Research Article Open Access

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF CRUDE OIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES ON ITS DIFFUSION RATE IN SOIL MEDIUM

Abstract

In this work, the effects that crude oil kinematic viscosity (ratio of dynamic viscosity to density) had on the longitudinal and vertical diffusion rate of crude oil once spilled onto soil medium had been advanced. Six crude oil of varying viscosity obtained from different oil facilities in Nigeria’s Niger Delta were spilled onto loamy-sand soil. The result of the study shows that EG-3 crude oil with the lowest kinematic viscosity (0.0526 m2/s) exhibits the highest diffusion rate as a result of its low sorptive capacity in the soil tested, while UT crude sample with the highest kinematic viscosity (0.4392 m2/s) exhibits the lowest diffusion rate. The longitudinal diffusion rate was almost negligible as it is controlled purely by molecular diffusion. The vertical diffusion rate of all crude oil investigated was significant as a result of advective flow in addition to diffusive flow. Correlation models were developed from the experimental result as function of crude oil kinematic viscosity. The correlation model equations are: Longitudinal - Vertical - These models when incorporated into conventional soil transport equations can correctly predict the diffusion rate of crude oil of varying physical properties in soils of known physical properties.

K. M. OGHENEJOBOH AND Y.T. PUYATE

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