Impact/Purpose:

The objective of this research is to develop a multicomponent, mass-balance-based model for simulating transport of spilled oils with and without dispersant treatments.

Description:

Oil spilled into aquatic environments is subject to a number of fates, including natural dispersion, emulsification and weathering. An oil slick moves due to the inherent spreading of the oil, currents, winds and waves. All of these processes influence the impacts of the oil on the environment. Various treatments can be used to attempt to cleanup oil spills. These include recovery, burning, and the application of chemical dispersants to the slicks. Because of the complexity of the physical, chemical and biological interactions, models are needed to study the effect of each parameter on contaminant concentrations resulting from various hypothetical spills and dispersant treatments. This project is intended to develop and test a model for oil spills that includes the impacts of dispersants on spilled oils. The overall model will consist of a multicomponent mass balance model for the oil slick, a model of oil spreading and drift, and inclusion of oil component dissolution and transport in the aquatic environment. Because of the complexity of interactions between dispersants and oils, and the need for emergency response applications of the model, databases are also being created in parallel with model development. The databases include chemical and oil parameters, climatic data, and oil composition data.

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT

Start Date:10/01/1999

Projected Completion Date:09/01/2007

OMB Category:Other

Record ID: 56109

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Project Information:

Progress :In FY1999, a plan was developed to guide the development of the model. The plan was titled "Fate and Transport Water Quality Model for Oil Spill and Dispersant Interactions for Near-Coastal Areas, Interim Planning Document, Task 5554 Plan, October, 1999." This plan was intended to be used as a tool for technical planning and discussion with the Program Office. The document outlines an approach to developing an oil spill model based on multicomponent mass balance, chemical interactions between components of the oil, spreading of oil on the sea, and dissolution modeling and transport in water.

A contract was let to link the SPARC (SPARC Performs Automated Reasoning in Chemistry) chemical property estimator with an existing multicomponent mass balance model for oil phases. Work in FY2000 included linkage to a simplified, oil-spreading model (the extended Fay model) that provides necessary oil slick geometric relationships for the model.

In FY2001, work on the linkage of SPARC was completed and evaluated and contracts were initiated to develop a database of climatic parameters and to review background literature. In FY2002, additional contracts were initiated to develop a database of oil compositions for 8 to 10 oils of major commercial significance and to generate dispersant effectiveness data. A two-year cooperative agreement was initiated to evaluate the scientific basis of approaches for including wave effects on spilled oils. Work beginning in FY03 included second phases of development of dispersant and climate data, support for field studies in a tidal marsh, and extension and revision of the object-oriented modeling system.

In FY03, studies on oil composition and the effects of dispersants on spilled oils, under a variety of environmental conditions, were completed. These two studies were combined and used to create a simple Internet applet for evaluating the amount of oil that would be dispersed given the amount of evaporation, temperature, time of application, wave action for oils and dispersants characterized under these studies. Data were collected in FY03 on the spatial and temporal distribution of fish in the Lock Lake tidal marsh in New York. These data are being used to estimate better the potential impact of an oil spill in a coastal environment.

In FY04, the ERO3S model was completed and described in an APM (#232). Work was also completed and a report prepared on dispersant effectiviness that was incorporated into the model and forms the basis of the models dispersing of data.

Relevance :

This research program was designed in cooperation with Oil Program Center personnel in the Fall of 1999. The Oil Program Research Priorities for Fiscal Year 2001-2006 list model development components as their priorities 2 and 4 for FY 2002, 2, 3, and 4 for FY2003, and 1, 2, and 3 for FY 2004.

Clients :EPA Oil Program Center

Project IDs:

ID Code :15524

Project type :OMIS