It is still usable, both for asphalt and for burning in some furnaces. It won't end up in your car but it will be used. I'm pretty sure Slate.com had an explana

It is still usable, both for asphalt and for burning in some furnaces. It won't end up in your car but it will be used. I'm pretty sure Slate.com had an explanation of this recently: http://www.slate.com/id/2252136/ http://www.slate.com/id/2252136/ As for oil/water emulsion in sea water, having been around that stuff one thing people don't point out is the stench. It is at or worse than sewage.