IN-PLACE BURNING OF PRUDHOE BAY OIL IN BROKEN ICE

• Main Authors: N.K. Smith, A. Diaz
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: Prudhoe Bay
• Online Access: http://oaspub.epa.gov/eims/eimsapi.dispdetail?deid=42428

Small-scale and large-scale experiments were performed at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's OHMSETT facility to explore the range of conditions in which oil slicks of Prudhoe Bay crude can be burned in broken ice and to determine the efficiencies of such burns. In laboratory experiments, the minimum slick thickness to support combustion was found to be 2.5 mm on brackish water at temperatures from 2 to 6.5C. Minimum slick thickness to support combustion on brackish water at temperatures from 18C to 22C was found to be 2 mm. The wicking agent was found to vary in effectiveness as a burn-enhancing agent. Decreases in burn efficiency and burn rates were observed with decreasing water temperatures. Four burn tests were performed in the OHMSETT tank with varying ice cover, volume of oil, and wave conditions. The brackish tank water ranged in temperature from 3.8C to 7.7C during testing.