Presentation Profile
Forensic Assessment of Residual Oil from the Pearl Harbor Shipwreck
Currently Scheduled: 10/14/2025 - 9:35 AM - 10:00 AM
Room: Iris
Main Author
Jagos Radovic - University of Houston - Center for Petroleum Geochemistry (UH-CPG)
- Bryan James - Northeastern University
- Robert Nelson - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Christopher Reddy - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Abstract:
More than 80 years after its sinking at Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona continues to release small amounts of oil, offering a unique window into the long-term fate of submerged petroleum. This study analyzes oil from multiple leak points using bulk and molecular fingerprinting (GC-FID, GC-MS, GC×GC). The oil, a heavy fuel refined from California crude, remains chemically complex and PAH-rich despite decades underwater. Variability among leak points reflects differing weathering, while stable biomarkers enable source attribution. Findings highlight chemical heterogeneity, environmental risks, and broader implications for historic shipwrecks as long-term pollution sources.
