OILMAP: Oil Spill Model and Response System Overview

OILMAP interface displaying oil spill trajectory for Southern California

When oil is spilled in the marine environment, a primary concern is where the oil will go.
OILMAP provides rapid predictions of the movement of spilled oil.

OILMAP is a user-friendly oil spill model system designed for oil spill response and contingency
planning. It includes simple graphical procedures for entering spill information and connects to
on-line weather forecast servers for accurate wind and current data. OILMAP uses a variety of
electronic chart systems, including global nautical CMAP charts from J eppesen Marine and is
also compatible with ESRI GIS software. The power of OILMAP to rapidly provide oil spill
trajectory predictions anywhere in the world makes oil spill modelling accessible to the oil and
gas industry, shipping companies and government agencies.

OILMAP was developed over 15 years ago and continues to evolve as a tool that integrates the
latest in science and maritime technology. OILMAP has been proven as a response tool for oil
spills all over the world.

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Background

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March 1989 the 300 meter supertanker Exxon Valdez, grounded on Bligh Reef Prince
William Sound Alaska, spilling 11 million gallons (approximately 42 million liters). In the first 3
days of the spill, since the weather and sea conditions were mild, the slick remained in a small
area near the site of the grounding. However, prior to personnel and adequate response
equipment could be deployed (booms, skimmers and recovery vessels), a winter storm hit with
high seas and winds of 50 knots. The initial 6 km slick had spread to 64 km within hours. Two-
days after the winds had subsided; the spill had spread over hundreds of square kilometers
(Gilbert 1998). Essentially, the responders failed to plan and such the spill devastated the
region. Very sensitive ecology, wildlife and the pristine waters of the Islands and foreshores
along Prince William Sound were contaminated.


Following the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill, a group of companies (Exxon, Chevron, Mobil,
Environment Canada, US Army Corp of Engineers, Canadian Petroleum Association),
recognized the need for a fast and accurate prediction modeling tool to assist with decision
support. In turn Applied Science Associates Inc, were commissioned to develop an oil spill
model to support effective response planning and to minimize damage in the event of an oil
spill. This model was OILMAP.

Since then OILMAP, has become the most used and sought after oil spill model around the
world and is used internationally by all major oil companies, governments, universities and
research organizations. Some of the national government organizations that use OILMAP within
the Asia-Pacific region include, Australian (Maritime Safety Authority), Singapore (Maritime Port
Authority), Thailand (Pollution Control Department), South Korean (Korea Maritime University),
Hong Kong (Pollution Control Department), China (Maritime Safety Authority), J apan (Safety
and Environment Commission) and New Zealand (Maritime Safety Authority). OILMAP is also
considered the World-Wide Industry Standard oil spill model, and many of the large oil
companies rely only on OILMAP for oil spill predictions, including Chevron, Exxon,
ConocoPhillips, Shell and Agip.

OILMAP is used in over 40 countries around the world by more than 200 licensed users. It has
been applied to hundreds of spills varying in size globally.




OILMAP spill trajectory with CMAP Charts



OILMAP running in Dubai, United Arab Emirates


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The OILMAP System

The standard system is delivered with an oil spill trajectory and fates model, environmental data
tools and visualization tool. The oil spill model predicts the surface trajectory of spilled oil for
either instantaneous or continuous release spills. The model includes algorithms for oil
spreading, evaporation, emulsification, entrainment, and oil-shoreline interaction. The
distribution and mass balance of oil with respect to time are predicted for the type of oil spilled.
The user can update the predictions of the model to agree with observed oil locations through
the addition of GIS polygons.

A variety of graphically based tools are included which allow the user to:
specify spill scenarios
display spill trajectories
select from a database of oil types
Use the Response Calculator to model response activities
Connect to on-line forecasting services

The model uses an integrated GIS system that allows the user to display and manipulate point,
line, and area data geographically referenced to the base map. Typical uses of the GIS include
storing spill overflight maps, biological resources (bird colonies, fish spawning areas, and
fisheries), industrial facilities, oil spill cleanup equipment, vessels, etc. The capability to overlay
spill trajectory and GIS data makes the system a powerful tool for spill response and
contingency planning decision making.

ASAs OILMAP model connects to live forecasting systems using the COASTMAP
Environmental Data Server (EDS) that integrates observation data (in-situ meters, sea surface
radar, etc.) and global, national, and regional weather forecasts. The Environmental Data
Server (EDS) is used by agencies such as the United States Coast Guard, United States Navy,
and Maritime New Zealand to provide critical environmental information for decision support.


OILMAP connected to latest satellite data via COASTMAP


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Receptor Mode (for Oil Vulnerability Analysis)
The receptor mode performs reverse trajectory calculations from user selectable sites.
Calculations can be used to identify probable release locations of spills given current oil
locations, or principal avenues of vulnerability for important resources. Outputs of the receptor
mode are maps showing probabilities that the spill trajectory passed through a given area, and
minimum time contours for spills to reach resources of concern. The receptor model is generally
used in two modes:

to determine the vulnerability of a particular site (e.g. Desalination Plant) to oil spills based
on lightering sites or tanker traffic routes
to determine possible sources of oil when oil has been observed on the water or on a
shoreline.

OILMAP Stochastic Model
OILMAP also provides statistical models that are used for permit application, risk assessment,
and contingency planning. These models will provide predictions based on worst case or
typical scenarios for different months or seasons that show the most likely path of oil and
potential impacts on coastline or sensitive sites.


OILMAP Stochastic Model showing probable paths of oil based on climatology





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Model Highlights
World-wide capability
2D and 3D capability
Weathering and surface/subsurface transport
of spilled oil
Predicts the probability of key areas being
impacted from a given spill
Backtracking to determine the likely spill site
position
Risk assessments for important resources
Oil model interactions with shoreline, reed
beds, and ice coverage



Other OILMAP Applications
OILMAPLAND is a land and surface water spill model system for oil and chemical releases
from pipelines.
OILMAPDEEP provides rapid predictions of the movement of spilled oil from sub-sea releases.
CHEMMAP provides 2-d and 3-d predictions for chemical spills based on a large database of
chemicals.



ASA has built a wide range of computer modeling applications to solve various environmental problems. ASAMAP
TM
,
ASAs suite of environmental modeling tools, are available for licensed use and customization and include: AIRMAP,
CHEMMAP, CMSMAP, COASTMAP, HYDROMAP, OILMAP, SARMAP, SIMAP, MUDMAP and WQMAP. For more
information visit our website at www.asascience.com.

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