Rate of petroleum hydrocarbon degradation was measured in sediment collected from a low energy brackish wetland site which had been exposed for a number of years to produced water discharge. Recalcitrant or higher molecular weight compounds were the primary hydrocarbon fractions found in the sediment. Degradation rates were determined by measuring loss of selected petroleum hydrocarbons components with time in laboratory incubation. South Louisiana Crude oil was added to the sediment to measure degradation rates of soluble hydrocarbons which were too low in concentration in the original sediment. Oxidized sediment conditions resulted in a higher rate of degradation for most hydrocarbons fractions as compared to reduced sediment. Fertilizer or nutrient amendments to contaminated sediments significantly increased rate of hydrocarbon degradation. Fertilizer enhanced the degradation of the lower and more soluble molecular weight fractions as compared to the higher molecular weight fractions.