23
Subsurface oil droplets show a different weathering pattern than surface oil. In the
short term, dissolution substitutes for evaporation as a removal mechanism that changes
the characteristics of the remaining oil (Stevens et al. 2015). Since dissolution is directly
dependent on the oil-water interfacial area, droplet size distribution becomes critical to
estimating this process. For live oil, dissolved gas, particularly methane, can alter density and droplet diameter (Malone et al. 2018) and, along with it, rise velocity. From a
practical response point of view, it matters little if non- surfacing oil is dispersed, dissolved, and biodegraded or interacts with mineral or organic particles since it is no
longer subject to normal response treatment. Generally, only floating or beached oil can
be further removed by common cleanup techniques (Lehr et al. 2010). However, the
biological impacts from the spilled oil will of course depend on its particular final fate.
As this chapter only considers fundamental physics and chemistry processes, the reader
will need to look elsewhere in this text for discussion on that matter.
Hopefully, the reader now has a clearer picture of the fascinating complexity
found in the physical and chemical science that describes deep water oil releases. If
the authors have met their task, the reader should better appreciate those chapters
that cover specialized topics only briefly mentioned and be able to put those topics
into proper context when considering the entire subject matter.
Disclaimer The information in this chapter reflects only the professional views of the authors and
do not necessarily reflect the official positions or policies of the US Government or Texas A&M
University.
References
Abu-Eishah S (1999) A new correlation for prediction of the kinematic viscosity of crude oil
fractions as a function of temperature, API gravity, and 50% boiling point. Int J Thermophys
20:1425–1434
ASTM (2007) Manual of petroleum measurement standards, Chapter 11, Section 1, Addendum 1,
ASTM D 1250-04
Bandara U, Yapa P (2011) Bubble sizes, breakup, and coalescence in deepwater gas/oil plumes.
J Hydraul Eng 137(7):729–738
Blunt M (2013) Modelling Macondo, Report prepared on behalf of BP Exploration & Products
Inc. 209 pp
Bommer P (2010) Appendix 2: reservoir fluid studies, in deepwater horizon release estimate of rate
by PIV. Plume Team, Flow Rate Technical Group, Washington, DC
Bobra M, Callaghan S (1990) A catalog of crude oil and oil product properties. Environment
Canada EE-125, Ottawa
Chan G, Chow A, Adams E (2014) Effects of droplet size on intrusion of sub-surface oil spills.
Environ Fluid Mech 15(5):959–973
Chong Z, Yang S, Babu P, Linga P, Li X (2016) Review of natural gas hydrates as an energy
resource: prospects and challenges. Appl Energy 162:1633–1652
Clift R, Grace J, Weber M (1978) Bubbles, drops, and particles. Academic Press, New York
Delvigne G, Sweeney C (1988) Natural dispersion of oil. Oil Chem Pollut 4:281–310
Ehrenberg S, Nadeau P, Steen O (2009) Petroleum reservoir porosity versus depth: influence of
geological age. AAPG Bull 93:1281–1296
Eyring H (1935) The activated complex in chemical reactions. J Chem Phys 3(2):107–115
2 The Importance of Understanding Fundamental Physics and Chemistry of Deep Oil…
Subsurface oil droplets show a different weathering pattern than surface oil. In the
short term, dissolution substitutes for evaporation as a removal mechanism that changes
the characteristics of the remaining oil (Stevens et al. 2015). Since dissolution is directly
dependent on the oil-water interfacial area, droplet size distribution becomes critical to
estimating this process. For live oil, dissolved gas, particularly methane, can alter density and droplet diameter (Malone et al. 2018) and, along with it, rise velocity. From a
practical response point of view, it matters little if non- surfacing oil is dispersed, dissolved, and biodegraded or interacts with mineral or organic particles since it is no
longer subject to normal response treatment. Generally, only floating or beached oil can
be further removed by common cleanup techniques (Lehr et al. 2010). However, the
biological impacts from the spilled oil will of course depend on its particular final fate.
As this chapter only considers fundamental physics and chemistry processes, the reader
will need to look elsewhere in this text for discussion on that matter.
Hopefully, the reader now has a clearer picture of the fascinating complexity
found in the physical and chemical science that describes deep water oil releases. If
the authors have met their task, the reader should better appreciate those chapters
that cover specialized topics only briefly mentioned and be able to put those topics
into proper context when considering the entire subject matter.
Disclaimer The information in this chapter reflects only the professional views of the authors and
do not necessarily reflect the official positions or policies of the US Government or Texas A&M
University.
References
Abu-Eishah S (1999) A new correlation for prediction of the kinematic viscosity of crude oil
fractions as a function of temperature, API gravity, and 50% boiling point. Int J Thermophys
20:1425–1434
ASTM (2007) Manual of petroleum measurement standards, Chapter 11, Section 1, Addendum 1,
ASTM D 1250-04
Bandara U, Yapa P (2011) Bubble sizes, breakup, and coalescence in deepwater gas/oil plumes.
J Hydraul Eng 137(7):729–738
Blunt M (2013) Modelling Macondo, Report prepared on behalf of BP Exploration & Products
Inc. 209 pp
Bommer P (2010) Appendix 2: reservoir fluid studies, in deepwater horizon release estimate of rate
by PIV. Plume Team, Flow Rate Technical Group, Washington, DC
Bobra M, Callaghan S (1990) A catalog of crude oil and oil product properties. Environment
Canada EE-125, Ottawa
Chan G, Chow A, Adams E (2014) Effects of droplet size on intrusion of sub-surface oil spills.
Environ Fluid Mech 15(5):959–973
Chong Z, Yang S, Babu P, Linga P, Li X (2016) Review of natural gas hydrates as an energy
resource: prospects and challenges. Appl Energy 162:1633–1652
Clift R, Grace J, Weber M (1978) Bubbles, drops, and particles. Academic Press, New York
Delvigne G, Sweeney C (1988) Natural dispersion of oil. Oil Chem Pollut 4:281–310
Ehrenberg S, Nadeau P, Steen O (2009) Petroleum reservoir porosity versus depth: influence of
geological age. AAPG Bull 93:1281–1296
Eyring H (1935) The activated complex in chemical reactions. J Chem Phys 3(2):107–115
2 The Importance of Understanding Fundamental Physics and Chemistry of Deep Oil…