Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Coastal Patagonia

NIEVAS EL MAKTE M.L.; POLIFRONI R.; SEPULVEDA M.A.; FAZIO A.

Anthropogenic Pollution of Aquatic Ecosystems

Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Lugar: Cham, Switzerland; Año: 2021; p. 325 - 352

The Patagonian Atlantic region isknown as a pristine area with more than 3000 km of coastline. It includes twoproductive oil basins, Golfo San Jorge and Austral from where oil production(about 14 million m3/ year) is transported by sea from fiveterminals. The maritime and coastal areas of the Argentine continental shelfare relevant for marine conservation, tourism and fishing, being spawning andnursery areas of many species. In this chapter, we describe the main aspects ofoil production in the coastal basins and its maritime transport throughout theAtlantic Patagonia. Offshore oil exploitation and future development prospectson the Argentine continental shelf are introduced. We also present the main oilspills that occurred in Atlantic Patagonia and a review of hydrocarbon levelsin coastal marine sediments and organisms. Some episodes of chroniccontamination are depicted. Levels range from pristine uncontaminated areas toheavily polluted ones, affected by oil or fuel spills. Hydrocarbon pollutionhas a punctual distribution pattern near the sources, with the most pollutedsites located in ports and oil exploitation areas. In addition, possible interactionsof sensitive areas for marine conservation, fishing activities and maritimetransport are discussed.