Oil Spill Recovery May Have Been Overstated

Estimates that British Petroleum recovered about 34% of the oil spilled off Huntington Beach in February may have been significantly overstated, according to a state report to be released today.

The report, prepared for the state Lands Commission by a Norway firm, says that the actual amount of oil recovered was about 21% of the 9,500 barrels, or 399,000 gallons, of crude that spilled off of the Orange County coast from the tanker American Trader on Feb. 7.

And those new, lower estimates could increase the potential fine levied against the company by about $1.3 million, said state Controller Gray Davis, who chairs the Lands Commission.

The company and state officials are negotiating a fine using a formula that includes an $840 credit for every barrel successfully recovered, he said.

Using a 37% recovery rate, British Petroleum faces a possible fine of $5 million, Davis said. But the new report says that the company counted a good deal of emulsified water in the original recovery rate, and that the actual amount skimmed was 1,994 barrels, or 21% of the oil. Using the lesser figure could increase the fine to around $6.3 million, Davis said.

“There’s no question that British Petroleum acted in a responsible manner, and there’s no question that its attempts to mobilize the industry and call on the Coast Guard contributed to an orderly effort,” Davis said. “However, the clean-up effort was not nearly as successful as first indicated . . . .”

The report by the consulting firm Oceanor reviews how industry, government and private response teams performed in the days after the mishap when, at low tide, the 811-foot American Trader sat on its anchor and began oozing crude at an offshore terminal.

The report says the number of ships and skimmer systems that responded was “impressive,” and it noted the success and efficiency of maneuvers to protect environmentally sensitive areas. But the consultant warned that the showing was still not enough.

“In our opinion, the present response equipment is not sufficient for the type of spills to be expected from tanker operations at these terminals,” the report says.

The report suggests prohibiting large tankers from using the Huntington Beach terminal. The report also recommends installing an automatic system for more precise monitoring of water depths at the mooring. The recommendations have been anticipated, in part, by new Coast Guard restrictions instituted at the mooring in April.

Officials of British Petroleum could not be reached for comment.