A comprehensive review of oil spill combustion studies

In-situ combustion of oil or water-in-oil emulsion supported on top of a water-base is a complex process. It may be examined in three stages - before, during, and after the actual combustion. Spreading and emulsification of oil prior to combustion strongly influence the ease of ignition, rate of burning and oil removal efficiency. Surrounding physical conditions, including wind velocity, waves and the presence or absence of a containment device, such as a fire boom, determine continuation of the combustion process. The resulting smoke, residue, and aquatic toxicity should be within the acceptable limits for the cleanup measure to be a success. Discussions of the processes involved in oil spill combustion, followed by tabulated brief notes on relevant papers on each topic, are presented. The review shows that there is a need for fundamental studies, especially in the mathematical modeling area, to understand the basic mechanisms and predict the applicability of the in-situ combustion.