Numerical simulations of broadband acoustic propagation through a sound‐speed field impacted by oil.

Abstract

Because its soundspeed characteristics differ substantially from seawater,the presence of oil in the water column might be expected to impact acousticpropagation in the ocean environment. Empirical expressions are employed forthe sound speed in oil; it depends on the API (a measure of density), temperature,and pressure. Environmental data taken in the vicinity of the Deepwater Horizonsite taken during the 2007 Littoral Acoustic Demonstration Center experimentare used to generate profiles of temperature, pressure, and sound speed. Differentvalues of API and different distributions for the weighting fraction of theoil on the total sound speed are employed in numerical simulations. The computed,received acoustic fields for different values and locations of oil concentrationare compared to the case where no oil is present in several sourcereceiverranges. These forward models are intended to examine the feasibility of acousticallytracking oil as it travels from a source upward through the water column,or in locating oil suspended in the water column. These computations can aidin identifying the limitations on a realistic experimental scenario.