Scaling analysis of ice melting during burning of oil in ice-infested waters

To promote the knowledge of constraints on use of in situ burning (ISB) in presence of ice, an order of magnitude scaling analysis was conducted to develop a theoretical model for estimating the melting intrusion length of burning oil in ice. Scaling of the heat, momentum, and mass conservation equations of a liquid fuel adjacent to an ice wall and exposed to flame from above was carried out to obtain an expression that describes the evolution of the melt intrusion length.

The available experimental data on melting length were then correlated to the results of the scaling analysis using a least square regression method, which showed a good agreement. The melting intrusion length is an important parameter determining the efficiency of ISB in the Arctic. Burning of the oil in ice-infested waters results in melting of the ice and a unique geometry change in the ice, which is referred to as lateral cavity formation.

Melting will in turn influence the removal efficiency of the ISB method by changing heat and mass transfer processes in a manner that affects the burning behavior of the oil slick adjacent to the ice. Thus, any assessment of ISB outcomes in icy conditions is dependent upon an adequate quantification of the extent of the melting length.

The findings of this study clarify the heat and mass transfer process controlling burning of an oil-slick in ice-infested waters and provide practical guidance for oil spill responders and decision makers to simply evaluate the extent of oil intrusion in the ice and to predict the outcome of ISB.