Risk assessment of oil spills in the Chinese Bohai Sea for prevention and readiness

Fangjie Yu; Songyuan Xue; Yang Zhao; Ge Chen

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.07.029

Risk assessment of oil spills in the Chinese Bohai Sea for prevention and readiness

Mar Pollut Bull. 2018 Oct:135:915-922. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.07.029. Epub 2018 Aug 16.

Authors

Fangjie Yu¹, Songyuan Xue², Yang Zhao³, Ge Chen⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Information Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, P.R. China; Laboratory for Regional Oceanography and Numerical Modeling, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266100, P.R. China. Electronic address: yufangjie@ouc.edu.cn.
² College of Information Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, P.R. China.
³ College of Liberal Arts, Journalism and Communication, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, P.R. China; Laboratory for Regional Oceanography and Numerical Modeling, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266100, P.R. China. Electronic address: zhaoyang@ouc.edu.cn.
⁴ College of Information Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, P.R. China; Laboratory for Regional Oceanography and Numerical Modeling, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266100, P.R. China. Electronic address: gechen@ouc.edu.cn.

PMID: 30301116
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.07.029

Abstract

Oil spill accidents occur with increasing frequency in the Chinese Bohai Sea because of the presence of extensive number of oil platforms and oil pipelines the Chinese Bohai region. An appropriate risk assessment for oil spill prevention and readiness is necessary. Risk assessment for the entire Chinese Bohai Sea based on a quantitative method is proposed. We created a hypothetical simulation of oil spill trajectories based on an oil spill model for 28 oil platforms in the Chinese Bohai region in 2010. Then, we mapped a risk index in the study areas based on a combination of oil spill trajectories and shoreline susceptibility data. Five high-risk areas were identified in the entire Chinese Bohai Sea. Detailed suggestions for prevention and readiness are described here. These results can help in developing a risk assessment of oil spills in the Chinese Bohai Sea and serve as a useful analytic tool for slick-related emergencies.

Keywords: Oil spill model, Chinese Bohai Sea; Oil-impacted zone; Risk assessment.

MeSH terms

China
Models, Theoretical
Oceans and Seas
Oil and Gas Fields
Petroleum Pollution / analysis*
Petroleum Pollution / prevention & control*
Risk Assessment
Water Pollution / analysis
Water Pollution / prevention & control*