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Oil
seeps naturally all along the coast of California, notably in the
Santa Barbara Channel near Coal Oil Point. The widespread nature of
oil seeps historically is documented by early explorers and by
coast-dwelling Chumash Indians.
Scientists want to
know where the seeps are, especially in the less studied areas like
the Southern Santa Maria Basin. We also want to know whether we can
tell the difference between oil found seeping naturally from the
ocean floor and oil being produced from offshore platforms. Since
both the seeping oil and the oil production mostly come from the
same Monterey formation, up to now, chemists haven’t been able to
reliably tell them apart. But this study may let us do that.
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Submarine Oil Seeps off the Southern
Santa Maria Basin
Our Most Recent
Cruise
In October,
numerous natural seeps were sampled on the ocean floor off Point
Conception, off Gaviota and near Coal Oil Point. |
