This purpose of this research project is to investigate the minimum ignitable thickness, combustion rate, effects of waves and residue amount for crude oils burned in situ in cold water and broken ice conditions. The tasks will: Conduct a literature review of in-situ burning in broken ice;
Perform a series of small-scale scoping burn tests in brash and frazil ice in an indoor tank in order to assist with the design of larger tests;
Develop test protocols and the test procedures;
Conduct mid-scale burns in the Alaska Clean Seas wave tank in Prudhoe Bay, AL;
Write a final technical report and present a scientific paper on the results of the project.
The burn experiments were successfully conducted from October 21- November 1, 2002 at the BP Fire Training Ground, Prudhoe Bay, AK. The crude oils used in the burn experiments were Alaska North Slope, Endicott, Northstar and Pt. McIntyre. The crude oils for the burn experiments were tested in fresh and to the same weathered point for each oil. These same crude oils will be used in the cold water dispersant experiments, planned for February 2003 at Ohmsett - The National Oil Spill response Test Facility.
Results from the experiments will be used to verify the results from laboratory and small-scale tests.
The final report has been reviewed and distributed.
When both sets of experiments (burns in broken ice and the 2003 cold water dispersant experiments (Project 476) are complete, we will have a direct documented comparison of how each crude oil responds to burning and to the use of dispersants.