Abstract: ABSTRACT Oil has been in marine waters for millions of years, entering from marine seeps as migrating oil reached the sedimentary surface. Most of this oil was biodegraded by marine bacteria. The lighter fractions evaporated and a portion resisted weathering, becoming tar balls or asphalt slabs. More recently, greater volumes of oil have reached the oceans, both as crude and refined products. Nature still cleans up most of what man spills, but special problems occur when large volumes of crude or ' refined products suddenly are dumped into a coastal environment. The industry has maintained a remarkable record in its offshore exploration and production program, contributing less than 1/½percent of the petroleum in marine waters. MARINE SEEPS From historical records, we have learned that oil has been found in marine waters for many centuries. Geologically, we recognize oil has found its way into sea waters for millions of years. The early Greeks skimmed oil from the surface of the Aegean Sea and used it in their ancient lamps. Here in the United States, we learn from the journals of the early explorers, that the Indians on both the Gulf Coast and along the California shores used oil and tar for many purposes: affixing arrowheads to shafts, waterproofing baskets, and mending pottery. Perhaps the earliest reference8 to oil and tar in the New World is from the records of the Hernando de Soto expedition2, which included an area of exploration from the Savannah River southward and westward to the Mississippi River and East Texas. Before his death in 1542, de Soto appointed Don Luis de Moscoso as his successor. After a discouraging expedition in East Texas, de Moscoso built seven rickety vessels and set sail down the Mississippi on July 2, 1543. After reaching the Gulf of Mexico, the Spaniards decided to sail west along the coast. Upon reaching the mouth of the Sabine, they found a scum called copee, which is like pitch. They beached their vessels and, using dry slabs - tar, caulked their boats. The pitch was formed from a large oil seep that was known to exist off the coast near the Sabine River as late as 1903. About the same time, the journal11 of the Portugese explorer Juan Rodrigues Cabrillo in 1542 reveals that oil seeps were prevalent in the Santa Barbara area of Coastal California. Later references to land and/or marine petroleum seeps in the area include the records11 of Father Pedro Font, 1776; Captain Cook, 1792; and the records of Benjamin Silliman, 1864.4
Publication Year: 1977
Publication Date: 1977-05-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 1
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