ASTM D3415-98

Standard Practice for Identificaiton of Waterborne Oils

SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the broad concepts of sampling and analyzing waterborne oils for identification and comparison with suspected source oils. Detailed procedures are referenced in this practice. A general approach is given to aid the investigator in planning a program to solve the problem of chemical characterization and to determine the source of a waterborne oil sample.
1.2 This practice is applicable to all waterborne oils taken from water bodies, either natural or man-made, such as open oceans, estuaries or bays, lakes, rivers, smaller streams, canals; or from beaches, marshes, or banks lining or edging these water systems. Generally, the waterborne oils float on the surface of the waters or collect on the land surfaces adjoining the waters, but occasionally these oils, or portions, are emulsified or dissolved in the waters, or are incorporated into the sediments underlying the waters, or into the organisms living in the water or sediments.
1.3 This practice as presently written proposes the use of specific analytical techniques described in the referenced ASTM standards. As additional techniques for characterizing waterborne oils are developed and written up as test methods, this practice will be revised.
1.4 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jul-1998
• ICS: 75.080 - Petroleum products in general
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.06 - Methods for Analysis for Organic Substances in Water

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D3415-98(2004) - Standard Practice for Identificaiton of Waterborne Oils
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D5739-06(2020) - Standard Practice for Oil Spill Source Identification by Gas Chromatography and Positive Ion Electron Impact Low Resolution Mass Spectrometry
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D3326-07(2017) - Standard Practice for Preparation of Samples for Identification of Waterborne Oils
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D5412-93(2017)e1 - Standard Test Method for Quantification of Complex Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Mixtures or Petroleum Oils in Water
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D3325-90(2020) - Standard Practice for Preservation of Waterborne Oil Samples
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D3328-06(2020) - Standard Test Methods for Comparison of Waterborne Petroleum Oils by Gas Chromatography
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D4489-95(2017) - Standard Practices for Sampling of Waterborne Oils
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998

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
An American National Standard
Designation: D 3415 – 98
Standard Practice for
Identification of Waterborne Oils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3415; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* D 3328 Test Methods for Comparison of Waterborne Petro-
leum Oils by Gas Chromatography
1.1 This practice covers the broad concepts of sampling and
D 3414 Test Method for Comparison of Waterborne Petro-
analyzing waterborne oils for identification and comparison
leum Oils by Infrared Spectroscopy
with suspected source oils. Detailed procedures are referenced
D 3650 Test Method for Comparison of Waterborne Petro-
in this practice. A general approach is given to aid the
leum Oils by Fluorescence Analysis
investigator in planning a program to solve the problem of
D 4489 Practices for Sampling of Waterborne Oils
chemical characterization and to determine the source of a
D 4840 Guide for Sampling Chain of Custody Procedures
waterborne oil sample.
D 5037 Test Method for Comparison of Waterborne Petro-
1.2 This practice is applicable to all waterborne oils taken
leum Oils by High Performance Liquid Chromatography
from water bodies, either natural or man-made, such as open
D 5739 Practice for Oil Spill Source Identification by Gas
oceans, estuaries or bays, lakes, rivers, smaller streams, canals;
Chromatography and Positive Ion Electron Impact Low
or from beaches, marshes, or banks lining or edging these
Resolution Mass Spectrometry
water systems. Generally, the waterborne oils float on the
E 620 Practice for Reporting Opinions of Technical Ex-
surface of the waters or collect on the land surfaces adjoining
perts
the waters, but occasionally these oils, or portions, are emul-
sified or dissolved in the waters, or are incorporated into the
3. Terminology
sediments underlying the waters, or into the organisms living
3.1 Definitions:
in the water or sediments.
3.1.1 waterborne oil—any oil, whether or not derived from
1.3 This practice as presently written proposes the use of
petroleum, carried by a water system (for example, ocean, bay,
specific analytical techniques described in the referenced
lake, river, etc.) usually at the surface but occasionally emul-
ASTM standards. As additional techniques for characterizing
sified or dissolved in the water. The waterborne oil can also be
waterborne oils are developed and written up as test methods,
found on beaches or banks edging the water body, in the
this practice will be revised.
sediments underlying the water, or in the organisms living in
1.4 This standard does not purport to address the safety
the water or in the sediments.
concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
3.2 For definitions of other terms used in this practice, refer
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and
to Terminology D 1129, and to Practices D 3325, D 3326,
health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
D 4489, and D 5739, and Test Methods D 3328, D 3650, and
limitations prior to use.
D 5037.
2. Referenced Documents
4. Significance and Use
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2 4.1 Oil from one crude oil field is readily distinguishable
D 1129 Terminology Relating to Water
from another, and differences in the makeup of oils from the
D 3325 Practice for Preservation of Waterborne Oil
same crude oil field can often be observed as well. Refined oils
Samples
are fractions from crude oil stocks, usually derived from
D 3326 Practice for Preparation of Samples for Identifica-
distillation processes. Two refined oils of the same type differ
tion of Waterborne Oils
because of dissimilarities in the characteristics of their crude
oil feed stocks as well as variations in refinery processes and
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and any subsequent contact with other oils mixed in during transfer
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.06 on Methods for Analysis for
operations from residues in tanks, ships, pipes, hoses, etc.
Organic Substances in Water.
Current edition approved July 10, 1998. Published December 1998. Originally
published as D 3415 – 75 T. Last previous edition D 3415 – 90.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
3 4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.02. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 3415 – 98
Thus, all petroleum oils, to some extent, have chemical 5.5.1 Analyze spill samples as well as any suspected source
compositions different from each other. oils, by gas chromatography (Test Method A or B of Test
4.2 Identification of a recovered oil is determined by com-
Methods D 3328) and by either infrared analysis (Test Method
parison with known oils selected because of their possible
D 3414), or fluorescence spectroscopy (Test Method D 3650).
relationship to the particular recovered oil, for example,
Interpretation of the gas chromatograms and infrared or fluo-
suspected sources. Thus, samples of such known oils must be
rescence spectra of the waterborne oil and the suspected source
collected and submitted along with the unknown for analysis.
oils should provide information as to whether the waterborne
Identification of the source of an unknown oil by itself cannot
oil is from a petroleum source, whether its carbon-number
be made without comparison to a known oil. The principles of
range is similar to distillate, residual, or crude oil, and whether
oil spill identification are discussed in Ref (1).
it resembles any of the possible suspected source oils. If the
4.3 Many similarities (within uncertainties of sampling,
waterborne oil is weathered, it may not be possible to deter-
analysis and weathering) will be needed to establish the
mine if it is a crude oil or a residual oil by gas chromatography.
identity beyond a reasonable doubt. The analyses described
Odor and physical appearance may help to determine if the
will distinguish many, but not all samples. Examples of
waterborne oil is actually from a petroleum source. Distillation
weathering of various classes of oils are included in Ref (2).
is not required.
4.4 This practice is a guide to the use of ASTM test methods
5.5.2 For final identification with a possible source, the
for the analysis of oil samples for oil spill identification
samples shall be analyzed by another method in addition to
purposes. The evaluation of results from analytical methods
Test Method D 3328. Test Method D 3650 or Test Method D
and preparation of an Oil Spill Identification Report are
3414, if there is sufficient sample to do so, may be used for
discussed in
...