ASTM F2534-17

Standard Guide for Visually Estimating Oil Spill Thickness on Water

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 Estimations of oil slick thickness are useful for:  
3.1.1 Estimating amount (volume) of oil in an area,  
3.1.2 Positioning oil spill countermeasures in optimal locations,  
3.1.3 Evaluating a spill situation,  
3.1.4 Estimating volume for legal or prosecution purposes, such as for an illegal discharge, and  
3.1.5 Developing spill control strategies.  
3.2 This guide is only applicable to thin sheens (sheen and rainbow sheen up to about 3 μm). Thick oil and water-in-oil emulsions do not show visual differences with respect to thickness (1, 2).3
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides information and criteria for estimating the thickness of oil on water using only visual clues.  
1.2 This guide applies to oil-on-water and does not pertain to oil on land or other surfaces.  
1.3 This guide is generally applicable for all types of crude oils and most petroleum products, under a variety of marine or fresh water conditions.  
1.4 The thickness values obtained using this guide are at best estimates because the appearance of oil on water may be affected by a number of factors including oil type, sea state, visibility conditions, view angle, and weather.  
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2017
• ICS: 13.060.01 - Water quality in general
• Technical Committee: F20 - Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Response
• Drafting Committee: F20.16 - Surveillance and Tracking

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: F2534 − 17
Standard Guide for
1
Visually Estimating Oil Spill Thickness on Water
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2534; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Significance and Use
1.1 This guide provides information and criteria for estimat- 3.1 Estimations of oil slick thickness are useful for:
3.1.1 Estimating amount (volume) of oil in an area,
ing the thickness of oil on water using only visual clues.
3.1.2 Positioning oil spill countermeasures in optimal
1.2 This guide applies to oil-on-water and does not pertain
locations,
to oil on land or other surfaces.
3.1.3 Evaluating a spill situation,
1.3 This guide is generally applicable for all types of crude
3.1.4 Estimating volume for legal or prosecution purposes,
oils and most petroleum products, under a variety of marine or
such as for an illegal discharge, and
fresh water conditions.
3.1.5 Developing spill control strategies.
1.4 The thickness values obtained using this guide are at 3.2 This guide is only applicable to thin sheens (sheen and
best estimates because the appearance of oil on water may be
rainbow sheen up to about 3 µm). Thick oil and water-in-oil
affected by a number of factors including oil type, sea state, emulsions do not show visual differences with respect to
3
visibility conditions, view angle, and weather.
thickness (1, 2).
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
4. Summary of Thickness Estimation Results
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard. 4.1 Table1hasbeensummarizedfromavarietyofliterature
sources (see Appendix X1).
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 4.2 It should be noted that the only physical change in
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
appearance that is reliable is the onset of rainbow colors, at 0.5
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- to 3 µm thickness. All other appearances vary with weather,
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
visibility conditions, viewing angle, oil type, water conditions
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor- and color, presence of waves, and the presence of other
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- material on the water surface. Therefore it is important to treat
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the these as estimates and where possible give ranges of thick-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- nesses. If volume is to be calculated, it should also be given as
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical a range of values.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
5. Summary
2. Referenced Documents
5.1 The change in visual appearance of an oil slick on water
2
provides a means to estimate oil slick thickness. Only the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
appearance of rainbow colors at 0.5 to 3 µm is a strong
F1779 Practice for Reporting Visual Observations of Oil on
indication of slick thickness and only in the range noted. Other
Water
appearances change with the variables noted and thus should
be used with caution.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on Hazardous
6. Keywords
Substances and Oil Spill Response and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
F20.16 on Surveillance and Tracking.
6.1 oil observations; oil thickness; oil thickness estimation;
Current edition approved April 1, 2017. Published April 2017. Originally
oil visibility; slick thickness
approved in 2006. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as F2534 – 12. DOI:
10.1520/F2534-17.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
the ASTM website. this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F2534 − 17
TABLE 1 Visibility Characteristics (Appearance)
Minimum Onset Thickness (µm)
Minimum
Observable
Dark
A
Silvery Rainbow Dark
Thickness
Rainbow
Average 0.08 0.1 0.5 3 > 3
Typical 0.05 to 0.2 0.1 to 0.3 0.2 to 3 > 3
Range
A
This color is sometimes called ‘oil-like,’ ‘dark colored,’ ‘brown,’ ‘black,’ or
‘metallic.’
APPENDIX
(Nonmandatory Information)
X1. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SL
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F2534 − 12 F2534 − 17
Standard Guide for
1
Visually Estimating Oil Spill Thickness on Water
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2534; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide provides information and criteria for estimating the thickness of oil on water using only visual clues.
1.2 This guide applies to oil-on-water and does not pertain to oil on land or other surfaces.
1.3 This guide is generally applicable for all types of crude oils and most petroleum products, under a variety of marine or fresh
water conditions.
1.4 The thickness values obtained using this guide are at best estimates because the appearance of oil on water may be affected
by a number of factors including oil type, sea state, visibility conditions, view angle, and weather.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
F1779 Practice for Reporting Visual Observations of Oil on Water
3. Significance and Use
3.1 Estimations of oil slick thickness are useful for:
3.1.1 Estimating amount (volume) of oil in an area,
3.1.2 Positioning oil spill countermeasures in optimal locations,
3.1.3 Evaluating a spill situation,
3.1.4 Estimating volume for legal or prosecution purposes, such as for an illegal discharge, and
3.1.5 Developing spill control strategies.
3.2 This guide is only applicable to thin sheens (sheen and rainbow sheen up to about 3 μm). Thick oil and water-in-oil
3
emulsions do not show visual differences with respect to thickness (1, 2).
4. Summary of Thickness Estimation Results
4.1 Table 1 has been summarized from a variety of literature sources (see Appendix X1).
4.2 It should be noted that the only physical change in appearance that is reliable is the onset of rainbow colors, at 0.5 to 3 μm
thickness. All other appearances vary with weather, visibility conditions, lookviewing angle, oil type, water conditions and color,
presence of waves, and the presence of other material on the water surface. Therefore it is important to treat these as estimates and
where possible give ranges of thicknesses. If volume is to be calculated, it should also be given as a range of values.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Response and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F20.16
on Surveillance and Tracking.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2012April 1, 2017. Published January 2012April 2017. Originally approved in 2006. Last previous edition approved in 20062012 as
F2534 – 06.F2534 – 12. DOI: 10.1520/F2534-12.10.1520/F2534-17.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F2534 − 17
TABLE 1 Visibility Characteristics (Appearance)
Minimum Onset Thickness (μm)
Minimum
Observable
Dark
A
Silvery Rainbow Dark
Thickness
Rainbow
Typical 0.08 0.1 0.5 3 > 3
Range
0.05 to 0.2 0.1 to 0.3 0.2 to 3 > 3
TABLE 1 Visibility Characteristics (Appearance)
Minimum Onset Thickness (μm)
Minimum
Observable
Dark
A
Silvery Rainbow Dark
Thickness
Rainbow
Average 0.08 0.1 0.5 3 > 3
Typical 0.05 to 0.2 0.1 to 0.3 0.2 to 3 > 3
Range
A
This color is sometimes called ‘oil-like,’ ‘d
...