A Feasibility Study of Natural Attenuation as a Viable Cleanup Method for Heavy Oil Spills

Abstract

The constant focus of the public and media on oil spill pollution in the environment has led to a forced improvement in its clean-up process. But these methods are not as effective and efficient as society and the environment requires them to be. One of the major reasons for this is that an oil spill does not contain uniform distribution of the oil over an area, neither are the microorganisms present evenly distributed in the environment. However, when it is not possible for fiscal and any technical reasons to bring about ecosystem restoration, the obvious strategy is to prevent the discharge of pollutants. When this is not possible and crude oil (or heavy oil) has already been introduced to the environment, there is the potential for the Earth to heal itself and introduce balance over time. What is necessary as a society is to harness these natural methods and ensure that oil spills are contained in the shortest time possible.