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Report - Trajectory

Date: January 3, 2002
  To: NOAA SSC Heather Parker-Hall
  
FROM: NOAA/Hazardous Materials Response Division
      Modeling and Simulation Studies
      Seattle, WA 98115
      
SUBJECT:  CT Barge 1112

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Dr. William Lehr,
MODELING AND SIMULATION STUDIES, NOAA, SEATTLE, WA 98115.
PHONE (206) 526-6317 OR FTS 392-6317.
_______________________________________________________
Per your request, we have looked at trajectory implications of the gas oil that has been
released from a barge.  These notes are based on the following information:


A barge located in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal has leaked approximately 25-50 bbl
of gas oil at about 1345 CST, on 1/2/02.  At this time the barge is not leaking product
and the floating product is contained. If any of this initial information is incorrect,
please let us

know ASAP as it would affect any trajectory implications.
______________________________________________________
1) Trajectory and Behavior

Since the product is reported as contained successfully, we expect no further movement of
the oil downstream. Should any product escape the boom, it will accumulate at the
downstream lock.

With an API of 20, the product is buoyant, even at the current  temperature. It should not
sink, although it may adhere to floating debris in the canal. If this debris is not
removed, it could provide a source of sheening downstream.


The product has a pour point of 80 °F. Therefore, we would expect that the product should
be very viscous and form larger patches rather than a continuous thin slick. Evaporation
will be minimal (less than 10%) and we expect no emulsification.  Because the turbulence
in the canal is low, we anticipate little sediment scavaging or dispersion of the product
into the water column.  However, we recommend monitoring downstream water intakes as a
precautionary measure.