University of South Florida scientists say they've detected "very low levels" of oil about 142 nautical miles southeast of the Deepwater Horizon wellhead, but it's not from BP.
USF, in conjunction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, released its findings of three sub-surface sample areas in the Gulf: 40 and 45 nautical miles northeast of the wellhead and another location 142 nautical miles southeast at the loop current.
Experts have previously predicted that if the oil gets into the loop current, it would be taken around the southern tip of the state and up the majority of the East Coast.
By using oil captured at the surface from the oil spill, scientists were able to compare the deeper water samples, ranging from 50 to 400 meters below the surface, and determine that oil found at the site 40 miles northeast is, in fact, from BP. But samples taken at 45 miles were found at such low concentration levels that they could not confirm that they also came from the spill. The samples they collected were in concentrations of .5 parts per million or less, which scientists say is good.
The oil detected in the loop current also had a very low concentration, but "fingerprints" -- or unique identifiers in the oil's composition -- indicated that the oil was not from Deepwater Horizon's gushing well.
Scientists say it's inaccurate to call these layers of sub-surface oil "plumes" because they can't determine the origin or direction of the oil. And while this most recent study has some relatively positive findings, Dr. Steven Murawski, chief science adviser for NOAA's fishery service, says they are going to remain vigilant in finding answers to these questions.
"We remain concerned about the location of hydrocarbons on the surface and under the sea," said Murawski. "From day one, NOAAs been tracking every aspect of this spill -- where the oils going, on the surface and under the sea,and what the consequences are to coastal communities, wildlife and marine environment."
Murawski says natural methane seeps and continuous releases are not uncommon to find in the Gulf of Mexico, but because there has never been an oil spill of this scale in the Gulf, there has never been this much scrutiny or observation there, either.
While it's an encouraging sign that there is no subsurface oil in the loop current, scientists say it's important to remember that these findings are only a snapshot in time.
We have a continuous release of oil, so we need to have continuous monitoring of whats going on, said Murawski.
Reach Lane Wright at lwright@sunshinestatenews.com or at (561) 398-1576.
