THE EFFECTS OF OIL PROPERTIES ON THE VERTICAL DISPERSION OF OIL DUE TO BREAKING WAVES

This paper documents the first known attempt to quantify the process of oil slick dispersion into the water column due to breaking waves. An experimental procedure is presented which was used to conduct comparative analysis of oil dispersed from different oil slicks composed of four crude oils, #2 diesel fuel, and heavy mineral oil. A standard spilling breader on a deep water wave was simulated in a wave tank by means of a converging channel. Oil dispersions generated by the standard breaker were documented with still and motion pictures and by water samples which were analyzed for oil content. Oil concentration data was translated into total oil dispersed, average depth of dispersion, and maximum depth of dispersion. The experimental results are interpreted in terms of proposed dispersion mechanisms based on hydrodynamic and chemical premises to provide insight to the energy expended in the dispersion process, oil droplet formation, and oil droplet movement.

• Corporate Authors:

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Department of Ocean Engineering, 77 Massachusetts Avenue
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02139
• Authors:
  • Comperman, J M
• Publication Date: 1978-2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Dispersers; Hydrodynamics; Oil spill cleanup; Oil spills; Simulation; Water waves
• Uncontrolled Terms: Breaking waves
• Old TRIS Terms: Oil dispersant evaluation; Oil spill behavior; Oil spill dispersants; Oil spill simulation
• Subject Areas: Environment; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00173911
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Report/Paper Numbers: MS Thesis
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 3 1978 12:00AM