[en] Methods of cleaning up following a 1994 train derailment involving six Bunker C tank cars in a remote region of Labrador were described. 345,000 litres of Bunker C spilled in a ditch, through a culvert and into a section of the Summit River. Methods used in the reclamation of the bunker oil from the tank cars, from inside the culvert, and from the bottom of the Summit River were also reviewed.Principal problems encountered in the clean-up included severe winter conditions, remoteness of the spill site, and the onset of spring breakup. 3 figs., 3 tabs

[en] Long-run adjustments in petroleum consumption are not only larger than short-run adjustments. They may also be motivated by entirely different price events. This analysis shows that new price peaks have both short-run and long-run consumption responses, a result that is starkly different than price changes that track previous price paths. It also establishes significant trend effects where gasoline and residual fuel oil consumption decline over time. The analysis explores these adjustments by establishing long-run cointegrating relationships for different petroleum product groupings. An important implication is that price increases above historical levels may be providing substantially greater incentives for significant long-run demand adjustments than would be the case otherwise. (author)

[en] Chemical dispersibility of heavy bunker fuel oil, which historically has been characterized as not dispersible, was studied, using the well-known SINTEF methodology for evaluating the dispersibility of fresh and weathered oils. Several heavy fuel oils, specifically IFO-380 fuel oils, were involved in the study. Corexit 9500, which has been shown to be effective for viscous and weathered oils, was used as the dispersant. Results indicated that in many cases heavy fuel oils are dispersible, and that viscosity and dispersant dosage are particularly important factors. As a general rule, more viscous and weathered oils were found to require longer time for the dispersion process to occur. The standard SINTEF laboratory effectiveness test, particularly the 60-minute extended -time MNS tests, have been found to be very useful in characterizing heavy fuel oil dispersibility. 17 refs., 5 tabs., 1 fig

[en] The PIXE technique for determining directly the distribution and abundance of trace metals in vacuum residuum, asphaltenes and maltenes separated with n-alkanes (C₅-C₈) is used. The metal content of petroleum derivatives revealed that the vacuum residuum contains iron, aluminium, vanadium and nickel mainly, while that the asphaltenes and maltenes maintain inside of their composition only preferably the vanadium and nickel as majority elements. (Author)

[en] For intensification of oil refining without using secondary processes, thermodynamic parameters of gas condensate and residual fuel oil blends were calculated from experimental investigations involving inverse gas chromatography. Apparently, from thermodynamic parameters of gas condensate and residual fuel oil blend, it is possible to determine the optimal ratio of the components for increasing the yield of light fractions. It is likely that the new colloidal structure of the blend of the disperse system (residual fuel oil) with the homogeneous system (gas condensates) forms via formation of a semicolloidal system followed by restructurization due to intermolecular interaction and dissolution processes.

[en] In this work, a cost-benefit analysis concerning the use of fuel oil additives in heavy fuel oil fired water tube boilers is performed. The properties of various additives are discussed and their advantages and disadvantages outlined. Finally, the possible use of additives within a generation system and the cost implications are examined. Based on the market survey, it can be concluded that FO additives can prove beneficial, both technically and financially

[en] The overall goal of this project was to better understand factors and processes controlling microbially-mediated reduction and reoxidation of U and Tc in the unconsolidated residuum overlying the Nolichucky shale at the Field Research Center (FRC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Project activities were designed to test the following hypotheses: (1) The small rates of denitrification and U bio-reduction observed in laboratory incubations of sediments from FRC Area 1 at low pH (< 5) are due to the presence of high concentrations of toxic metals (especially Al and Ni). Rates of Tc reduction will also be small at low pH in the presence of high concentrations of toxic metals. (2) In situ rates of U and perhaps Tc bio-reduction can be increased by increasing system pH and thus precipitating toxic metals from solution. (3) In situ rates of U and Tc bio-reduction can be increased by the addition of humic substances, which complex toxic metals such as Al and Ni, buffer pH, and serve as electron shuttles to facilitate U and Tc reduction. (4) Microbially-reduced U and Tc are rapidly oxidized in the presence of high concentrations of NO3- and the denitrification intermediates NO2-, N2O, and NO. (5) An electron-donor-addition strategy (type and form of donor, with or without pH adjustment and with or without the co-addition of humic substances) can be devised to reduce U and Tc concentrations for an extended period of time in low pH groundwater in the presence of high concentrations of NO3-, Al, and Ni. This strategy operates by removing or complexing these components of FRC groundwater to allow the subsequent reduction of U(VI) and Tc(VII)

[en] A six month field scale study was carried out to compare windrow turning and biopile techniques for the remediation of soil contaminated with bunker C fuel oil. End-point clean-up targets were defined by human risk assessment and ecotoxicological hazard assessment approaches. Replicate windrows and biopiles were amended with either nutrients and inocula, nutrients alone or no amendment. In addition to fractionated hydrocarbon analysis, culturable microbial characterisation and soil ecotoxicological assays were performed. This particular soil, heavy in texture and historically contaminated with bunker fuel was more effectively remediated by windrowing, but coarser textures may be more amendable to biopiling. This trial reveals the benefit of developing risk and hazard based approaches in defining end-point bioremediation of heavy hydrocarbons when engineered biopile or windrow are proposed as treatment option. - Windrows outperform biopiles in the bioremediation of bunker oil contaminated soils.

[en] The CANMET hydrocracking process was developed to convert the heavy pitch fraction in bitumen into salable products. Some of the defining features of the CANMET technology were described. A 5000 BPD demonstration unit was built for Petro-Canada's Montreal Refinery in 1985. The CANMET slurry hydrocracking process uses a solid additive to inhibit coke formation and is capable of 975+ degrees F conversion levels in excess of 90 per cent. The process can be used for a wide range of refinery residues including conventional crudes and residues from refinery conversion units. The CANMET process has the capability of upgrading FCCU slurry, visbreaker vacuum tower bottoms, deasphalter bottoms residue, and poor quality gas oils from cokers and visbreakers. The current practices of the Petro-Canada commercial operation were discussed in the context of adapting the process to handle higher levels of asphaltenes. Pilot plant projects are being considered for ROSE^R deasphalter bottoms. 10 refs., 5 tabs., 21 figs

[en] The impact that tanker ships have left on the marine ecosystem on Newfoundland's south coast was discussed. Tankers and container ships have sometimes discharged leftover bunker-C fuel before entering the St. Lawrence Seaway to save on cleaning services. It is estimated that 60,000 to 100,000 of the 30 million seabirds which reside or migrate through the ecological reserve around St. Mary's Bay, die each year from the effects of oil. Victims are mostly puffins, seagulls and murres. This paper discussed the involvement of the Canadian Coast Guard in the Prevention of Oiled Wildlife (POW) project. POW has compared British Columbia's shipping practices with those of Newfoundland. Although crude oil shipments along the B.C. coast exceed 250 million barrels annually, seabirds are not being oiled by passing tankers. It was suggested that in order to change attitudes in Atlantic waters, the maximum fine of $1 million against offenders should be imposed. So far, the highest penalty levied by Transport Canada has been $30,000. It was argued that this is not a significant deterrent for most polluters