When oil is spilled into the marine environment, it may be found on the water's surface, in the water column, in the sediment, or on the shoreline. When delineating the extent of contamination, it is important to be able to differentiate the spilled oil from other components that may appear to be oil. There are established methods for detecting oil-in-water, such as fluorometry, that allow in situ measurements to be made. In this study, we investigate both established methods and potential technological advancements that could provide a means for a site investigator to gather meaningful on-site information regarding the presence of oil. The primary focus will be usefulness to a shoreline application, but application to other types of samples is addressed. The degree to which an oil could be identified using these portable methods, such as the ability to differentiate petrogenic from biogenic oils, is also discussed. Method comparisons are discussed, with relevance to portability, selectivity, relative cost, and ability to process multiple samples.
