Predicting ignitability for in situ burning of oil spills as a function of oil type and weathering degree

• Main Authors: Brandvik, P.J., Fritt-Rasmussen, Janne, Bodsberg, N.R., Reed, M.
• Format: Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: https://pure.au.dk/portal/da/publications/predicting-ignitability-for-in-situ-burning-of-oil-spills-as-a-function-of-oil-type-and-weathering-degree(e1060858-3bd4-47e2-afb8-38c25159595b).html; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77955590184&partnerID=8YFLogxK

For the removal of oil spilled in ice-infested waters, in situ burning (ISB) is one of the response techniques with the highest potential for Arctic conditions, particularly in snow and dense ice. In order to make in situ burning more operational, there is a need to be able to predict the ignitability of oil spills as a function of oil type and weathering degree. A new laboratory burning cell, which is described in a separate paper, has been used to generate a comprehensive dataset with ignitability/burning effectiveness as a function of oil type, ice conditions and weathering degree. These data are used to develop and calibrate an algorithm for predicting the ignitability of oil spills as a function of weathering. Ignitability is expressed as a function of variables that describe oil type, weathering and emulsion stability (wax/asphaltene content, flash point, water content of emulsion, emulsion viscosity). The algorithms developed from this experimental data are implemented in SINTEF's Oil Weathering Model and used to predict the ignitability of oil spills as a function of oil type and weathering. This predicted time window for ISB is an important factor to evaluate the operational use of ISB.