Mid-Scale Tests of In-Situ Burning in a New Wave Tank at Prudhoe Bay, AK

摘要

In situ burning (ISB) of oil spills on water has the potential to quickly remove large quantities of oil from the water surface and can be an effective countermeasure during a spill cleanup; however, evaporation of an oil's light ends and the formation of a water-in-oil emulsion can quickly lead to the slick becoming unignitable, and the closing of the 'window-of-opportunity' for a successful in situ burn. Recent tests in Alaska, which followed from studies in Norway and Canada, have demonstrated the potential for greatly extending the ISB window-of-opportunity by applying chemical breakers to emulsions contained by fire resistance booms. Previous laboratory tests, small-scale burns in pans, and meso-scale tests have proved that the addition of emulsion breaking chemicals to certain oils can permit the successful ignition and burning of otherwise unignitable slicks.