Simulation of Oil Spills at the Casablanca Platform (Tarragona, Spain) under Different Environmental Conditions

Abstract

The main objective of this work is the modelization of an oil spill at the Casablanca Platform (Tarragona, Spain) under different environmental conditions and Simulation Models. Computerized models used for the simulation of the spill are EUROSPILL, OILMAP, GNOME and ADIOS. Simulation models mentioned above develop a series of outputs. First, the most probable trajectory of the spill according to oceanographical and meteorological conditions present during the spill and next hours and the minimum impact time on the coast, if this last arrives to happen. Then, the variation according to the time of the physical and chemical properties of the hydrocarbon mixture. Specifically, the variation of the evaporated fraction of the spilled oil according to time is studied. From the results of the evaporated fraction obtained by the simulation models, this fraction is compared with the experimental results obtained by the direct and diffused solar action adjusted, respectively, to a theoretical equation. It is justified because one of the most influent weathering phenomena which affects to a hydrocarbon spill is the evaporation of the volatile fractions, as it modifies as the mixture composition as its volume, specially just after the spill or next hours, depending on the kind of mixture, quantity and environmental conditions.