Potential Effects of Loading Terminal Locations on Surface Trajectories of Oil Spill Transport

Abstract

We present an investigation comparing the potential impacts of offshore and onshore crude oil loading sites on surface trajectories of spilled oil particles in the regions near the Port of Corpus Christi, Texas. Oil transport is established in a two step procedure. First, the circulation and flow characteristics of seawater throughout the coastal ocean are established for various flow conditions, including current and proposed channel depth, seasonality changes, and extreme weather events. Then, spilled oil is modeled as distinct particles released at either the proposed onshore or offshore loading locations. The particle trajectories are tracked and used to assess the spread into diverse coastal ecosystems with extensive plant, sea, and land life. The models indicate that the extent of spread of these simulated oil spills to ecologically significant regions is greater when initiated at the onshore loading site than at the offshore site.