Behavior of Oil

Saginaw River, Bay City, Michigan
Subject Behavior of Oil
Posting Date 1990-Sep-16

Automotive gasoline is a very light weight, refined product with an API gravity of 60 to
63.  No spill of product into the Saginaw River was reported until first light on
September 17 when fuel up to three inches thick was observed in the water immediately
surrounding the vessel.  Some of the spilled product was held against the hull of the
vessel by the wind until the starboard side submerged, releasing an additional 100 barrels
of the fuel.  Since the gasoline was not released rapidly, little environmental damage
resulted from the incident.