Forensic source identification of hydrocarbons present in the environment has been a major challenge for scientists as acute oil spills tend to claim the greatest need of robust conclusions, since these events' legal and financial consequences are quite adverse for the responsible parties. The aim of this study was to compare quantitative and semiquantitative methods in source identification following the OSPAR crude oil pipeline spill, in Paraná, Brazil in July 2000, which occurred in an area of chronic pollution. Diagnostic ratios calculated from the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, from heights and areas of chromatographic peaks and a chemometric method based on principal component analysis of preprocessed and combined sections of selected ion chromatograms were used to identify hydrocarbon sources. The conclusion summarizes the main advantages, disadvantages and indicates the best opportunities of application, and the expected results for each method.