Oil Samples in the Gulf

An environmental chemist collects samples of oil in the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon spill. The resulting chemical “fingerprint” of the oil will help determine the origin of other samples.
(J. Short, Oceana, and S. Senner, Ocean Conservancy)

Oceana’s Pacific Science Director Jeff Short, an environmental chemist who formerly worked for NOAA on the Exxon Valdez spill, collects samples of mousse oil in the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon spill. The sample will be analyzed by Dr. Ed Overton at LSU to establish the chemical profile of the oil. The resulting “fingerprint” will help determine the origin of other samples.

Tags: Deepwater Horizon Oil spills