The San Rafael de Laya oil spill: A case of cleanup and remediation in Venezuela

In November 1994, a 16-inch pipeline rupture resulted in a spill of about 10,000 barrels of crude oil extending on 4 hectares of agricultural land including part of a freshwater lagoon. The spill was contained 2 kilometers away from the accident by a dike constructed across the lagoon during the first response operation. Oil cleanup activities included a bioremediation process (landfarming) where harrowing, water irrigation, and fertilization of contaminated soil were applied. Physical removal of the oil with sorbents, booms, and pads, as well as a drum skimmer, were used to clean up and restore the lagoon. Laboratory tests reported that total crude oil biodegradation rates were stabilized within 2 months, with a mean total hydrocarbons degradation of 80%.