Appendix A: Method of

Oil Spill Quantity estimation on Land

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1.0 Purpose

ƒ This method covers the key factors to consider in estimating of oil spill volume on
land. It is intended for use by those involved in reporting to provide the actual
quantities of oil spills on land

ƒ The method describes the steps and calculations involved in estimation of the oil
spill volume. The calculations are simplified for usage of everyone to determine
and report oil spill volume on land across KOC Operations.

2.0 Land Oil Spill Theory

A spill of liquid might occur as a gradual release from a container onto the land, or
by way of a catastrophic abrupt release of a liquid wave. How much liquid spreading
on a surface depends on how rapidly the liquid is released? This is especially so for
a spill on a porous surface with either a limited or unlimited capacity to absorb the
liquid. A subsurface with a limited absorption capacity might have an impermeable
layer just below the surface. How far a liquid travels over the surface and its
eventual distribution also depends considerably on the land topography. A basic
example is the influence of gravity when a liquid is spilled on a flat level surface as
opposed to an incline. On a slope, the running liquid may form rivulets that do not
wet the entire surface. How far a spill spreads is greatly controlled by infiltration, as
well as by the overland flow dynamics.

Aspects that control spreading of a spill are the following:

ƒ How much liquid is spilled (amount)

ƒ How rapidly the liquid is released (rate)
ƒ How much liquid the porous subsurface can absorb (infiltration)
ƒ Slope of the land topography (dispersal direction on surface)

A liquid spill changes depth or height as it moves over the terrain. That changing
depth controls infiltration. How much terrain is inundated depends generally on the
spill amount but is limited by the infiltration.

The rate of infiltration also depends on the viscosity of the spilled oil, as well as on
the moisture content of the porous subsurface. The physical nature of the
subsurface medium (soil texture, for instance) also influences the infiltration. Coarse
sand, tight clay, and fractured rock all constitute a different medium, able to absorb
different amounts of spill. A spill that physically cannot be imbibed must continue to
run over the land surface or eventually form standing pools. Finally, during and after
the spill, some of the oil may evaporate depending on its volatility and environmental
conditions. This aspect of a spill model requires special additional theory to describe

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the longer-term disappearance of surface spill as a result of many weathering or
environmental processes.

3.0 Spill Volume Estimation:

As described in section 2.0, the spill volume estimation should take into account of
four factors:

Spreading area: Estimating the persistence of a surface spill through area

measurement

Infiltration: Predict liquid content beneath the land surface following a spill

Recovery: Estimate the reduction of surface oil spill by recovery (collected oil and
sludge from spill area for off site management)

Evaporation: Assess the evaporation loss due to hot climate conditions

The spill volume is a combination of :

Spill Volume = Spreading area + Infiltration+ Recovery + Evaporation

Since the complex equations are involved to calculate spill quantities due to above
four factors, the calculations are simplified for users point with logical assumptions
given below:

ƒ For spread area and Infiltration: A simple equation based on pool area and depth
of penetration (area * depth) is adopted to arrive at spill volume estimation.

ƒ Evaporation loss: The spill loss through evaporation is presumed to be negligible

with an anticipation that spill response triggers immediately.

ƒ Recovery: If oil is recovered through vacuum tankers, recovered quantity is

estimated through record of it’s capacity and number of trips.

The assumptions simplify the equation to:

Spill Volume = (Spreading area + Infiltration) + Recovery

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3.1 Oil Spill Volume Estimation for Spreading Area and Infiltration:

Inputs Required:

Steps Example
a. Prepare an approximate
sketch of the spill

Spill
Area

b. Approximate the spill

shape to either rectangle
or circle. Combination of
circle & rectangle or
multiple combination of
only circles, only
rectangles & mix of circles
and rectangles is also
acceptable Area 1

Area 2

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Steps Example
c. Measure the
dimensions (length,
width or dia)
9m

18
m
Area 1

Area 2 12
m

7m
d. Measure the depth
of oil penetration into
the soil (Although
multiple depths and
average of them is
recommended but for
simplicity, one depth
measurement across
the spill area is also
acceptable) Area
1
Area
2

Depth 3 mm Depth 5 mm

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Steps Example
e. Apply two
correction Factors

- Area Many a times, the spill areas may not be exactly in shapes
approximation of either rectangle or circle. Hence based on visual sketch
factor and boundaries, the area approximation factor can be
given from 0-100%. As an illustration, 85% area
approximation factor can be taken for the Area1 given
below as indication that spill area is close to rectangle by
85% .

- Oil/Water cut factor If the spilled material is pure oil, the factor is 1 or 100%
If the spilled mater has equal composition of oil and water,
the factor is 0.5 or 50%. This factor is relevant to
determine spilled oil quantity only.

Area
1
Area
2

f. Apply Equation Area * Depth * Area approximation factor * Oil/water

cut factor

Rectangle: Length * Width * Depth * Area Approximation

factor * Oil/water cut factor

Circle : (∏ * diameter2 * Depth * Area approximation factor

* Oil/water cut factor)/4

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3.2 Oil Spill Volume Estimation for Recovery:

This is applicable for Free and floating Liquids and recovered through vacuum
tankers. The approach here is capacity based estimation.

Capacity based estimation

Record the capacity of vacuum tanker, no. of trips and for accuracy, apply loading
factor (0-100%) if the tanker is not filled up to full capacity.

Recovery = No. of trips * Vacuum tanker capacity * loading factor

For multiple vehicles:

Recovery = Vac.Tanker1 capacity * No. of trips * loading factor + Vac.Tanker2

capacity * No. of trips * loading factor + …….

3.3 Total Spilled Volume

Is a sum of volumes arrived as described in Section 3.2 and 3.3. For ease of use, a spill
volume calculator (Excel file) is provided as an Attachment-1 to perform calculations
online.