ASTM F2230-19

Standard Guide for In-situ Burning of Oil Spills on Water: Ice Conditions

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide is meant to aid local and regional spill response teams during spill response planning and spill events.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide addresses in-situ burning as a response tool for oil spills occurring on waters with ice present.  
1.2 In-situ burning is one of several methods available to responders for the control or cleanup of spilled oil, which includes mechanical recovery, dispersant application or natural recovery.  
1.3 The purpose of this guide is to provide the user with general information on in-situ burning in ice conditions as a means of controlling and removing spilled oil. It is intended as a reference to plan an in-situ burn of spilled oil.  
1.4 This guide outlines procedures and describes some equipment that can be used to accomplish an in-situ burn in ice conditions. The guide includes a description of typical ice situations where in-situ burning of oil has been found to be effective. Other standards address the general guidelines for the use of in-situ burning (Guide F1788), the use of ignition devices (Guide F1990), the use of fire-resistant boom (Guide F2152), the application of in-situ burning in ships (Guide F2533), and the use of in-situ burning in marshes (Guide F2823).  
1.5 In making in-situ burn decisions, appropriate government authorities should be consulted as required by law.  
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.7 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.Specific precautionary information is given in Section 8. Guide F1788 addresses operational considerations.  
1.8 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: Published
• Publication Date: 28-Feb-2019
• ICS: 13.220.40 - Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products
• ICS: 75.020 - Extraction and processing of petroleum and natural gas
• Technical Committee: F20 - Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Response
• Drafting Committee: F20.15 - In-Situ Burning

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F2230-14 - Standard Guide for In-situ Burning of Oil Spills on Water: Ice Conditions
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2019
• Refers: ASTM F2533-20 - Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil in Ships or Other Vessels
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2020
• Refers: ASTM F2823-20 - Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil Spills in Marshes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2020
• Refers: ASTM F2823-15 - Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil Spills in Marshes
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2015
• Refers: ASTM F1788-14 - Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil Spills on Water: Environmental and Operational Considerations
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2014
• Refers: ASTM F1990-07(2013) - Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Ignition Devices
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Refers: ASTM F2152-07(2013) - Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Fire-Resistant Boom
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Refers: ASTM F2533-07(2013) - Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil in Ships or Other Vessels
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Refers: ASTM F2823-10 - Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil Spills in Marshes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2010
• Refers: ASTM F1788-08 - Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil Spills on Water: Environmental and Operational Considerations
• Effective Date: 15-Sep-2008
• Refers: ASTM F1990-07 - Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Ignition Devices
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2007
• Refers: ASTM F2152-07 - Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Fire-Resistant Boom
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2007
• Refers: ASTM F2533-07 - Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil in Ships or Other Vessels
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2007
• Refers: ASTM F2152-01 - Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Fire-Resistant Boom
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Refers: ASTM F1990-99 - Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Ignition Devices
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999

Overview

ASTM F2230-19: Standard Guide for In-situ Burning of Oil Spills on Water: Ice Conditions provides essential guidance for spill response teams utilizing in-situ burning (ISB) as an oil spill countermeasure in ice-affected waters. Developed by ASTM International, this standard assists local and regional responders in planning and executing effective ISB operations when oil is spilled on or under ice in marine, coastal, river, and lake environments.

ISB is one of several recognized methods for oil spill response, alongside mechanical recovery, dispersant use, and natural processes. In ice conditions, in-situ burning can often be the most practical and efficient way to remove oil, minimizing long-term environmental impact. By burning oil in place, this method can rapidly reduce the volume of spilled oil and limit harm to sensitive habitats.

Key Topics

ASTM F2230-19 addresses the following key aspects of in-situ burning for oil spills in ice conditions:

• Ice Types and Conditions: Defines and considers various ice environments, including brash ice, fast ice, drift ice, pack ice, melt pools, and leads.
• Burning Strategies: Identifies how ISB can be applied based on ice coverage-ranging from open water with minimal ice, to close and very close pack ice. Strategies involve natural containment by ice, fire-resistant booms, wind herding, and use of chemical herders.
• Response Planning: Offers general information on procedures, equipment, and operational considerations crucial for effective ISB operations in cold regions.
• Ignition Devices: Discusses the use of helicopter-mounted igniters, hand-held devices, and other tools to initiate burning under various ice scenarios.
• Environmental Considerations: Details how burning substantially reduces the amount of oil residue left in the environment, with efficiencies often exceeding 90%.
• Health and Safety: Provides guidance on regulatory and safety requirements, including the need for appropriate approvals, safety protocols, and planning for residue management.
• Effectiveness and Limitations: Explains when ISB is most suitable (e.g., thick fresh oil) and outlines key limitations, such as slick thickness requirements and challenges with emulsified oils.

Applications

This guide is primarily used by:

• Oil Spill Response Teams: For planning, training, and executing ISB operations in cold and ice-affected waters.
• Environmental Agencies and Regulators: As a technical reference for permitting and oversight of ISB operations.
• Oil Industry and Ship Operators: To ensure compliance and readiness for oil spill incidents in Arctic, sub-Arctic, and other icy waters.
• Emergency Preparedness Planners: For developing contingency plans that include ISB as a response option for ice condition scenarios.

Typical applications detailed in the standard include:

• Burning oil contained by natural ice barriers or leads
• Utilizing fire-resistant booms in open water/free-drifting ice
• Using herders and wind to concentrate oil for efficient burns
• Slotting ice to access and ignite oil trapped underneath

Related Standards

ASTM F2230-19 references and aligns with several other ASTM guidelines to provide comprehensive oil spill response strategies:

• ASTM F1788 - Guide for In-situ Burning of Oil Spills on Water: Environmental and Operational Considerations
• ASTM F1990 - Guide for In-situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Ignition Devices
• ASTM F2152 - Guide for In-situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Fire-Resistant Boom
• ASTM F2533 - Guide for In-situ Burning of Oil in Ships or Other Vessels
• ASTM F2823 - Guide for In-situ Burning of Oil Spills in Marshes

These related standards cover additional operational details, equipment requirements, and specialized environments, supporting a coordinated and effective approach to oil spill response in a variety of conditions.

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Keywords: in-situ burning, oil spill, ice conditions, ASTM F2230-19, arctic oil spill response, fire-resistant boom, oil spill cleanup, ISB, spill response planning, environmental protection

Standards Content (Sample)

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.
Designation: F2230 − 19
Standard Guide for
In-situ Burning of Oil Spills on Water: Ice Conditions
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2230; 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 ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
1.1 This guide addresses in-situ burning as a response tool
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
for oil spills occurring on waters with ice present.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.2 In-situ burning is one of several methods available to
responders for the control or cleanup of spilled oil, which
2. Referenced Documents
includes mechanical recovery, dispersant application or natural
2.1 ASTM Standards:
recovery.
F1788 Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil Spills on Water:
1.3 The purpose of this guide is to provide the user with
Environmental and Operational Considerations
general information on in-situ burning in ice conditions as a
F1990 Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Ignition
means of controlling and removing spilled oil. It is intended as
Devices
a reference to plan an in-situ burn of spilled oil.
F2152 Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Fire-
Resistant Boom
1.4 This guide outlines procedures and describes some
F2533 Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil in Ships or Other
equipment that can be used to accomplish an in-situ burn in ice
Vessels
conditions. The guide includes a description of typical ice
F2823 Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil Spills in Marshes
situations where in-situ burning of oil has been found to be
effective.Otherstandardsaddressthegeneralguidelinesforthe
3. Terminology
use of in-situ burning (Guide F1788), the use of ignition
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
devices (Guide F1990), the use of fire-resistant boom (Guide
3.1.1 brash ice—floating ice fragments less than 2 m across.
F2152), the application of in-situ burning in ships (Guide
F2533), and the use of in-situ burning in marshes (Guide
3.1.2 close pack ice—pack ice with concentration of 7/10 to
F2823).
8/10 (fraction of a whole).
1.5 In making in-situ burn decisions, appropriate govern- 3.1.3 fast ice—ice attached to the shoreline.
ment authorities should be consulted as required by law.
3.1.4 fire-resistant (FR) boom—boom designed to contain
burning oil (Guide F2152).
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3.1.5 fracture or lead—any break or rupture through very
standard.
close pack ice, compact pack ice, fast ice, or a single floe.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.6 frazil or grease ice—icecrystalsformingonsurfaceof
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
water, ice, or melt pools.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.7 fresh oil—oilrecentlyspilled,remainingun-weathered
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
and un-emulsified.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to us-
3.1.8 ice coverage—a combination of ice pans, ice chunks,
e.Specific precautionary information is given in Section 8.
bergy bits covering 10 % to near 100 % coverage of water
Guide F1788 addresses operational considerations.
surface, more accurately described using other terms in this
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
section such as close pack ice, open water, and so forth.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.1.9 in-situ-burning—burning of oil directly on the water
surface.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on Hazardous
Substances and Oil Spill Responseand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
F20.15 on In-Situ Burning. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved March 1, 2019. Published March 2019. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as F2230 – 14. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/F2230-19. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2230 − 19
3.1.10 melt pools—accumulations of melt water on the will spread more slowly than it would in open water. When ice
surface of ice during thawing. concentrations are lower, spreading can still be reduced by the
effect of wind herding. Oil herded by wind can concentrate
3.1.11 open drift ice—ice concentration of 4/10 to 6/10.
against ice floes and can accumulate to thicknesses capable of
3.1.12 open water—less than 1/10 ice concentration.
supporting combustion or by the use of chemical herders.
3.1.13 pack ice—any area of sea ice other than fast ice no
5.4 In this guide, environments suitable for in-situ burning
matter what form it takes or how it is disposed.
will be discussed. The matrix in Table 1 is provided to assist
3.1.14 residue—the material, excluding airborne emissions,
users of this guide.
remaining after the oil stops burning.
5.5 Burning in an ice environment may be conducted
3.1.15 rotten ice—sea ice that has become honeycombed
remotely, lessening safety concerns.
and is disintegrating.
3.1.16 very close pack ice—pack ice with concentration of
6. Marine Environments
9/10 to 10/10.
6.1 For the purpose of this guide, in-situ burning in ice
3.1.17 veryopendriftice—iceconcentrationof1/10to3/10.
conditionsreferstomarineandcoastalwaters,rivers,andlakes
where oil spills may occur in ice-infested waters.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This guide is meant to aid local and regional spill
7. Background
response teams during spill response planning and spill events.
7.1 In-situ burning protects the marine environment from
the effects of an oil spill by consuming the oil by fire leaving
5. General Considerations for Making In-situ Burn
as little as 1 to 10 % oil residue on the surface of the water
Decisions
(GuideF1788).Byremovingtheoilfromthewaterandice,the
5.1 For marine spills of oil in ice conditions, in-situ burning
impacts on the surface and sub-surface biota are reduced.
should be given equal consideration with other spill counter-
Unburned oil may ultimately impact shorelines, including
measures and may be the best available technology for ice
criticalhabitatssuchasmarshesandbirdrookeries.Oilfloating
conditions. In some cases, in-situ burning may be the only
on the surface has the potential to contact sea birds and marine
practical option.
life. Stranded oil may result in adverse environmental impacts.
5.2 The decision of whether or not to use in-situ burning in The amount of oil spilled, the degree of ice cover, and weather
a given spill situation is always one involving trade-offs, that conditions are factors that determine the impact of a spill and
is, smoke plume and burn residue compared to oil left alone. the burnability of the oil.
5.3 One of the limitations of recovery techniques for float- 7.2 In-situ burning of an oil spill requires an ignition source
ing oil is effective containment of the slick. In-situ burning is with the ability to provide multiple ignitions (see Guide
subject to this constraint as a minimum thickness of about 2 F1990). The helicopter sling-mounted drum filled with gelled
mm is required for ignition and sustained burning of the slick. gasolineordieseldevelopedforlightingbackfiresduringforest
Natural containment of spilled oil can occur in some ice fire fighting is an effective system for igniting oil in ice
conditions. The presence of ice can inhibit the spreading and conditions. Individual hand-held igniters dropped from aircraft
weathering of the oil slick. At higher ice concentrations, oil ordeployedfromvesselsmaybeusedtoigniteoilcontainedby
TABLE 1 Burn Strategies for Different Arctic Conditions
Type of Waters Status of Oil Strategy
Marine Coastal Waters
Open water (0/10 to 1/10) Contained fire-resistant (FR) boom Burn oil in boom
Very open drift ice (1/10 to 3/10) Possibly contained by FR boom Burn oil in boom; use herding agents to
concentrate oil
Open drift ice (4/10 to 6/10) Herded by wind or contained by ice Burn oil where sufficient thickness; use
herding agents to concentrate oil
Close pack ice (7/10 to 8/10) Contained by ice leads or floes Burn oil in leads and between floes
Very close pack ice (9/10 to 10/10) Contained in leads and fractures Burn oil in leads and fractures
Fast ice Contained on surface of ice Burn oil where sufficient thickness
Melt pools Oil contained on melt pools or on surface through brine channels Burn oil where sufficient thickness
Rivers
Open water Deflect and contain oil in FR boom Burn oil in boom
Brash, moving ice conditions Look for areas of oil pooled by wind, current or ice Burn where sufficient thickness
Solid ice, oil under ice Slot ice, deflect oil to surface to burn Burn oil where pooled on surface
Solid ice, oil on top of ice Dam oil on top of ice to contain and pool Burn oil where pooled on surface
Lakes
Open water Contain in FR boom Burn oil in boom
Brash ice conditions Look for areas of oil pooled by wind, current, or ice Burn oil where sufficient thickness
Solid ice, oil under ice Drill or slot ice to bring oil to surface Burn pools of oil on surface
Solid ice, oil on top of ice Dam oil on top of ice to contain and pool Burn oil where pooled on surface
F2230 − 19
ice. Since burning is most efficient when the oil is relatively 8.2.3 Containedinfire-resistantboom(generallyopenwater
fresh and un-emulsified, sources of ignition should be identi- up to 1/10 ice coverage).
fied by response planners in their pre-spill contingency plan-
8.2.4 Trapped along an ice floe or herded by wind and has
ning.
sufficient thickness to support a burn.
7.3 In open waters and in open and very open drift ice,
8.2.5 Contained in melt pools on top of ice sheets.
containment by special fire-resistant booms may be required
8.2.6 Contained in open fractures or leads in ice.
(Guide F2152).
8.2.7 Flowing under ice in a stream and ice can be slotted to
bring oil to surface to burn.
8. Recommendations
8.2.8 Spilledonsurfaceoficeandhassufficientthicknessto
8.1 Use of helicopter-mounted ignition systems or indi-
support a burn.
vidual igniters is a hazardous operation and all applicable
safety instructions for their use should be followed. Hazardous
8.3 In-situ burning of oil may require certain regulatory
materials may have to be handled as part of the ignition
approvals.
equipment. Appropriate MSDS sheets should be available and
8.4 Although in-situ burns are efficient, there always will
followed during use of this equipment.
remain some residue and provisions for the recovery of that
8.2 The in-situ burning of spilled oil can be accomplished
residue should be included in in-situ burn response planning.
under favorable conditions when oil is:
8.2.1 Contained in close pack ice conditions (pack ice of
9. Keywords
7/10 coverage or greater).
8.2.2 Contained in drift ice conditions is sufficient thickness 9.1 arctic oil spills; ISB; ice conditions; in-situ burning; oil
to sustain a burn (drift ice of 2/10 to 6/10). spills
APPENDIXES
(Nonmandatory Information)
X1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON ARCTIC IN-SITU BURNING
X1.1 Several field experiments have been conducted in the from the main burn basin (15 m dia.) by 1.5 to 3.5 m.A10 mm
Arctic waters to determine the feasibility of burning oil in layer of crude oil, at different degrees of weathering, was
ice-infested waters. (1, 2). One experiment involved the placed in these basins. During relatively calm conditions, there
releaseof30tonsoffreshcrudeoil.Itwasobservedthattheoil wasnospreadingofflamesfromthemainburn.Whenthewind
weathered more slowly and to a lesser extent in ice than it was blowing from 2 to 11 m/s there was enough flame tilt (30
would have in open water (3). After approximately 10 days, to 35 angle from horizontal) to ignite oil with 25 % of the light
samples of the oil showed that it had lost 20 % of its volume ends evaporated and a water-in-oil mixture containing 50 %
due to evaporation and that it had formed a 20 % water-in-oil water in the small basins 1.5 to 3.5 m from main burn.
mixture. These results indicated that oil spilled in such ice Efficiencies of these burns were measured at over 95 % (3).
conditions could feasibly be treated using in-situ burning Even uncontained crude oil slicks which were burning at
techniques. Burning was in fact evaluated as the best response release continued to burn at nearly 90 % efficiency until slick
method available for this particular spill situation (3).Another thickness thinned to less than 1 mm (5).
recent study evaluating different response methods for several
X1.3 Experiments have been conducted on Alaskan crude
possible spill scenarios for the Arctic concluded that in-situ
oils to determine burnability when fresh, weathered and
burning would likely be the most effective option under certain
emulsified with and without emulsion breakers. If the oil is not
circumstances (4).
morethan20 %weatheredand20 %water-in-oilmixture,then
expected efficiency of burn will exceed 90 % (6, 7). Oil more
X1.2 Other field experiments have been carried out to
weathered or more emulsified may still be burned by using
determine the effect of wind or lack of wind on the flame
emulsion breakers or adding fresh crude to initiate burn.
spreading from one slick area to another slick area, either
directly connected to or physically separated from the burn
X1.4 The field burns have shown that high burn efficiencies
area.Ambient temperatures for these experiments were typical
can be obtained when burning fresh oil and emulsions con-
winter range of -20 to +5°C. Wind speeds ranged from 5 to 15
tained in ice-infested waters.Amixture of fresh oil and a 50 %
m/s with some occasional calm periods.The small basins of oil
water-in-oil mixture burned with efficiencies of over 99 %. A
(0.5 by 1.5 m) designed to simulate an ice pack were separated
20 % water-in-oil mixture burns with an efficiency of 95 % in
abasinwith50 %brokenicecoverage (3, 6).Thewindherding
3 effect tends to confine the slick to a smaller area and therefore
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
this standard. burn for a longer period of time (8, 9).
F2230 − 19
X1.5 Flame spreading in ice conditions was observed X1.10 Ice slotting: Oil under ice can be recovered using
mainly in a downwind direction, some spreading occurred slots cut through the ice (17, 18). Oil can then be burned
sideways and upwind between inter-connected pools of oil. directly in these slots. Calculation, laboratory tests, and field
Flame spreading from one burning oil pool to another separate trials have shown that slots should be at least twice as wide as
oil pool was dependant on the wind direction and speed (3, 6). the thickness of the ice and that the angle depends on the
velocity of the river or flow under the ice. An angle of 30° to
X1.6 Experiments to test burning of oil in ice leads were
thecurrentwasfoundtobeusefulforvelocitiesof1to4knots.
conducted to determine the effect of wind herding, oil
Recovery tests showed that over 90 % of oil released upstream
weathering, and lead geometry on burning efficiencies. Burn
could be recovered in the slots.
efficiencies of up to 90 % were measured.Weathering of oil up
to 20 % did not significantly affect the burns (10).
X1.11 Chemical herding agents have been tested at lab-,
mid- and full-scale and have been shown to concentrate and
X1.7 Igniting spilled oil in ice conditions can be accom-
contain oil for in-situ burning in open and v
...

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: F2230 − 14 F2230 − 19
Standard Guide for
In-situ Burning of Oil Spills on Water: Ice Conditions
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2230; 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 addresses in-situ burning as a response tool for oil spills occurring on waters with ice present.
1.2 There are several methods of In-situ burning is one of several methods available to responders for the control or cleanup
of spilled oil. In-situ burning,oil, which includes mechanical recovery, dispersant application or natural recovery are the usual
options available.recovery.
1.3 The purpose of this guide is to provide the user with general information on in-situ burning in ice conditions as a means
of controlling and removing spilled oil. It is intended as a reference to plan an in-situ burn of spilled oil.
1.4 This guide outlines procedures and describes some equipment that can be used to accomplish an in-situ burn in ice
conditions. The guide includes a description of typical ice situations where in-situ burning of oil has been found to be effective.
Other standards address the general guidelines for the use of in-situ burning (Guide F1788), the use of ignition devices (Guide
F1990), the use of fire-resistant boom (Guide F2152), the application of in-situ burning in ships (Guide F2533), and the use of
in-situ burning in marshes (Guide F2823).
1.5 In making in-situ burn decisions, appropriate government authorities should be consulted as required by law.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.7 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory requirementslimitations prior to use.Specific precautionary information is given in Section 8. Guide
F1788 addresses operational considerations.
1.8 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
2.1 ASTM Standards:
F1788 Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil Spills on Water: Environmental and Operational Considerations
F1990 Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Ignition Devices
F2152 Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Fire-Resistant Boom
F2533 Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil in Ships or Other Vessels
F2823 Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil Spills in Marshes
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 brash ice—floating ice fragments less than 2 m across.
3.1.2 close pack ice—pack ice with concentration of 7/10 to 8/10 (fraction of a whole).
3.1.3 fast ice—ice attached to the shoreline.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Responseand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F20.15
on In-Situ Burning.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2014March 1, 2019. Published December 2014March 2019. Originally approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 20082014
as F2230 – 08.F2230 – 14. DOI: 10.1520/F2230-14.10.1520/F2230-19.
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.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2230 − 19
3.1.4 fire-resistant boom (FR)—(FR) boom—boom designed to contain burning oil (Guide F2152).
3.1.5 fracture or lead—any break or rupture through very close pack ice, compact pack ice, fast ice, or a single floe.
3.1.6 frazil or grease ice—ice crystals forming on surface of water, ice, or melt pools.
3.1.7 fresh oil—oil recently spilled, remaining un-weathered and un-emulsified.
3.1.8 ice coverage—a combination of ice pans, ice chunks, bergy bits covering 10 % to near 100 % coverage of water surface,
more accurately described using other terms in this section such as close pack ice,open water, and so forth.
3.1.9 in-situ-burning—burning of oil directly on the water surface.
3.1.10 melt pools—accumulations of melt water on the surface of ice during thawing.
3.1.11 open drift ice—ice concentration of 4/10 to 6/10.
3.1.12 open water—less than 1/10 ice concentration.
3.1.13 pack ice—any area of sea ice other than fast ice no matter what form it takes or how it is disposed.
3.1.14 residue—the material, excluding airborne emissions, remaining after the oil stops burning.
3.1.15 rotten ice—sea ice that has become honeycombed and is disintegrating.
3.1.16 very close pack ice—pack ice with concentration of 9/10 to 10/10.
3.1.17 very open drift ice—ice concentration of 1/10 to 3/10.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This guide is meant to aid local and regional spill response teams during spill response planning and spill events.
5. General Considerations for Making In-situ Burn Decisions
5.1 For marine spills of oil in ice conditions, in-situ burning should be given equal consideration with other spill
countermeasures and may be the best available technology for ice conditions. In some cases, in-situ burning may be the only
practical option.
5.2 The decision of whether or not to use in-situ burning in a given spill situation is always one involving trade-offs, that is,
smoke plume and burn residue compared to oil left alone.
5.3 One of the limitations of recovery techniques for floating oil is effective containment of the slick. In-situ burning is subject
to this constraint as a minimum thickness of about 2 mm is required for ignition and sustained burning of the slick. Natural
containment of spilled oil can occur in some ice conditions. The presence of ice can inhibit the spreading and weathering of the
oil slick. At higher ice concentrations, oil will spread more slowly than it would in open water. When ice concentrations are lower,
spreading can still be reduced by the effect of wind herding. Oil herded by wind can concentrate against ice floes and can
accumulate to thicknesses capable of supporting combustion or by the use of chemical herders.
5.4 In this guide, environments suitable for in-situ burning will be discussed. The matrix in Table 1 is provided to assist users
of this guide.
TABLE 1 Burn Strategies for Different Arctic Conditions
Type of Waters Status of Oil Strategy
Marine Coastal Waters
Open water (0/10 to 1/10) Contained fire-resistant(FR) boom Burn oil in boom
Open water (0/10 to 1/10) Contained fire-resistant (FR) boom Burn oil in boom
Very open drift ice (1/10 to 3/10) Possibly contained by FR boom Burn oil in boom; use herding agents to
concentrate oil
Open drift ice (4/10 to 6/10) Herded by wind or contained by ice Burn oil where sufficient thickness; use
herding agents to concentrate oil
Close pack ice (7/10 to 8/10) Contained by ice leads or floes Burn oil in leads and between floes
Very close pack ice (9/10 to 10/10) Contained in leads and fractures Burn oil in leads and fractures
Fast ice Contained on surface of ice Burn oil where sufficient thickness
Melt pools Oil contained on melt pools or on surface through brine channels Burn oil where sufficient thickness
Rivers
Open water Deflect and contain oil in FR boom Burn oil in boom
Brash, moving ice conditions Look for areas of oil pooled by wind, current or ice Burn where sufficient thickness
Solid ice, oil under ice Slot ice, deflect oil to surface to burn Burn oil where pooled on surface
Solid ice, oil on top of ice Dam oil on top of ice to contain and pool Burn oil where pooled on surface
Lakes
Open water Contain in FR boom Burn oil in boom
Brash ice conditions Look for areas of oil pooled by wind, current, or ice Burn oil where sufficient thickness
Solid ice, oil under ice Drill or slot ice to bring oil to surface Burn pools of oil on surface
Solid ice, oil on top of ice Dam oil on top of ice to contain and pool Burn oil where pooled on surface
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5.5 Burning in an ice environment may be conducted remotely, lessening safety concerns.
6. Marine Environments
6.1 For the purpose of this guide, in-situ burning in ice conditions refers to marine and coastal waters, rivers, and lakes where
oil spills may occur in ice-infested waters.
7. Background
7.1 In-situ burning protects the marine environment from the effects of an oil spill by consuming the oil by fire leaving as little
as 1 to 10 % oil residue on the surface of the water (Guide F1788). By removing the oil from the water and ice, the impacts on
the surface and sub-surface biota are reduced. Unburned oil may ultimately impact shorelines, including critical habitats such as
marshes and bird rookeries. Oil floating on the surface has the potential to contact sea birds and marine life. Stranded oil may result
in adverse environmental impacts. The amount of oil spilled, the degree of ice cover, and weather conditions are factors that
determine the impact of a spill and the burnability of the oil.
7.2 In-situ burning of an oil spill requires an ignition source with the ability to provide multiple ignitions (see Guide F1990).
The helicopter sling-mounted drum filled with gelled gasoline or diesel developed for lighting backfires during forest fire fighting
is an effective system for igniting oil in ice conditions. Individual hand-held igniters dropped from aircraft or deployed from vessels
may be used to ignite oil contained by ice. Since burning is most efficient when the oil is relatively fresh and un-emulsified, sources
of ignition should be identified by response planners in their pre-spill contingency planning.
7.3 In open waters and in open and very open drift ice, containment by special fire-resistant booms may be required (Guide
F2152).
8. Recommendations
8.1 Use of helicopter-mounted ignition systems or individual igniters is a hazardous operation and all applicable safety
instructions for their use should be followed. Hazardous materials may have to be handled as part of the ignition equipment.
Appropriate MSDS sheets should be available and followed during use of this equipment.
8.2 The in-situ burning of spilled oil can be accomplished under favorable conditions when oil is:
8.2.1 Contained in close pack ice conditions (pack ice of 7/10 coverage or greater).
8.2.2 Contained in drift ice conditions is sufficient thickness to sustain a burn (drift ice of 2/10 to 6/10).
8.2.3 Contained in fire-resistant boom (generally open water up to 1/10 ice coverage).
8.2.4 Trapped along an ice floe or herded by wind and has sufficient thickness to support a burn.
8.2.5 Contained in melt pools on top of ice sheets.
8.2.6 Contained in open fractures or leads in ice.
8.2.7 Flowing under ice in a stream and ice can be slotted to bring oil to surface to burn.
8.2.8 Spilled on surface of ice and has sufficient thickness to support a burn.
8.3 In-situ burning of oil may require certain regulatory approvals.
8.4 Although in-situ burns are efficient, there always will remain some residue and provisions for the recovery of that residue
should be included in in-situ burn response planning.
9. Keywords
9.1 arctic oil spills; ISB; ice conditions; in-situ burning; oil spills
APPENDIXES
(Nonmandatory Information)
X1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON ARCTIC IN-SITU BURNING
X1.1 Several field experiments have been conducted in the Arctic waters to determine the feasibility of burning oil in ice-infested
waters. (1, 2). One experiment involved the release of 30 tons of fresh crude oil. It was observed that the oil weathered more
slowly and to a lesser extent in ice than it would have in open water (13)). After approximately 10 days, samples of the oil showed
that it had lost 20 % of its volume due to evaporation and that it had formed a 20 % water-in-oil mixture. These results indicated
that oil spilled in such ice conditions could feasibly be treated using in-situ burning techniques. Burning was in fact evaluated as
the best response method available for this particular spill situation (13). Another recent study evaluating different response
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of this standard.
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methods for several possible spill scenarios for the Arctic concluded that in-situ burning would likely be the most effective option
under certain circumstances (24).
X1.2 Other field experiments have been carried out to determine the effect of wind or lack of wind on the flame spreading from
one slick area to another slick area, either directly connected to or physically separated from the burn area. Ambient temperatures
for these experiments were typical winter range of -20 to +5°C. Wind speeds ranged from 5 to 15 m/s with some occasional calm
periods. The small basins of oil (0.5 by 1.5 m) designed to simulate an ice pack were separated from the main burn basin (15 m
dia.) by 1.5 to 3.5 m. A 10 mm layer of crude oil, at different degrees of weathering, was placed in these basins. During relatively
calm conditions, there was no spreading of flames from the main burn. When the wind was blowing from 2 to 11 m/s there was
enough flame tilt (30 to 35 angle from horizontal) to ignite oil with 25 % of the light ends evaporated and a water-in-oil mixture
containing 50 % water in the small basins 1.5 to 3.5 m from main burn. Efficiencies of these burns were measured at over 95 %
(13). Even uncontained crude oil slicks which were burning at release continued to burn at nearly 90 % efficiency until slick
thickness thinned to less than 1 mm (35).
X1.3 Experiments have been conducted on Alaskan crude oils to determine burnability when fresh, weathered and emulsified with
and without emulsion breakers. If the oil is not more than 20 % weathered and 20 % water-in-oil mixture, then expected efficiency
of burn will exceed 90 % (46, 57). Oil more weathered or more emulsified may still be burned by using emulsion breakers or
adding fresh crude to initiate burn.
X1.4 The field burns have shown that high burn efficiencies can be obtained when burning fresh oil and emulsions contained in
ice-infested waters. A mixture of fresh oil and a 50 % water-in-oil mixture burned with efficiencies of over 99 %. A 20 %
water-in-oil mixture burns with an efficiency of 95 % in a basin with 50 % broken ice coverage (13, 46). The wind herding effect
tends to confine the slick to a smaller area and therefore burn for a longer period of time (68, 79).
X1.5 Flame spreading in ice conditions was observed mainly in a downwind direction, some spreading occurred sideways and
upwind between inter-connected pools of oil. Flame spreading from one burning oil pool to another separate oil pool was
dependant on the wind direction and speed (13, 46).
X1.6 Experiments to test burning of oil in ice leads were conducted to determine the effect of wind herding, oil weathering, and
lead geometry on burning efficiencies. Burn efficiencies of up to 90 % were measured. Weathering of oil up to 20 % did not
significantly affect the burns (810).
X1.7 Igniting spilled oil in ice conditions can be accomplished by a variety of ignition systems. They include hand-thrown igniters
and helicopter sling-loaded drum igniters containing gelled gasoline (Guide F1990). The rate at which individual ignition points
can be achieved is quite important recognizing the limited time that might be available for completing a large scale in-situ burn
operation (79). Gelled gasoline, ignited and released from a helicopter-slung drum appears to be an effective means of producing
numerous oil ignition sources quickly, safely and at a very small cost per ignition point (911). If an oil becomes emulsified before
an in-situ burn begins, then a special emulsion breaking
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