Development of a predictive model for the weathering of oil in the presence of sea ice. Final report

Technical Report · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5791639

Payne, J R; McNabb, G D; Hachmeister, L E; Kirstein, B E; Clayton, J R

The objective of the program has been to develop a predictive model that describes the qualitative and quantitative weathering of spilled oil and refined petroleum products in the presence of first and multi-year ice. To achieve this objective and verify model predictions, cold-room and field experiments were performed to provide suitable data for describing time-series changes in the physical and chemical properties of oil spilled in the presence of first and multi-year ice in various configurations. For modeling purposes, fresh and weathered crude oil were characterized as distillable cut fractions. In addition, specific mechanisms for enhancing the transport of spilled oil components to the benthic environment were recognized during the program, and additional studies were completed to investigate these potentially significant dispersion/dissolution processes. Results from theses studies and the development of the computer model provide a significant contribution toward OCSEAP's goal of developing predictive capabilities for defining the magnitude of the impacts from OCS oil and gas activities to exposed Arctic and sub-Arctic biota.

• Research Organization: Science Applications International Corp., San Diego, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5791639
• Report Number(s): PB-89-159776/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990220 -- Computers
Computerized Models
& Computer Programs-- (1987-1989)
ARCTIC REGIONS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
ICE
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OFFSHORE OPERATIONS
OIL SPILLS
PETROLEUM
POLAR REGIONS
PROGRESS REPORT
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
WEATHERING