOP M-001 Rev. 7; Mercury - EPA SW 7474; Steranes and Triterpanes EPA SW 8270M SOP. 2247 Rev. 2; EPA SW 8260M - PIANO Volatile Hydrocarbons; Alkylated Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons EPA SW 8270M SOP. 2247 Rev. 2; Battelle SOP 5-157; Battelle SOP 5-202; EPA SW 8260B - Volatile Organic Compounds by GC/MS; EPA SW 6010C; EPA LKahn 7-27-1988; ASTM D2974-07a; EPA SW8270C SIM - Extended PAH (Parent and Alkyl Homologs) and Related Compounds by GC/MS-SIM; EPA SW 6020A; ASTM D4129-05 Modified; Prep Methods; EPA SW 3541 - Automated Soxhlet extraction; Battelle BDO 5-192; Battelle BDO 5-200; Battelle BDO 5-245; EPA SW5035A; EPA SW3050B; EPA SW3546; EPA SW5030B; EPA SW-846 3005A; EPA SW3010; EPA SW3510C; EPA SW3010A Modified; Alpha Analytical lab SOP 0P-013 - Shaker table extraction; SM2540G - Total, fixed, and volatile solids; EPA SW 8015M - Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and nonhalogenated VOCs; modified; Metals Extraction, EPA SW 3050, SOP MP-001 Rev. 7.2; Mercury, EPA SW 7474; EPA SW 8260M - PIANO volatile hydrocarbons; Battelle SOP 5-192; EPA 5035A; EPA SW 3050B; EPA CLP-METALS ILM05.3; Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry, ICP AES; Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, ICP MS; Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption; Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry; GC FID; GC/MS; GC/MS SIM; 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.)
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