Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T18:26:16.386Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Factors affecting spreadability and transportation of oil in regions of frozen ground

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

E.M. Chuvilin
Affiliation:
Department of Geocryology, Faculty of Geology, Moscow State University, Vorobjovy Gory, Moscow 119899, Russia
N.S. Naletova
Affiliation:
Department of Geocryology, Faculty of Geology, Moscow State University, Vorobjovy Gory, Moscow 119899, Russia
E.C. Miklyaeva
Affiliation:
Department of Geocryology, Faculty of Geology, Moscow State University, Vorobjovy Gory, Moscow 119899, Russia
E.V. Kozlova
Affiliation:
Department of Geocryology, Faculty of Geology, Moscow State University, Vorobjovy Gory, Moscow 119899, Russia
A. Instanes
Affiliation:
Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, PO Box 3930, Ullevaal Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway

Abstract

The physical behaviour of oil interacting with soils subjected to seasonal frost or permafrost was investigated. An experimental programme was carried out to investigate the transportation and spreading of oil on a frozen surface, and transportation and accumulation of oil into freezing or frozen soils. The results show that spreading of oil at the surface at air temperatures below freezing depends on oil composition, soil temperature, and the type of mineral surface. It was observed that an ice surface has the least spreading and the greatest wetting angle of the surfaces studied. The oil penetration into frozen soils depends on soil and oil composition and temperature conditions. It was observed, as expected, that oil accumulation in frozen soils decreases with increasing ice content in the pores. However, penetration of oil components is observed even in completely ice-saturated soils. Freezing of oil-saturated soils causes a redistribution of the oil components. In sandy soils, the oil concentrates in a thawed zone in front of the freezing front; in clay soils, the oil can accumulate in the frozen zone under certain temperature conditions. A summary of the influence of various factors affecting oil behaviour in frozen and freezing soils is presented based on the experimental data and published data from other authors.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme. 1997. Arctic pollution issues: a state-of-the-art Arctic environment report. Oslo: Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP assessment report).Google Scholar
Biggar, K. W., Haidar, S., Nahir, M., and Jarrett, P. M.. 1998. Site investigations of fuel spill migration into permafrost. Journal of Cold Regions Engineering 12 (2): 84104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Biggar, K. W. 1995. The effects of petroleum spills on permafrost: In: Biggar, K. W. (editor). Hydrocarbon remediation in cold and Arctic climates: proceedings of a conference at the Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario. Kingston: Federal Government Printer: 211.Google Scholar
Chuvilin, E. M. 1999. Migration of ions of chemical elements in freezing and frozen soils. Polar Record 35 (192): 5966.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chuvilin, E. M., Naletova, N. S., and Miklyaeva, E. S.. 1999. Behaviour of mineral and organic contaminants in permafrost. In: Nahir, M., and Biggar, K. (editors). Assessment and remediation of contaminated sites in Arctic and cold climates. Edmonton: Delta Edmonton South: 5256.Google Scholar
Chuvilin, E. M., Naletova, N. S., Miklyaeva, E. S., Kozlova, E. V., and Instanes, A.. In press. Investigations of oil's behaviour at interaction with frozen soils and ice. Environmental Geology.Google Scholar
Collins, C. M., Racine, C. H., and Walsh, M. E.. 1993. Fate and effects of crude oil spilled on subarctic permafrost terrain in interior Alaska: fifteen years later. Hanover, NH: Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL Report 93–13).Google Scholar
Solntseva, N. P. 1998. Dobicha nefti i geokhimiya prirodnikh landshaftov [Oil extraction and geochemistry of natural landscape]. Moscow: Moscow State University.Google Scholar
Yershov, E. D., Chuvilin, E. M., Smimova, O. G., and Naletova, N.S.. 1997. Interaction of oil with frozen soils. In: Knutsson, S. (editor). Ground freezing '97: frost action in soils, Lulea, Sweden. Rotterdam: A. A. Balkema: 381384.Google Scholar