Science project
An Investigation into the Factors Affecting the Dispersion of Oil in Water Ecosystems
2011 VIRTUAL SCIENCE FAIR ENTRY
Abstract
The purpose of this project was to investigate the factors that might affect the dispersion of oil in water. The variables were chosen to imitate the ones that might be involved in an actual oil spill such as the deep water horizon (the BP rig) or the Exxon Valdez rig that spilled oil on the Alaskan shore. The variables tested were temperature, wind action, and water agitation. The hypothesis was that water agitation would cause the greatest amount of oil dispersion.
The experiment was conducted by adding five different types of oil to a large water filled basin. After one minute, the oil spread diameter was measured. This was repeated with water at 5°C and at 35°C. Wind action was added through the use of a fan, and wave action was manually created.
The oil dispersed the greatest amount with the high speed wind action. Also as expected, the colder water resulted in less rapid oil spread. In addition, the water agitation produced wider oil spread diameters. Thus, the hypothesis was not supported. This project emphasizes the complexity of controlling a massive oil spill into aquatic environments.
Type
Physical Science
Grade
7th - 9th Grade
Difficulty of the Project
Medium
Cost
$35.00
Safety Issues
Handling Electrical Devices
Time Taken to Complete the Project
This entire project took 2 ½ months. I spent days during Christmas vacation, and many days and weekends after school in the science lab at school. This was not a difficult project, but it was time consuming. I enjoyed this project because I felt like I was looking into matters that are important to us today. I wanted to know how oil would react in different temperatures. I learned that the temperature causes a significant difference rate of spread in oil. Along with movement, it increases even more. This allows me to know that when the people are dealing with the Oil Spill issues, that the most harm is done when the water is 17°C, high wind speed, and water agitation. I was amazed at how only one drop of oil spread so quickly. It is mind boggling to think of the millions of gallons that have been spilled into the oceans and how far it has been spread.
Objective
My project is about seeing what conditions cause oil to spread the fastest in water. My goal was to understand what scientists dealt with and are dealing with on the coast, as well as to know how fast different accidents need to be handled properly to prevent any further damage.
Materials
- Large Basin- approximately 60 cm. (Water Trough- $30.00 from Orscheln)
- Crude Oils of different gravities- Donated by OERB Energy Resource Board and Oil & Gas Companies
- Motor oil (to serve as a control)- $5.00 from OReilly
- Room temperature water Cold water Warm water
- Droppers - Donated from OERB Energy Resources Board
- Timer- Microwave Timer and Cell Phone Timer
- Fan with two speeds- Blow Dryer
- Ruler
- Anemometer -$26.00 - Internet
Gathering the materials for this project was not difficult since my teacher had the majority of the materials.
Introduction
On April 20, 2010, an explosion in the Gulf of Mexico oil rig killed 11 workers and marked the beginning of BP oil spill which is now being called the largest environmental disaster in America's history. Oil gushed from the well 1,500 below the surface. Many variables affected the rate that the oil spread throughout the gulf. (1)
More than 20 years before on March 24, 1989, a tragic environmental accident occurred when the Exxon Valdez supertanker ran aground. It was a disaster that the company deeply regretted, but despite efforts undertaken to stabilize the vessel and prevent further spillage of oil, more than 250,000 barrels of oil were lost in just a short period of time. (2)
The first oil well was drilled in the Pennsylvania region by Edwin Drake in 1859. The well was 69 feet deep and produced 15 barrels a day. The area quickly boomed and the modern oil industry was born. Today, the top three countries that the U.S. imports oil from are Canada, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. (3)
In an attempt to try to meet the rising demand for crude oil people started off shore drilling. Offshore oil production involves greater environmental risks, most notably oil spills from oil tankers or pipelines transporting oil from the platform to onshore facilities, and from leaks.
Whenever oil is recovered from the ocean floor, other chemicals and toxic substances come up too like mercury, lead and arsenic that are often released back into the ocean. In addition, seismic waves used to locate oil can harm sea mammals and disorient whales. (4)
"In the time it takes most people to read this sentence, the world will have used up about 8,000 barrels of oil- 336,000 gallons; at 1000 barrels per second." (5)
The water in which oil is spilled is not the same; some are spilled in salt water some is spilled in warm water, as well as cold water. Oils from different wells have many different densities this along with its surroundings effect how fast the oil spreads. The wind speeds, water agitation, and the different water temperatures.
Crude oil varies greatly in appearance depending on its composition. It is usually black or dark brown (although it may be yellowish, reddish, or even greenish). In the reservoir it is usually found in association with natural gas, which being lighter forms a gas cap over the petroleum, and saline water which, being heavier than most forms of crude oil, generally sinks beneath it. Crude oil may also be found in semi-solid form mixed with sand and water. (6)
Offshore oil production involves environmental risks, most notably oil spills from oil tankers or pipelines transporting oil from the platform to onshore facilities, and from leaks and accidents on the platform. Produce is also generated, which is excess water from oil or gas production and includes varying amounts of oil, or other chemicals used in, or resulting from, oil production. According to the organization Culture Change Gulf of Mexico rig dumps about 90,000 tons of drilling fluid and cuttings over its lifetime, with its wells also contributing with heavy metals. (7) But, how it spreads depends on the variables of its surroundings such as water temperature, wind, and water agitation.
The purpose of this project was to identify the variable that most greatly affects the oil that is being spilled into water environments. The research hypothesis for this project was: It is hypothesized that water agitation will cause the greatest rate of the diffusion of crude oil.
Experimental Procedure
Materials
- Crude Oils of different gravities
- Motor oil (to serve as a control)
- Room temperature water
- Cold water Warm water Droppers Timer Fan with two speeds Water agitator Ruler Anemometer
Procedure:
- A large basin was filled with room temperature water.
- When the water stopped moving, one drop of oil was added to the center of container.
- After one minute, the diameter of the oil spread was measured.
- This process was repeated 3 times to find the mean diameter. This was repeated with the different water temperatures of 35°C and 5°C.
- The original directions were followed and wind action was simulated using a two speed fan.
- With the fan on anemometer was used to determine the wind speeds on low and high settings. Diameters were measured using both high and low speeds.
- Water agitation was tested by manually creating wave action with a flat ruler.
- The density of the oils was determined and the viscosity was evaluated by placing one drop of oil on a line and timing how long it took to reach another line 5 cm below the top line.
Results
Three trials for five different oils were tested using different variables; temperature, wind speed, and water agitation. The oils were added to water at 3 different temperatures: 5? C, 17? C, and 35? C. The oil dispersed the most over all with the17°C temperature with the total average of dispersion at 14 cm. The next highest was the 35°C with 7 cm spread. But the least amount of dispersion occurred with the 5°C water with an average diameter of 6 cm. The most dispersive oil in the 35^(0)C water was the 40 gravity. It dispersed 13 cm in the water. The next highest was the unclassified oil which went around 12 cm. However the least dispersive oil was the 50 gravity oil that spread to a diameter of 0.83 cm. The most dispersive oil for the 17^(0)C water was the unclassified oil which dispersed 20 cm. The next highest was the 37 gravity oil which dispersed 18 cm. The lowest dispersion (3 cm) was the 50 gravity.
|
Oil Dispersion Diameter (cm) According to Temperature |
||||
|
|
Temperature
|
|||
|
5 °C
|
17 °C
|
35 °C
|
||
|
37 gravity
|
Trial 1
|
11.0
|
18.0
|
7.0
|
|
Trial 2
|
10.0
|
19.0
|
6.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
10.5
|
17.5
|
7.0
|
|
|
Mean
|
10.5
|
18.2
|
6.7
|
|
|
40 gravity
|
Trial 1
|
16.0
|
14.0
|
13.0
|
|
Trial 2
|
16.5
|
14.0
|
14.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
18.0
|
13.5
|
12.0
|
|
|
Mean
|
16.8
|
13.8
|
13.0
|
|
|
50 gravity
|
Trial 1
|
1.0
|
3.0
|
1.0
|
|
Trial 2
|
1.0
|
3.0
|
1.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
1.0
|
3.0
|
0.5
|
|
|
Mean
|
1.0
|
3.0
|
0.8
|
|
|
Unclassified
|
Trial 1
|
1.5
|
21.0
|
13.0
|
|
Trial 2
|
2.0
|
20.0
|
13.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
2.0
|
21.0
|
12.0
|
|
|
Mean
|
1.8
|
20.7
|
12.7
|
|
|
Motor Oil
|
Trial 1
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
|
Trial 2
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
|
|
Mean
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
|
| Total Average |
6.2
|
11.3
|
8.3
|
|
To simulate the effect of wind, the oils were added to water while air was blowing onto the water. All oils dispersed the greatest amount with the highest wind speeds. With the wind blowing at a rate of 19 kilometers per hour, all oils dispersed a total of 53 cm in diameter. With the lower 9.33 km/hr wind, all diameters were less except for the light weight 37 gravity oil which speeds as much as it did with high wind speeds. These results show that with more wind, greater water movement occurs and thus greater dispersion of the oil occurs.
|
Oil Dispersion Diameter (cm) According to Wind Speed |
||||
|
|
|
Wind Speed (kilometers per hour)
|
||
|
|
|
No Air
|
9.33
|
19.79
|
|
37 gravity
|
Trial 1
|
18.0
|
53.0
|
53.0
|
|
Trial 2
|
19.0
|
53.0
|
53.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
17.5
|
53.0
|
53.0
|
|
|
Mean
|
18.2
|
53.0
|
53.0
|
|
|
40 gravity
|
Trial 1
|
14.0
|
35.0
|
53.0
|
|
Trial 2
|
14.0
|
53.0
|
53.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
13.5
|
53.0
|
53.0
|
|
|
Mean
|
13.8
|
47.0
|
53.0
|
|
|
50 gravity
|
Trial 1
|
3.0
|
6.0
|
53.0
|
|
Trial 2
|
3.0
|
4.0
|
53.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
3.0
|
4.0
|
53.0
|
|
|
Mean
|
3.0
|
4.7
|
53.0
|
|
|
Unclassified
|
Trial 1
|
21.0
|
33.0
|
53.0
|
|
Trial 2
|
20.0
|
31.0
|
53.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
21.0
|
34.0
|
53.0
|
|
|
Mean
|
20.7
|
32.7
|
53.0
|
|
|
Motor oil
|
Trial 1
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
53.0
|
|
Trial 2
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
53.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
53.0
|
|
|
Mean
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
53.0
|
|
| Total Average |
11.9
|
27.7
|
53.0
|
|
In the water agitation test, the more agitation there was, the more the oils spread. With the addition of agitation the oils averaged a spread of 27.9 cm compared to the control with no agitation that spread 14.17 cm in diameter.
|
Oil Dispersion Diameter (cm) According to Water Agitation |
|||
|
|
|
No Agitation
|
Water Agitation
|
|
37 gravity
|
Trial 1
|
18.0
|
53.0
|
|
Trial 2
|
19.0
|
53.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
17.5
|
53.0
|
|
|
Mean
|
18.2
|
53.0
|
|
|
50 gravity
|
Trial 1
|
3.0
|
30.0
|
|
Trial 2
|
3.0
|
19.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
3.0
|
27.0
|
|
|
Mean
|
3.0
|
25.3
|
|
|
Unclassified
|
Trial 1
|
21.0
|
2.5
|
|
Trial 2
|
20.0
|
13.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
21.0
|
6.0
|
|
|
Mean
|
20.7
|
7.2
|
|
|
40 gravity
|
Trial 1
|
14.0
|
53.0
|
|
Trial 2
|
14.0
|
53.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
13.5
|
53.0
|
|
|
Mean
|
13.8
|
53.0
|
|
|
Motor oil
|
Trial 1
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
|
Trial 2
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
|
|
Mean
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
|
|
Total Average
|
14.2
|
27.9
|
|
The viscosity of the oils was determined. The 37 gravity crude oil was the most viscous and required 36 seconds to travel 5 cm. The 40 gravity was the next most viscous and required 14 seconds to travel 5 cm. However, the least viscous oil was motor oil which only required it 1.4 seconds to travel 5 cm.
|
Oil Viscosities
|
||
|
Time Required (seconds) for One Oil Drop to Travel 5 cm |
||
|
37 gravity
|
Trial 1
|
39.2
|
|
Trial 2
|
36.0
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
33.2
|
|
|
Mean
|
36.1
|
|
|
50 gravity
|
Trial 1
|
10.4
|
|
Trial 2
|
9.8
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
9.2
|
|
|
Mean
|
9.8
|
|
|
Unclassified
|
Trial 1
|
3.5
|
|
Trial 2
|
3.2
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
3.1
|
|
|
Mean
|
3.3
|
|
|
40 gravity
|
Trial 1
|
14.2
|
|
Trial 2
|
14.4
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
13.6
|
|
|
Mean
|
14.1
|
|
|
Motor Oil
|
Trial 1
|
1.5
|
|
Trial 2
|
1.4
|
|
|
Trial 3
|
1.3
|
|
|
Mean
|
1.4
|
|
|
Total Average
|
|
12.9
|
The density of each oil was measured. All densities were within 0.06 grams of each other. The oil with the highest was the unclassified oil with a density of .88 g/cm3 and the oil that was the least dense was the 37 gravity with a density of 0.82 g/cm3.
|
|
|
|
37 Gravity
|
0.82
|
|
40 Gravity
|
0.85
|
|
50 Gravity
|
0.85
|
|
Unclassified
|
0.88
|
|
Motor oil
|
0.86
|
Analysis & Conclusion
It was hypothesized that the water agitation would most greatly affect the oil dispersion. The results did not support the hypothesis completely. Although water agitation contributed to the rate of dispersion, the 19.79 km/hr wind speed caused the greatest amount of dispersion with a 212% increase over the 9.33 km/hr wind speed.
The oil in the 5 °C water was 41.5% slower to spread than the oils in the 17 °C water. The 35 °C was also 37.1% slower than the 17° C. When water agitation was added it increased the spread by 96.5% over the no- agitation.
From analyzing the data, mid range temperatures of 17^(0) C, high wind speed, with agitation causes the most impact on the spreading of oils.
Possible improvements that could be made include conducting the experiment again with the 35^(0)C water using a different hot water source. The water used appeared to have sediment particles from the hot water tank that may have influenced the dispersion of oil. An addition to this experiment would be to include different salt solutions into the water, to simulate the amount of salt in oceans.
Through this experiment, I have learned that temperature causes a significant difference in the rate of the dispersion of oil. Also, the more movement there is within your water, increases the dispersion of oil. This knowledge allows us the assurance that when people are dealing with Offshore Drill Spills that the environment is harmed the greatest when the water is 17^(0) C, high wind speed, and water agitation. During my experimentation I was amazed at the diameter that only one drop of oil spread and I caused me to think about the millions of gallons that have been spilled in to the oceans and how far that oil must have spread.
Oil spills are environment catastrophes that oil companies, government officials, and societies must work together to prevent and remediate as quickly as possible when they occur.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Mrs. Eden's for her encouragement and guidance that has helped though out the lifetime of this project. I would also like to thank my parent s for the support they have given over the past few months by dedicating their time and effort to help me.
References
- Karina Hamalainen, drilling for oil, Science world (Vol. 67 No.2) pg.8 (2010)
- Karina Hamalainein, Oil Takes a Toll, Super Science (Vol. 22 No.2) Pg 4. (2010)
- Samuel T Pees, Oil History, By Design, retrieved from World Wide Web www.bydesign/fossil fuels/oil/ oil history.html, 2/12/10
- Justin Gills, Plumes of oil below surface raise new concerns, New York Times 2010
- Dick Gibson, Oil Statistics, Gibson Consulting, retrieved from World Wide Web at http://www.gravmag.com 12/15/10
- Author Unknown, What is Crude oil, Chevron, Retrieved from World Wide Web at http://www.cheveron.com/refingproducts/whatiscrudeoil.aspk 1/25/10
- Robin Nixon, oil drilling: Risk and Rewards, Live Science retrieved from World Wide Web at http://www.livescience.com/499-oil-drilling-risk-rewards.html 12/15/10
Education.com provides the Science Fair Project Ideas for informational purposes only. Education.com does not make any guarantee or representation regarding the Science Fair Project Ideas and is not responsible or liable for any loss or damage, directly or indirectly, caused by your use of such information. By accessing the Science Fair Project Ideas, you waive and renounce any claims against Education.com that arise thereof. In addition, your access to Education.com's website and Science Fair Project Ideas is covered by Education.com's Privacy Policy and site Terms of Use, which include limitations on Education.com's liability.
Warning is hereby given that not all Project Ideas are appropriate for all individuals or in all circumstances. Implementation of any Science Project Idea should be undertaken only in appropriate settings and with appropriate parental or other supervision. Reading and following the safety precautions of all materials used in a project is the sole responsibility of each individual. For further information, consult your state's handbook of Science Safety.
Related learning resources
