Abstract:

Laboratory experiments were conducted in the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (UM RSMAS) SUrge STructure Atmosphere INteraction (SUSTAIN) tank to study the spreading and contraction (due to application of dispersant) of machine and crude oil on the water surface. Two experiments were conducted. The first was on May 13, 2014 and the second was on October 15, 2015. Visual images were taken during both experiments and infrared images were taken during the October 15, 2015 experiment. Subsequent analysis of these images was conducted during October 2015 to March 2016. The analysis of these images included measurement of the size of the droplets over time. This data is presented in a CSV file.

Suggested Citation:

Brian K. Haus, Alexander V. Soloviev, Michael G. McGauley, Cayla W. Dean, David G. Ortiz-Suslow, Nathan J. M. Laxague, Tamay M. Özgökmen. 2017. Laboratory Experiment Data for Surface Dynamics of Crude and Weathered Oil in the Presence of Dispersants. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7WH2N1Q

Publications:

Soloviev, A. V., Haus, B. K., McGauley, M. G., Dean, C. W., Ortiz-Suslow, D. G., Laxague, N. J. M., & Özgökmen, T. M. (2016). Surface dynamics of crude and weathered oil in the presence of dispersants: Laboratory experiment and numerical simulation. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 121(5), 3502–3516. doi:10.1002/2015jc011533

Purpose:

To determine the difference between surface dynamics of crude and weathered oil, including the presence of dispersants in a laboratory setting.

Data Parameters and Units:

Images from two laboratory experiments (May 13, 2014 and October 15, 2015) showing experimental setup progress of oil spreading. CSV files for the October 15, 2015 experiment provide measurements of the diameter of oil droplet size in cm at a given time in s. File names include Crude oil = Macondo surrogate oil, Machine oil = Valvoline 20W-50 Premium Conventional Motor Oil, or Dispersant = 10% FFT solution; run number (1,2); and approximate time of release (14:15, 14:30, 14:45, and 15:15). TIFF files for the October 15, 2015 experiment include images of release of crude oil (run 1), machine oil, and dispersant at .6, .33, 1, and 2 seconds after release. TIFF files for the May 13, 2014 experiment include images of crude and machine oils at 6.97, 9.32, 12.06, 13.02, 24.11, 27.10, and 38.90 seconds after release; and crude and machine oils before and after dispersant at 35, 91, 15, and 31 seconds after release.

Methods:

Oil was dropped into the tank via syringe slightly above the water surface.

Instruments:

Experiments were conducted in an acrylic tank (0.57 m long x 0.27 m wide x 0.35 m high); May 2014 images: 4.13 megapixel 24 Hz GoPro camera (top view); October 2015 images: top view and side view cameras and infrared camera.

Individual Files: