Oil spill trajectory model

Abstract EN

The growing activities in the field of oil production and transportation in the Gulf of Suez, Red Sea increased the probability of accidental oil spill.

The behaviour and pathways of the likely spilled oil depend on several environmental parameters.

At the NIOF, a model was established to simulate the behaviour of the oil spill in marine environment.

This model uses the general transport model, taking in consideration the effect of various physical processes on the oil spill and the changes that may occur during its movement on the surface of the sea.

The movement of the spilled oil depends on wind speed and direction, tidal and residual water currents.

Turbulent dispersion is an important mechanism influencing the horizontal spreading of the spill.

The model simulates the movement of the spilled oil, the time lapsed before it touches the beach and its trajectory during the journey to the beach are calculated.

The computer software is written in PASCAL.

The model is useful for oil combating operation.