Distribution of subsurface crude oil during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill using an in-situ fluorescence-based sensor, LA to FL shelf break and deep, October 2011.

This project is designed to follow the transformation and distribution of the crude oil and the applied dispersants in the impacted region of the Gulf of Mexico and the projected path of the oil plume, using a novel fluorescent technique combined with computer modeling. Several optical sensors were used to determine crude oil fluorescence and CDOM fluorescence in a Turner Cyclops platform. Both sensors were used continuously, gathering data every 10 minutes during the entire cruise. The hydrocarbon levels of the hydrocarbon in seawater in the Gulf of Mexico were monitored using fluorescence sensors. Results showed that the oil fluorescence near the DeSoto Canyon was more elevated than the fluorescence near the Deepwater Horizon site. This is indicative of possible oil northeast transport from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill location. There is also an observed elevated oil fluorescence west of the southwest Florida Shelf. CDOM fluorescence showed similar fluorescence in the same stations. Because of this result, the presence of oil in this sampling track cannot be confirmed. The collected seawater samples using multi-dimensional fluorescence and GC-MS will be compared to confirm the source and composition of any oil present in these sampling sites.