Behavior of Crude Oil Spills: New Experimental Devices

摘要

Oil spill contingency plans need to propose the most operational response techniques, and consequently those best suited to the crude oil spilt. Experience has shown that the behavior and fate (weathering) of oil accidentally discharged to the environment depend on the environmental conditions and the initial composition of the product. But running tests involving spilling hydrocarbons in situ, obviously poses problems. Experimental methods and simulations have been developed by the CEDRE (Documentation, Research and Experimentation Centre on Accidental Pollution of Water) in partnership with TOTAL E&P designed to study the evolution of a hydrocarbon in the environment, particularly in the open sea. The weathering of a crude in the short and medium term in the "polludrome" and in open pools has been studied for the following parameters: - density, - evaporation, - emulsification, and the stability of the emulsion formed, - dispersibility, - fitness for recovery by oleophilic means, - changes in composition and signatures, - … . Presented alongside this are other experimental simulation methods developed to determine the fate (medium- and longterm persistence) of a pollutant on different substrates in coastal environments. The initial results are then discussed.