Here is an observer's view of a dispersed oil slick at West Cameron Block 1988, Gulf of Mexico. This photo is an example of a case in which, just using visual observation, it is possible to see that application of dispersant to an oil slick has caused successful dispersion: what had been a cohesive slick has broken up into streaks, and oil that has been dispersed into the water column appears as a light-colored plume around the remaining streaks of surface oil.

Visual observation, however, is not always sufficient to determine whether or not dispersants are effective.

View of Dispersant Application


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Revised: July 17, 2001
Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration