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Behavior of Oil

Ekofisk crude oil has an API gravity of 35.7, and a pour point of -5 degrees C.
 By April 25, the slick was reportedly 15 miles long by 5 miles wide.  Rough
seas and wave action later this day broke the slick into two sections, the first
being 14 miles long by 3.5 miles wide and the second 5 miles long by 0.5 miles
wide.  The oil moved primarily in an easterly direction from the time of the
blowout until April 28.

Observations made on April 28 through May 1 described the previously thick oil
slicks to be broken into windrows interspersed with blue sheen.  The windrows
extended out from the platform for approximately 20 miles until turning into
specks of emulsion 1.5 inches in diameter.  Oil reportedly spread out a maximum
of 45 miles long by 30 miles wide around the platform area, characterized as
patches of emulsion in large areas of light blue sheen.  On May 2,  maximum
concentrations of oil in the water column were found 6 miles from the rig.  Oil
was found down to depths of 4 yards.

By May 3, the oil had drifted northward from Ekofisk about 120 km.  A shift in
the wind direction moved the oil southward, back towards Ekofisk, on May 12. 
Drift cards released at the time of the blowout were found along the northern
coast of Netherland, indicating that in June the remaining oil drifted in a
south-southeasterly direction.  No shorelines were oiled.