Oil slicks dynamics in semi-confined geometries in the presence of water waves: analytical and numerical insights

TL;DR

This paper investigates how semi-confined geometries and water waves influence oil slick behavior, revealing that geometric constraints and wave interactions can localize or spread oil, with implications for spill management.

Contribution

It provides a novel analysis of oil slick dynamics in semi-confined settings under wave influence, combining analytical and numerical methods to reveal localization effects.

Findings

Surface waves can localize oil spills in semi-confined geometries.

Oil influx and wave interactions can either facilitate or suppress spreading.

The study offers insights for improved oil spill containment strategies.

Abstract

We have shown previously that the dynamics of isolated oil slicks on the water's surface after spills is significantly influenced by surface-wave motion practically at the onset of the spreading process. In this work, we draw our attention to another practical scenario of the oil slick's behaviour in semi-confined geometries under the action of surface waves and in the presence of oil leakage source. We hypothesize that the geometric constraints should qualitatively change the oil layer response to the wave motion leading to localization of oil spill domains even at modest levels of the surface-wave perturbations. Several realistic cases were rigorously explored, with special attention paid to the interplay, the combined effect of the two factors, oil influx and wave motion. It was demonstrated quantitatively how the spreading process can be either facilitated or suppressed leading to potential confinement.