Fate of oil in a water environment: Phase II. A dynamic model of the mass balance for released oil. Final report
A three-dimensional digital computer simulation model was constructed for the purpose of organizing the available information from oil spill research efforts in order to devise a management and scientific tool which could be used to gain a better understanding of the fate of oil released in ice-free marine environments. This model was based on mass balance relationships derived from rate values available in the scientific literature. The model was programmed in FORTRAN IV language, compiled in both FORTRAN G and H levels and was designed around five modules or environmental reservoirs: atmosphere, water surface, water column, bottom sediments, and nearshore zone. More than 15 different processes and 40 environmental parameters, as well as a hydrocarbon classification scheme based on carbon number and chemical class, have been considered in the model design. Some of the important environmental parameters are: surface tension, gas exchange, viscosity, temperature, surface roughness, tidal height and speed, salinity, nutrients, pH, wind speed, sun angle and radiation, wave height, and oxygen. The four chemical classes that were used to assist in classifying the composition of oil are: paraffins, naphthenes, aromatics, and asphaltics. The model was validated for processes such as spreading, advection, evaporation and dissolution, emulsification, mixing and adherence, and a variety of environmental parameters by carrying out simulations for eight experimental oil spills and one accidental oil spill and comparing the computed values with the observed values. The results of this study show that the fate of a particular oil spill depends on a combination of factors such as type of oil involved, volume released, residence time in a given area of the environment and on the environmental conditions at the site of the spill.
- OSTI ID:
- 5087986
- Resource Relation:
- Related Information: API Publication 4313
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
OIL SPILLS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ALKANES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AROMATICS
CYCLOALKANES
WATER POLLUTION
ECOSYSTEMS
HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SIMULATION
020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)