Modeling of Vertical Transport of Hydrocarbons of Crude Oil Spills in Non-Convective Water Bodies Supported by Suspended Sediments: Case of Parts of the Nigerian Niger Delta Mangrove Swamps

Teddy Odisu,Samuel Ogbeide,Charity Okieimen

doi:10.29333/ejosdr/9144

Abstract

Crude oil spill is a major source of water pollution. In water with wave and tides, the environment could be self-cleansed. This kind of environment has enjoyed tremendous research attention over the years with plethora of models available for the forecasting, monitoring and management of residual petroleum presence in imparted environments. On the other hand, parts of the Nigerian Niger Delta mangrove swamp contain stagnant water with suspended sediments. The heavy load of suspended sediments has the capacity to adsorb oil and dissolved hydrocarbon components. This paper reports on the development of models for the vertical transport and concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbon components at different strata of the water column by suspended sediments adsorption using governing equations of transport and mass transfer. The developed models were validated with data obtained from simulated stagnant water that was polluted with crude oil.

Highlights

Over the years, several efforts have been made to effectively review existing information on oil spill transport mechanisms as well as development of predictive mathematical models for water bodies (Giwa and Jimoh, 2010; Jimoh and Alhassan, 2006; Njobuenwu and Abowei, 2008; Njobuenwu, 2014; Susu et al, 1997)
Several efforts have been made to effectively review existing information on oil spill transport mechanisms as well as development of predictive mathematical models for water bodies (Giwa and Jimoh, 2010; Jimoh and Alhassan, 2006; Njobuenwu and Abowei, 2008; Njobuenwu, 2014; Susu et al, 1997). These efforts have enhanced the practice and helped in the identification of available knowledge gaps oil spill management and research (Chao et al, 2001; Garcia-Martinez and Flores-Tovar, 1999; Lonin, 1999; Tkalich, 2006; Wang et al, 2005). One of such knowledge gaps is the low research attention in oil spill transport mechanism in non-turbulent water bodies as found in some parts of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and more importantly, the role of suspended sediments resulting from dead vegetation in the transport of whole oil and hydrocarbon components after an oil spill
The need for a shift in attention or focus is borne out of a careful observation of the existing oil spill models which show that a majority of them are focused on horizontal distribution of whole oil, weathering and the general fate of spilled oil in rivers and seas that are characterized by flow, high turbulence and effect of wind (Bragg and Owen, 1995; Le Floch et al, 2002; Owens and Lee, 2003; Owens et al, 2003; Page et al, 2000)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Several efforts have been made to effectively review existing information on oil spill transport mechanisms as well as development of predictive mathematical models for water bodies (Giwa and Jimoh, 2010; Jimoh and Alhassan, 2006; Njobuenwu and Abowei, 2008; Njobuenwu, 2014; Susu et al, 1997). Even in occasions where the vertical transport trajectories were considered, the focus was on particulate transport occasioned by the breaking of the oil slick into oil particles by waves that could be stabilized by the presence of suspended sediments, which, depending on density difference with the water, begin to sink and even re-suspend (Boufadel et al, 2020; Imanian et al, 2017; Li et al, 2018; Röhrs et al, 2018, 2019) This gap has led to a dearth of information both in practical modeling approach and empirical data availability on the transport and behavior of spilled oil in non-flowing water bodies mangrove swamps with relatively static water and the role of suspended sediments that are in the water arising from decaying vegetation as can be found in some parts of the oil rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria (Odisu, 2020; Odisu et al, 2020). Hai-Long et al (2011), developed partial differential equations to represent each of these model components as shown by Equation (29) to (32)

METHOD OF SOLUTION

CONCLUSION