ESTIMATING THE AERIAL EXTENT OF SPILLED FLUIDS ON SOIL SURFACE WITH GIS BASED PHYSICAL MODEL

Chun Yen Wong*
Dr. G.J. Thoma
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Arkansas
3202 Bell Engineering Center
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Voice: 479-575-7374
Fax: 479-575-7926
E-mail: cywong@uark.edu

Dr. K. Sublette
Dr. L. Ford
Department of Chemical Engineering, Tulsa University

Dr. K.E. Duncan
Department of Botany and Microbiology, Oklahoma University

The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve (TPP), located in Osage County of northeastern Oklahoma, is the site of approximately 100 actively producing oil and gas wells. Accidental spills are a routine hazard with all active E&P activities, and have occurred throughout the years of operations in the sensitive prairie ecosystem. As a result, the petroleum industry is required to assess the ecological impacts of these releases. The objective of the present study is to develop a numerical model to simulate the spreading of produced fluids spilled on the soil surface. A finite difference approach is used to solve the physical fate and transport mathematical model which is based on the principles of fluid dynamics: conservation of mass and momentum. In this modeling, GIS provides tools to access and manipulate data layers such as elevation (DEM), oil well and tank battery locations, access roads, streams, soil types and vegetation, and contaminated areas. We present the calibration and validation of the model by comparison of the model predictions to observed spills mapped with real-time differentially corrected GPS.