ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS CONTROLLING THE SPREAD OF OIL

On the basis of field observations at the time of a free spill from Chevron platform MP41C, located east of the Mississippi Delta, in February and March 1970, three environmental factors are identified as major controls over the behavior of the mass of oil discharging from a stationary source. These are wind-driven surface currents, tidal currents, and water-density distributions. Wind- induced surface currents caused downwind elongation of the oil slick. The rotary action of tidal current was responsible for the spiral curves of the oil slick, and, more important, for the limited excursion of the slick front in any given direction from the spilling source. (Author Modified Abstract)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Also available in Naval Research Reviews, V24 N8, pp 11-19, August 1971.
• Corporate Authors:

  Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

  Coastal Studies Institute
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States 
• Authors:
  • Sonu, C J
  • Murray, S P
  • Smith, W P
• Publication Date: 1971

Media Info

• Pagination: 9 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Ocean currents; Oil spills; Water quality management
• Old TRIS Terms: Oil spill behavior
• Subject Areas: Environment; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00044711
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: TR-123 Tech Rpt
• Contract Numbers: N00014-69A-0211-0003
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 1973 12:00AM