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Application of computational fluid dynamics simulation for submarine oil spill

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Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes are being increasingly used in the simulation of submarine oil spills. This study focuses on the process of oil spills, from damaged submarine pipes, to the sea surface, using numerical models. The underwater oil spill model is developed, and a description of the governing equations is proposed, along with modifications required for the particalization of the control volume. Available experimental data were introduced to evaluate the validity of the CFD predictions, the results of which proved to be in good agreement with the experimental data. The effects of oil leak rate, leak diameter, current velocity, and oil density are investigated, by the validated CFD model, to estimate the undersea leakage time, the lateral migration distance, and surface diffusion range when the oil reaches the sea surface. Results indicate that the leakage time and lateral migration distance increase with decreasing leak rates and leak diameter, and increase with increasing current velocity and oil density. On the other hand, a large leak diameter, high density, high leak rate, or fast currents result in a greater surface diffusion range. The findings and analysis presented here will provide practical predictions of oil spills, and guidance for emergency rescues.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the COOEC water tank experiments for the experimental data support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Simulation and Safety, School of Civil Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Zhenglong Yang, Jianxing Yu, Zhigan Li, Haicheng Chen, Meirong Jiang & Xi Chen

  2. Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Ship and Deep-Sea Exploration, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Zhenglong Yang, Jianxing Yu, Haicheng Chen & Xi Chen

  3. Offshore Oil Engineering Co. Ltd., China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), Tianjin, 300451, China

    Zhigan Li & Meirong Jiang

  4. CNOOC Research Institute Co. Ltd., China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), Beijing, 100028, China

    Zhigan Li & Meirong Jiang

Authors
  1. Zhenglong Yang
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  2. Jianxing Yu
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  3. Zhigan Li
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  4. Haicheng Chen
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  5. Meirong Jiang
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Correspondence to Meirong Jiang.

Additional information

The National Basic Research Program (973 Program) under contract No. 2014CB046803; the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No. 51239008; the National Science and Technology Major Project under contract No. 2016ZX05028005-004.

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Yang, Z., Yu, J., Li, Z. et al. Application of computational fluid dynamics simulation for submarine oil spill. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 37, 104–115 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-018-1256-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-018-1256-7

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