A numerical simulation of oil spill spreading on the coastal waters

The present study utilized the Lagrangian discrete parcel method to simulate the spreading of an oil spill on the coastal waters. The physical transport processes which include oil slick mechanical spreading, current advection, turbulent diffusion, evaporation, dissolution, and shoreline conditions are considered. Oil slick spreading area as a function of time for different conditions was also investigated. The simulation results are good in comparison with the field observation data. Numerical calculation results show that the whole oil slick splits into small slicks easier for a continuous spill than for an instantaneous spill. With a higher drift velocity, the whole oil slick splits into small slicks more easily.