The treatment of biodegradation in models of sub-surface oil spills: A review and sensitivity study

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2019

Abstract

Biodegradation is important for the fate of oil spilled in marine environments, yet parameterization of biodegradation varies across oil spill models, which usually apply constant first-order decay rates to multiple pseudo-components describing an oil. To understand the influence of model parameterization on the fate of subsurface oil droplets, we reviewed existing algorithms and rates and conducted a model sensitivity study. Droplets were simulated from a blowout at 2000 m depth and were either treated with sub-surface dispersant injection (2% dispersant to oil ratio)or untreated. The most important factor affecting oil fate was the size of the droplets, with biodegradation contributing substantially to the fate of droplets ≤0.5 mm. Oil types, which were similar, had limited influence on simulated oil fate. Model results suggest that knowledge of droplet sizes and improved estimation of pseudo-component biodegradation rates and lag times would enhance prediction of the fate and transport of subsurface oil.

Identifier

85064821638 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Marine Pollution Bulletin

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.018

e-ISSN

18793363

ISSN

0025326X

PubMed ID

31789156

First Page

204

Last Page

219

Volume

143

Fund Ref

Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative

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