Composition and concentration of hydrocarbons in sediment samples from the oil producing area of the East Shetland Basin, Scotland

摘要: The East Shetland Basin is one of the areas that Fisheries Research Services (FRS) has concentrated on to assess possible impacts oil exploration and production marine environment. A stratified random survey sediment was carried out in 2002. TOCs were low across basin positively correlated with grain size. total PAH concentrations (2- 6-ring parent alkylated PAHs, including 16 US EPA PAHs) less than 150 μg kg−1 dry weight their composition indicated a predominantly pyrolytic input Minor unresolved complex mixtures n-alkane profiles slight petrogenic but further examination biomarkers (hopanes steranes) showed mixed North Sea Middle Eastern source. source likely due inputs from shipping activity, as it widely used bunker fuel. Grid surveys 1986, 1988–89 1994 selected for which there data all historic grid 2002 survey. Although referring only small part Basin, comparison these shows clearly Forties crude equivalents highest by had returned same or observed original 1986.