Calculation of oil droplet size distribution in an underwater oil well blowout

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn deepwater oil well blowouts, accurate calculations of droplet sizes are important in predicting the fate and transport of oil. The current knowledge limits the ability of available models to calculate the wide range of droplet sizes that exist in deepwater oil jets and plumes. In this paper, an improved model (Oildroplets) is introduced to calculate the droplet size distribution in underwater oil jets. Breakup and coalescence are the key processes in controlling the droplet sizes calculated in Oildroplets. New theoretical modifications were made to the droplet breakup and coalescence closures in an existing framework that works for a wide range of release conditions. The model Oildroplets is used to predict the droplet size distribution in field and laboratory experiments, where the droplet sizes vary from very small (µm) to large (mm). The comparison of model-computed results with experimental data shows good agreement.