Case Study : PIPER ALPHA

Background
On 6 July 1988, a fire on board the oil production platform Piper Alpha led to a massive explosion which destroyed most of the platform. The environmental significance of this accident became clear when the platform operator Occidental (Caledonian Oil) indicated that four transformers containing a mixture of chlorinated biphenyls (CBs) were on board at the time of the accident. CBs are a class of highly stable lipophilic aromatic chemicals which have an extensive industrial use. The transformers on Piper Alpha contained nine tonnes of fluid of which 60% were CBs (Aroclor 1254) and the remainder trichlorobenzenes. The transformers were directly affected by the fire and explosion, and were likely to have been buried in the debris at the base of the platform. Although they were not found, it was assumed that they would not have remained intact and that some of the CB fluid may have escaped. Some of these samples were found to be contaminated with CBs showing a similiar profile to Aroclor 1254. The FRS research vessel FRV Scotia was deployed to obtain samples of water, sediment and animal and plant life (biota).

Findings
No CB contamination was detected in any of the water samples. CBs were found in the biota and sediment samples. Highest CB concentrations were found within 50-100 m of the main debris pile. 14 sediment samples were described as being heavily contaminated. 33 sediment samples taken within 1 km of the platform were classed as contaminated. Assessment of the results suggested that 15% of the original 5.5 tonnes of CBs on the platform may have ended up in the sediment. CB levels determined in the fish samples from the area were similar to those generally found in the North Sea, and were not considered to be a hazard to human health.

Fisheries Research Services response

Samples of the platform debris were sent to Fisheries Research Services (FRS) for chemical analysis.

Monitoring programme
To safeguard public health, and to investigate the environmental processes, a regular CB analysis monitoring programme of commercial fish and shellfish from the area was set up. Fish were sampled using a standard trawl net within a 2 km radius from the platform remains. Samples of muscle tissue and liver were analysed from the following fish species:

Mean total PCB concentration (g/kg wet weight)

Whiting Haddock Ling Saithe Monkfish Witch Plaice Herring Cod Nephrops Shrimp

(Merlangius merlangus) (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) (Molva molva) (Pollachius virens) (Squatina squatina) (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) (Pleuronectes platessa) (Clupea harengus) (Gadus morhua) (Nephrops norvegicus) (Pandalus borealis)

20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Cod Haddock Whiting Nephrops

11 of the possible 209 CB congeners were determined in these studies as these were the dominant compounds in Arcoclor 1254. Surveys were completed for the years 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996 and 1999 using both chartered commercial fishing vessels and Scotia. A further survey, commissioned by oil and gas producer Talisman (operator of the Piper B platform) was undertaken in 2002.

Figure 1. Concentration of CBs in fish and shellfish muscle.

Mean total PCB concentration (g/kg wet weight) 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Cod 1989 1991 1993 Haddock 1996 1999 Whiting typical North Sea values

Results
Results for all species were lower than the CB concentrations found in areas such as the Firth of Clyde (Figs 1 and 2). Species with a low extractable lipid content tended to have lower CB concentrations. CB levels in shrimps were below baseline values found around Scottish coastal waters. All samples analysed in the first five surveys fall into the lowest contamination level category set by the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) of the Oslo and Paris Commissions (OSPARCOM). CB concentrations in fish and shellfish collected in 2002 were similar to those found in previous surveys of the area.

Figure 2. Concentration of CBs in fish liver.

The CB concentration in tissue can vary significantly within the same species and sample type, depending on the lipid levels in the tissue and the time of spawning. Great care must be taken in drawing conclusions when comparing samples taken at different times of the year.

Conclusions
Analysis of sediments from the initial survey confirmed CB contamination of sediments from the vicinity of the Piper Alpha explosion. Concentrations of CBs in biota were found to be low. There is no evidence of increase in levels of CBs in biota from the area over time.

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