Oil Spill Modeling at Sidi Kreir SUMED Oil Terminal, Alexandria, Egypt

Mohamed Y. Omar1, Alaa R. Mostafa2, Heba A. Amin2, Safia M. Darwesh2

1Basics and Applied Sciences Department, College of Engineering and Technology, Arab Academy for Science, Technology
and Maritime Transport, Alexandria, Egypt
2Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt

mohamed.youssef@aast.edu

Abstract. The Arab Petroleum Pipelines Company “SUMED” is a joint stock company
that owns and operates two parallel pipelines Ain Sukhna on the Red Sea to Sidi Kreir
on the Mediterranean. A huge tanks farm at each oil terminal, which serves operation.
Daily routine operations may cause some environmental risks. Although relatively rare,
major accidental oil spills do happen and can potentially cause a major impact on marine
environment.
In this study, the licensed SL-Ross oil spill prediction model is successfully used as a
response and decision support tool to investigate the fate, the trajectory, and likely
beaching of oil nearby at Sidi Kreir oil terminal. The model operates on a spill scenario
basis; accordingly, forty-eight spill scenarios were prepared and run based on different
inputs parameters.
Depending on the modeling outputs and the geographical nature at Sidi Kreir oil
terminal, the fate/behavior of spilled oil depends mainly on its properties and the
environmental conditions. Trajectories showed that, the nearby areas at Sidi Kreir oil
terminal is considered as vulnerable areas in case of oil spills. The early detection and
combating of oil spill within the first few hours of the oil leakage may lead to effective
control of the marine environment contamination.
The potential impacts from accidental and operational oil spills at Sidi Kreir oil terminal
can cause disturbance, damage and/or death to marine habitats and species depending
upon the type and quantity of oil, location of spill, hydrodynamic conditions, proximity
to sensitive marine habitats and species.

Keywords: oil spill simulation; oil spills modeling; SUMED oil terminal, Sidi Kreir;
Risk assessment; oil spill prediction model; trajectory; Fate / Behavior of the spilled oil
1 Introduction
The Arab Petroleum Pipelines Company “SUMED” is a joint stock company that owns and
operates two parallel pipelines of 42” diameter and 320 km length linking Ain Sukhna on the
Red Sea to Sidi Kreir on the Mediterranean. Ain Sukhna terminal, where vessels discharge
their cargos, on the other end of the pipelines, Sidi Kreir terminal is capable of loading and
can accommodate tankers up to 400.00 DWT. A huge tanks farm at each oil terminal, which
serves operation and spare storage capacity, is offered for renting to complement the
transportation logistics. An integrated system operated by a high caliber and professional
workforce proved excellence in receiving, handling and loading a wide variety of crude oil
types off and on different tanker sizes punctually, efficiently and with proper segregation [1].
Daily routine operations at oil terminals (vessel berthing, containerized cargo, and liquid and
dry bulk cargo) may cause some environmental risks.
Although relatively rare, major accidental oil spills do happen and can potentially cause a
major impact on marine environment. However, the majority of oil spills reported in ports
and oil terminals are small and result from operational activities [2]. The potential impacts
from oil spills depend upon the type and quantity of oil, location of spill, hydrodynamic
conditions, proximity to sensitive marine habitats and species [3,4].
In near-shore marine environments (ports and harbors) the tracking of oil spills, which are
likely to impact the shoreline, is of prime importance in the effective deployment of oil spill
response equipment to protect environmentally sensitive areas and in clean-up planning [5].
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had described polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs) as carcinogenic compounds; criticality of PAHs arises from its
tendency to be persistent in the sediment and thus can be accumulated in high concentrations
[6].
Oil Spill Prediction Models are widely used for contingency planning where they can be
particularly helpful for decision makers. By modelling a series of the most likely oil spill
scenarios, decisions concerning suitable response measures and strategic locations for
stockpiling equipment and materials can be made. The locations shown to be the most
vulnerable can be identified, the logistics of responding to these locations studied and
response equipment placed accordingly [7].

2 Materials and Methods

Modeling of the likely fate and behavior of oil once spilled can follow a number of different
approaches. These range from a simple vector calculation, to estimate the probable two–
dimensional trajectory of the center point of a slick, to sophisticated computer models of the
movement and distribution of the oil in three dimensions with the concurrent predictions of
the change in properties as the oil weathers [8].
The SL-Ross Oil Spill Model (SLROSM) was initiated to provide professional staff with the
best possible quantitative information on oil spills for contingency planning and spill response
purposes. The model strengths are in the areas of oil behavior at source and oil property
change estimation. The spill trajectory component relies on the entry of best available wind
and water current data [9]. The major processes that determine the behavior of oil spilled on
water are evaporation, spreading, natural dispersion into the water column and the formation
of water-in-oil emulsions. These processes are interrelated and must be considered together
to arrive at an accurate estimate of an oil’s likely behavior [10].
The model operates on a spill scenario basis. The input parameters for each spill scenario are:
the spilled oil type, wind data, water current data, spill location, type of spill (batch or blow-
out, etc.), oil volume and leak rate parameters, time dependent inputs (such as spill duration
and data output interval), environmental conditions (air and water temperature) [11].
The SLROSM researchers strongly believe that a major component of a spill model’s
precision lies in accurately predicting the properties of the oil over time. The researchers
performed a number of laboratory analyses on crude oil and oil products to generate the
parameters necessary for the used model to confidently calculate oil spill behavior [12].
The SLROSM is successfully used as a response tool to study the fate, trajectory, and likely
beaching of oil, in addition to predict the long-term fate of the dispersed oil and to identify
areas of deposition following oil-sediment interaction [13].
Forty-eight scenarios (12 Regular Scenario for Arabia Light Crude Oil, 12 Regular Scenario
for Arabia Heavy Crude Oil, 12 Worst Scenario for Arabia Light Crude Oil, 12 Worst
Scenario for Arabia Heavy Crude Oil) were created and run based on different inputs
parameters [13] as shown in Table. 1.
Because model users are usually interested in different aspects of a spill prediction, SLROSM
offers complete freedom in selecting output data, in this study, total area of slick, evaporation
rate and dispersion rate were selected as a function of time to investigate the fate of the spilled
oil [14].
Table. 1. Description of oil spill modeling scenarios (model inputs)
SPM 1 at SUMED Sidi Kreir Oil Terminal
Oil Spill Location: Latitude: 31°06' 25.2" (31.107°)
Longitude: 29°36' 46.8" (029.613°)
Arabia Light Crude Oil
Type of Spilled Oil
Arabia Heavy Crude Oil
Scenario Regular Scenario Worst Scenario
Estimated Oil Spill Quantity 7 barrels 300 barrels
Table. 2. Real Meteorological Conditions for year 2017 (model inputs)
Wind Current Wind Current
Temp. Temp.
Date Time Speed Speed Date Time Speed Speed
Dir. Dir. (oC) Dir. Dir. (oC)
(knot) (knot) (knot) (knot)
03:00 7 NW 0.1 SE 15 03:00 26 SW 0.5 NE 14
09:00 9 NW 0.2 SE 14 09:00 25 SW 0.5 NE 12
31/1 18/1
15:00 12 NW 0.2 SE 18 15:00 28 SW 0.6 NE 19
21:00 10 NW 0.1 SE 15 21:00 26 SW 0.5 NE 16
03:00 9 NW 0.2 SE 15 03:00 15 SE 0.3 NW 17
09:00 8 NW 0.2 SE 14 09:00 15 SE 0.3 NW 15
1/2 25/2
15:00 14 NW 0.3 SE 17 15:00 14 SW 0.3 NE 26
21:00 12 NW 0.2 SE 15 21:00 15 NE 0.3 SW 22
03:00 10 NW 0.2 SE 14 03:00 17 SE 0.3 NW 15
09:00 18 NW 0.4 SE 16 09:00 20 SE 0.4 NW 17
17/3 23/3
15:00 17 NW 0.3 SE 19 15:00 19 SE 0.4 NW 29
21:00 18 NW 0.4 SE 16 21:00 20 SE 0.4 NW 24
03:00 11 NW 0.2 SE 18 03:00 17 NE 0.3 SW 18
09:00 9 NW 0.2 SE 19 09:00 17 NE 0.3 SW 19
28/4 5/4
15:00 18 NW 0.4 SE 24 15:00 19 NE 0.4 SW 24
21:00 17 NW 0.3 SE 20 21:00 18 NE 0.4 SW 20
03:00 13 NW 0.3 SE 18 03:00 9 SE 0.2 NW 20
09:00 11 NW 0.2 SE 20 09:00 12 SE 0.2 NW 22
7/5 13/5
15:00 13 NW 0.3 SE 23 15:00 8 SE 0.2 NW 34
21:00 12 NE 0.2 SW 20 21:00 11 SE 0.2 NW 28
03:00 11 NW 0.2 SE 25 03:00 17 SW 0.2 NE 16
09:00 11 NW 0.2 SE 26 09:00 11 SW 0.1 NE 13
23/6 6/6
15:00 17 NW 0.3 SE 30 15:00 15 SW 0.3 NE 23
21:00 14 NW 0.3 SE 26 21:00 13 SW 0.3 NE 17
03:00 12 NW 0.2 SE 24 03:00 15 NW 0.3 SE 26
09:00 13 NW 0.3 SE 27 09:00 21 NW 0.4 SE 26
6/7 17/7
15:00 17 NW 0.3 SE 30 15:00 23 NW 0.5 SE 30
21:00 14 NW 0.3 SE 26 21:00 21 NW 0.4 SE 27
03:00 11 NW 0.2 SE 26 03:00 9 NE 0.2 SW 27
09:00 11 NW 0.2 SE 27 09:00 6 NE 0.1 SW 28
3/8 27/8
15:00 18 NW 0.4 SE 32 15:00 18 NW 0.4 SE 32
21:00 17 NW 0.3 SE 28 21:00 15 NW 0.3 SE 26
03:00 10 NW 0.2 SE 26 03:00 10 SE 0.2 NW 23
09:00 9 NW 0.2 SE 27 09:00 9 SE 0.2 NW 26
19/9 14/9
15:00 17 NW 0.3 SE 33 15:00 18 NE 0.4 SW 31
21:00 15 NW 0.3 SE 28 21:00 19 NE 0.4 SW 28
03:00 9 NW 0.2 SE 22 03:00 9 NE 0.2 SW 24
09:00 7 NW 0.1 SE 25 09:00 10 NE 0.2 SW 25
18/10 1/10
15:00 20 NW 0.4 SE 27 15:00 18 NE 0.4 SW 29
21:00 18 NW 0.4 SE 23 21:00 15 NE 0.3 SW 25
03:00 24 NW 0.5 SE 20 03:00 19 NE 0.4 SW 22
09:00 23 NW 0.5 SE 22 09:00 23 NE 0.5 SW 21
16/11 23/11
15:00 28 NW 0.6 SE 22 15:00 20 NE 0.4 SW 24
21:00 25 NW 0.6 SE 19 21:00 21 NE 0.4 SW 22
03:00 29 NW 0.6 SE 14 03:00 25 SW 0.5 NE 11
09:00 33 NW 0.7 SE 15 09:00 11 SW 0.2 NE 11
14/12 30/12
15:00 28 NW 0.6 SE 16 15:00 24 SW 0.5 NE 14
21:00 24 NW 0.5 SE 14 21:00 23 NW 0.5 SE 11
3 Results and discussions
3.1 The outputs of the SLROSM: Fate / Behavior of the spilled oil

Regular & Worst Case Scenarios

Total area of slick (spreading). As soon as oil is spilled, it starts to spread out over the sea
surface. The more severe the meteorological conditions, the more rapid the spreading and
breaking up of the oil. Figure 2 & 5 present the change in the Total Area of Slick (km2) for
both Arabian light and heavy crude oil in the Regular and Worst Case Scenarios respectively;
it shows rapid spreading rate for the Arabian heavy crude oil more than the light one in all
months.
Evaporation percentage. Evaporation increases as the oil spreads due to the increased
surface area of the slick. Rougher seas, high wind speeds and high temperatures also tend to
increase the rate of evaporation and the proportion of oil lost by this process.
Evaporation percentage of the Arabian light crude oil which is composed of a large percentage
of light and volatile compounds is more than the Evaporation percentage of the Arabian heavy
crude oil with a larger amount of heavier compounds.
Fig. 3, 6 represent high rate of evaporation for the Arabian light crude oil, which is composed,
of a large percentage of light and volatile compounds, while low rate of evaporation noticed
for the Arabian heavy crude with a larger amount of heavier compounds in both regular and
worst cases.
Dispersion percentage. Waves and turbulence at the sea surface can cause all or part of a
slick to break up into fragments and droplets of varying sizes. Oil dispersion is largely
dependent upon the nature of the oil and the sea state.
Arabian light crude oil of high volatile components and low viscosity shows very high and
quick dispersion percentage more than Arabian heavy crude oil under the same environmental
meteorological conditions as shown in Figure 4 & 7. The dispersion rate in the worst
environmental conditions is higher than in the regular one.

3.2 The outputs of the SLROSM: Trajectory of the spilled oil

The regular oil spill trajectories showed that, the nearby areas at Sidi Kreir oil terminal is
considered as vulnerable areas in case of oil spills.
The worst environmental meteorological conditions governed the extremely changed
trajectories in the worst case scenarios.
Figure 8 shows some selected oil spill trajectories of Arabian Heavy Crude Oil in both regular
and worst case scenarios, while Figure 9 presents the oil spill trajectories of Arabian Light
Crude Oil in both regular and worst case scenarios.
The beaching time (arrival time to beach) at Sidi Kreir oil terminal in most of regular
scenarios is very short (4-6 hours), therefore; the early detection and combating of oil spill
within the first few hours of the oil leakage may lead to effective control of the marine
environment contamination.
 Arabian Heavy Crude Oil
Arabian Light Crude Oil

0.030000 0.060000

0.025000 0.050000

0.020000 0.040000

0.015000 0.030000

0.010000 0.020000

0.005000 0.010000
0.000000 0.000000
3:00
4:00
5:00
6:00
6:09
7:00
8:00
9:00
10:00
10:24
11:00
12:00
13:00
13:38
14:00
15:00

3:00
4:00
5:00
6:00
6:09
7:00
8:00
9:00
10:00
10:24
11:00
12:00
13:00
13:38
14:00
Fig. 2. Change in the Total Area of Slick (km2) for both Arabian light and heavy crude oil in the Regular Case Scenarios

Arabian Light Crude Oil Arabian Heavy Crude Oil

35 25
30
20
25
20 15
15
10
10
5 5
0 0
3:00
4:00
5:00
6:00
6:09
7:00
8:00
9:00
10:00
10:24
11:00
12:00
13:00
13:38
14:00
15:00

3:00
4:00
5:00
6:00
6:09
7:00
8:00
9:00
10:00
10:24
11:00
12:00
13:00
13:38
14:00
Fig. 3. Change in the Evaporation Rate (%) for both Arabian light and heavy crude oil in the Regular Case Scenarios

Arabian Light Crude Oil Arabian Heavy Crude Oil

4 10
9
3
8
3 7
6
2
5
2 4
1 3
2
1 1
0 0
3:00
4:00
5:00
6:00
6:09
7:00
8:00
9:00
10:00
10:24
11:00
12:00
13:00
13:38
14:00
3:00
4:00
5:00
6:00
6:09
7:00
8:00
9:00
10:00
10:24
11:00
12:00
13:00
13:38
14:00
15:00

Fig. 4. Change in the Dispersion Rate (%) for both Arabian light and heavy crude oil in the Regular Case Scenarios
 Arabian Light Crude Oil Arabian Heavy Crude Oil

1.2 2
1
1.5
0.8

0.6 1
0.4
0.5
0.2

0 0

Fig. 5. Change in the Total Area of Slick (km2) for both Arabian light and heavy crude oil in the Worst Case Scenarios

Arabian Light Crude Oil Arabian Heavy Crude Oil

35
25
30
20
25
20 15
15 10
10
5
5
0 0
3:00
5:00
6:09
8:00

1:00
10:00
11:00
13:00
14:00
16:00
18:00
20:00
22:00
23:00

Fig. 6. Change in the Evaporation (%) for both Arabian light and heavy crude oil in the Worst Case Scenarios

Arabian Light Crude Oil Arabian Heavy Crude Oil

14 30
12 25
10 20
8 15
6 10
4 5
2
0
0

Fig. 7. Change in the Dispersion (%) for both Arabian light and heavy crude oil in the Worst Case Scenarios
 Regular Scenario Worst Case Scenario
January 2017
March 2017
April 2017

Fig. 8. Selected oil spill trajectories of Arabian Heavy Crude Oil in both regular and worst case scenarios

Regular Scenario Worst Case Scenario

March 2017
June 2017
November 2017

Fig. 9. Selected oil spill trajectories of Arabian Light Crude Oil in both regular and worst case scenarios

4 Conclusion
Depending on the modeling outputs and the geographical nature at Sidi Kreir oil terminal, the
fate/behavior of spilled oil depends mainly on its properties and the environmental conditions.
Oil spill trajectories showed that, the nearby areas at Sidi Kreir oil terminal is considered as
vulnerable areas in case of oil spills. As the beaching time is very short, the early detection
and combating of oil spill within the first few hours of the oil leakage may lead to effective
control of the marine environment contamination.
The potential impacts from accidental and operational oil spills at Sidi Kreir oil terminal can
cause disturbance, damage and/or death to marine habitats and species depending upon the
type and quantity of oil, location of spill, hydrodynamic conditions, proximity to sensitive
marine habitats and species.
Daily routine operations at Sidi Kreir oil terminals (vessel berthing, containerized cargo, and
liquid and dry bulk cargo) may cause some environmental risks, but an integrated system
operated by a high caliber and professional workforce proved excellence in receiving,
handling and loading a wide variety of crude oil types off and on different tanker sizes
punctually, efficiently and with proper segregation.
Based on the modeling outputs, preventive and corrective actions and good practice should
be kept into consideration to avoid and minimize the potential harmful effects of oil spills:
1. Undertake a detailed and comprehensive risk assessment study with particular
attention to sensitive marine features and the response times necessary to minimize
the potential adverse effects on them.
2. Prepare, implement and practice oil spill contingency plans in order to provide
guidance and directions to those responding to oil spills and to set in motion all the
necessary actions to stop or minimize the pollution and reduce its effects on the
environment.
3. Identify areas where the use of chemical dispersants presents little or no concern,
and areas containing sensitive marine features where their use should be avoided,
unless this increases risk of adverse effects of oil pollution on marine features.
4. Give the highest priority of response where practicable, after human safety, to
sensitive habitats and species that are likely to be adversely effected by potential oil
spills. These sensitive areas should be clearly shown on the response guide chart.
5. Ensure, as far as practical, that clean-up operations are undertaken in such a way as
to avoid or minimize damage to sensitive intertidal animals and plants.
6. Develop/implement a Waste Management Plan and provision of adequate waste
reception facilities for oily wastes.

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