Chilean researchers have identified a naturally-occurring crude oil leak along the Strait of Magellan in far-southern South America using innovative technology. The discovery was made possible through a continuous monitoring system mounted on a ferry that routinely travels between two ports in the remote region.
The research, led by experts from the Universidad Austral de Chile's Institute of Marine and Limnological Sciences and the FONDAP-IDEAL research center, utilized a crude oil sensor integrated into a 'FerryBox' system. This system detected hydrocarbon signals during a two-month period in 2022, providing valuable insights into oil discharge dynamics in the area.
