Monitoring of Natural Hydrocarbon Release from Oilsands Deposits in a Canadian River Basin
2001
Headley, J. (National Water Research Centre, Cairo (Egypt)) | Tawfic, T. A.
Athabasca Oil Sands are found in the McMurray formation in the Athabasca River Basin in Northern Alberta, Canada. Monitoring studies conducted during 1998-1200, have indicated that there is a preponderance of oil sands-derived hydrocarbons, primarily PAHs, their C14 alkylated analogues, and biomarkers, in downstream sediment samples of the tributaries relative to the upstream samples. The relative composition of these hydrocarbons are diagnostic of a petrogenic source, and provides a fingerprint for characterization of biofilm samples, aquatic invertebrates, and sediments in northern rivers and tributaries. Results of GC-MS analyses of sediments, confirm that the tributaries passing through the Fort McMurray oil sands regions contain significant levels of naturally derived hydrocarbons (2-50 mg/g). Field activities in heavily impacted areas should therefore continue to emphasize the tributaries draining through oil sands deposits, as opposed to the main-stem of the Athabasca River where hydrocarbon levels are subject to dilution from high sedimentation rates.
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