Mathematical modeling of oil spill accidents during high water

Field pipeline failures can occur for various reasons during oil field development, resulting in emergency oil spills on the surface. In 2001, specialists from the State Committee on Ecology examined the Yamal-Nenets autonomous district and found that half of the areas with dense concentrations of wells referred to as "clusters," contained oil spills. In addition, considering the functioning characteristics of leaks at oil fields, the actual pollution area is estimated to be 2.5 to 10 times larger than what can be visually observed. According to some sources, by the early 2000s, approximately 350,000 kilometres of in-field and inter-field oil pipelines were operational in Russia. These field pipelines experienced between 50,000 to 60,000 failures each year, including ruptures and corrosion holes with leaks. The volume of oil spilt was estimated to range from 1% to 7% of the total production volume. It has been found that the annual discharge of oils and oil products from major rivers in Western Siberia into the Arctic seas amounts to: the Ob River contributes up to 600,000 tons, the Yenisei River up to 360,000 tons, and the Lena River up to 50,000 tons. In the Ob River basin alone, up to 1.5 million tons of oil are discharged each year, resulting in the loss of natural significance for approximately 250 rivers and 1,200 streams. Emergency leaks that occur in spring, when a layer of meltwater is present on the surface, can cause the oil slick to spread extensively due to wind effects, leading to uncontrolled environmental pollution. Oil slick movement on the water surface may extend to important protected areas, such as rivers, lakes, and streams, resulting in further contamination. Therefore, mathematical modelling of the emergency spread of spilt oil on a natural surface covered with meltwater is essential for addressing various situations in engineering practice. Predictive calculations using the proposed mathematical model allow for the evaluation of the oil slick's spread dynamics, providing the basis for necessary actions to localize the spill and prevent pollution of critical protected natural areas. Predictive calculations using this mathematical model can help evaluate the dynamics of the oil slick's spread, providing a basis for necessary actions to localize the spill and prevent pollution of critical protected natural areas.