Omanian land-based oil inputs to the Gulf of Oman

Abstract

In continuation of efforts to estimate oil inputs from coastal refineries to the marine environment in different regions, the present work concerns the Omanian refinery (Omanian Refinery Company) and its adjacent waters in the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Gulf.

It is estimated that the refinery adds 160·4 tons (}-163 t) of Omanian crude oil wastes and refined products annually to Mina Al Fahal waters where it is situated. This is additional to the 140 tons (}-142 t) discharged annually in the same area from the tank drains of a neighbouring tank farm. Analysis of dissolved/dispersed petroleum residues in the receiving waters of the main oily water outfall indicates a high factor of dilution: more than 200 times less than the concentration of oil in the discharge itself (67 μg litre⁻¹ in the receiving waters against 14·7 mg litre⁻¹ in the outfall waters).