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OCEANO Contaminant Processes
 CABRILLO Home | Océano | Hydrocarbon Seeps

Hydrocarbon Seeps Page
A major component of Océano includes hydrocarbon seep studies. A significant quantity of oil exists in the Southern California coastal region due to various natural and anthropogenic causes. Assessment of the interrelations among oil seeps, tarballs, and produced crude oils is important in understanding the sources and distribution of these occurences. It is also an important element in the quality of beaches in southern California.
Photo of Casmailia Beach
Casmailia Beach is located just north of Pt. Conception. It was selected as one of the sampling locations for the collection of tarballs.
In studying hydrocarbon seeps, field studies comprised of various sampling methods and seismic surveys have taken place. Sampling methods have included the collection of tarballs from beaches for geochemical analyses, as well as the collection of produced crude oil samples from oil production platforms. These samples will provide for scientists to assess the sources of tarballs on the California coast, as well as differentiate produced crude oil from crude oil released from natural seepage. Seismic recordings allow for the detection of where these natural seeps occur.

Below is a list of relevant links:
[The following links will EXIT THE Océano SITE]

Kvenvolden, Keith, and Lorenson, Tom. USGS Sound Waves Article. September 2001. Beginning the Search for Offshore Oil Seeps Near Point Conception, California. (http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2001/09/fieldwork2.html)

Normark, Bill, Fisher, Michael, Gutmacher, Christina, Sliter, Ray, Hibbeler, Lori, Feingold, Beth, and Reid, Jane, 2002, Cruise Report for A1-02-SC, Southern California CABRILLO Project: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03-110, http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/open-file/of03-110/.

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For more information, please contact: 
Project coordinator: Homa J. Lee
Web coordinator: Carol Reiss
Web developer: Lori Hibbeler

URL: http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/cabrillo/oceano/hydrocarbon.html
Site maintained by: Laura Zink Torresan
Modified: 2 February 2005 (lh)
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