Computer modeling to forecast risks, needs and challenges for responses to offshore oil spills

After an oil spill or pipeline leak, some components of oil and gas may be trapped in the deep sea, with remaining components forming slicks on the surface or evaporating into the atmosphere. This project will use data on offshore oil spills and oceanographic conditions in Newfoundland to develop computer models to predict the entrapment of oil and gas. It will involve the development of an offshore response guidance table, based on the estimated risk of inhalation by responders and the fate of oil in the environment, to mitigate oil spills in Newfoundland waters. The overall goal is to understand how oil and gas behave in the water column and how much volatile organic compounds are released into the atmosphere as gas. This information will help decision-makers develop strategies to protect human health and the environment from deep sea spills.