Heavy hydrocarbon fate and transport in the environment by David M. Brown, Matthijs Bonte, Richard Gill, James Dawick, and Peter J. Boogaard Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology Volume 50(3):333-346 August 1, 2017 © 2017 Shell Global Solutions International BV
Chemical structures of heavy hydrocarbon classes. Chemical structures of heavy hydrocarbon classes. Figure shows example structures for the major classes of heavy hydrocarbon. Alkylations portrayed in the figure are illustrative only. David M. Brown et al. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 2017;50:333-346 © 2017 Shell Global Solutions International BV
A conceptual model of heavy hydrocarbon fate and transport in the environment. A conceptual model of heavy hydrocarbon fate and transport in the environment. Heavy hydrocarbons are typically released together with lighter hydrocarbon fractions that are found in most crude oils. This modifies the physical and chemical properties that significantly affect the transport on soils and in the subsurface. Releases of viscous refined bitumen or extremely heavy crude oils (APIo < 12) are unlikely to travel any significant distance in the soil or subsurface. David M. Brown et al. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 2017;50:333-346 © 2017 Shell Global Solutions International BV
Gibbs free energy calculations of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons under various redox conditions. Gibbs free energy calculations of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons under various redox conditions. Gibbs free energy values are from a range of published data (McFarland & Sims 1991; Fuchs 1998; Spormann & Widdel 2000; Widdel & Rabus 2001; Weelink et al. 2010; Mbadinga et al. 2011; Bose et al. 2013; Acuna-Askar et al. 2015) plus additional calculations-based thermodynamic properties reported by Alberty et al. (1990). David M. Brown et al. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 2017;50:333-346 © 2017 Shell Global Solutions International BV
Tar crusts formed after extensive weathering of crude oil (a–c) or the undistillable waste products after artisanal refinement (d). Tar crusts formed after extensive weathering of crude oil (a–c) or the undistillable waste products after artisanal refinement (d). Scale bar = 0.1m. David M. Brown et al. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 2017;50:333-346 © 2017 Shell Global Solutions International BV