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A Preliminary Report to the U.S. Coast Guard

Characterization of Sediments from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Shorelines, Texas to Florida

By John T. Lisle and Norris N. Comer

Abstract In response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, sediment samples that were projected to have a high probability of being impacted by the oil were collected from shoreline zones of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Sixty-one sites were sampled and analyzed for hydraulic conductivity, porosity, and grain-size distribution. The objective of this effort was to provide a set of baseline data on sediment characteristics known to directly influence (1) the penetration of oil into coastal sediments and (2) the efficacy of chemical and (or) bioremediation.

First posted October 24, 2011 Report PDF (5.4 MB) For additional information contact: John T. Lisle U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center 600 4th Street South St. Petersburg, FL 33701 http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/ Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge.

Suggested citation:

Lisle, J.T., and Comer, N.N., 2011, Characterization of sediments from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic shorelines, Texas to Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Open File-Report 2011–1199, 82 p., available at https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1199/.

Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Sampling

Sampling Processing and Storage

Sediment Porosity

Sediment Hydraulic Conductivity

Grain-Size Analysis

Acknowledgments

References Cited

Appendix