THE EFFECTS OF CURRENTS AND WAVES ON AN OIL SLICK RETAINED BY A BARRIER

The report presents the results of experimental studies conducted on the behavior of a floating oil slick subjected to various external mechanical influences and to the action of currents and waves. Specifically, studies were made of the behavior of a thick slick, retained by a barrier, subjected to currents and waves, and subjected to the influence of various slick shield devices. Studies were also made of the effects on a moving thin slick of energy absorbing barriers and various other slick control devices. The laboratory experiments closely duplicated prototype conditions except for wave size. The results of this investigation clarify many previous misconceptions of thick slick behavior and introduce several new concepts of slick behavior including a mathematical model describing the entrainment loss phenomena. Oil diversion schemes, rapid removal schemes and energy absorption barriers were evaluated in terms of their effect on thin slick behavior at high current velocities.

• Corporate Authors:

  Texas A&M Research Foundation

  College Station, TX  United States  77843

  United States Coast Guard

  2100 Second Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20593
• Authors:
  • Hale, L A
  • Norton, D J
  • Rodenberger, C A
• Publication Date: 1974-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 319 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Barriers (Roads); Containing equipment; Energy absorbing materials; Mathematical models; Ocean currents; Ocean waves; Oil spill cleanup; Oil spills; Traffic diversion; Water quality management
• Uncontrolled Terms: Barriers; Removal; Shielding
• Old TRIS Terms: Containment general; Diverting; Energy absorbers; Oil barriers; Oil spill behavior; Oil spill control
• Subject Areas: Environment; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00090163
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-CG-23357-A
• Files: NTIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 22 1975 12:00AM