Oil in Water Monitoring using Handheld UVF-500D Analyzer - Case Study

Decommisioning Offshore Oil Platforms in California

Coal Oil Point in Santa Barbara, CA is a popular spot for surfers (above), with Platform Holly looming in the distance. This and a network of other oil platforms were permanently closed down after the 2015 pipeline spill at Refugio State Beach

A contractor is using the UVF-500D to test oil in water on-site for plugging and abandonment operations. These huge structures contain miles of pipe, which must be cleaned out to remove any residual oils. The California State Lands Commission requires the water to be tested and treated prior to disposal.

The UVF-500D uses fluorescence to detect concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in water. The analyzer is very sensitive to aromatic hydrocarbons, abundant in crude oils, heavy fuel oils and bitumen. The minimum detection limit is 5 ppm (mg/L). Test kits are available to prepare and analyze samples. Sitelab’s TPH calibration standard is specially formulated to produce accurate, reliable readings, which correlate well to confirmatory lab methods.

Visit UVF-500D.COM to learn more about oil in water monitoring!