Alkanes in barnacles (Balanus tintinnabulum) from the Buccaneer Oilfield

Abstract

The uptake and discharge of petroleum hydrocarbons by several shellfish has been studied. Organisms which have been described as useful indicators of oil pollution include barnacles, clams, mussels, and oysters. Most of these studies were performed on animals exposed to high concentrations of hydrocarbons in the laboratory or following oil spills at sea. Little is known concerning the effects of continuous exposure of sessile marine organisms to low concentrations of petrolemu hydrocarbons in the vicinity of offshore oilfields. We have previously reported that about 200 g per day of alkanes are present in brine discharged from each of two production platforms in the Buccaneer oilfield in the NW Gulf of Mexico. We have also found that petroleum alkanes are present at concentrations up to 43 ppb in surface seawater samples from the vicinity of the oilfield, and that some plankton samples collected at the air/ sea interface contain C2o to C3o alkanes which are probably derived from petroleum. The most abundant organisms attached to the legs of the production platforms and well jackets is the barnacle Balanus tintinnabulum. Alkane levels in the flesh and shells of these organisms are now reported.