Modelling the behavior of crude oil spills in shallow bodies of water

Abstract

In order to evaluate the risk of pollution related to the petroleum industry in Llancanelo saltwater lake, an accurate numerical model of water contamination using the finite element method and the finite difference method is discussed. The study area is located in the south of the Mendoza province (Argentine). In 1980 it was declared a faunistic reserve and it constitutes a genetic bank of worldwide importance. This site represents a special environmental area for wild life, and it covers a diversity of habitats which can support many types of resident migratory species. Nearby of the occidental coast of this shallow body of water, there are many active oil fields. Contaminants from oil spills can enter the lake from river inflows, from runoff and from adjacent lands influenced by water body dynamics. Within the lake, contaminants are transported by convective currents, disperssive processes and many other complex phenomena that finally kill sensitive individuals or disturb nesting zones. Due to the scale and seasonal variability of the lake perimeter, the numerical simulation models are calibrated and updated by the use of satellital images. The final goal is to predict ecological impacts of petroleum contamination and to evaluate remediation actions proposed to evercome these impacts.