Abstract
The objective of this paper is to provide a simple extension of the much-used gravity spreading model for oil on
calm water to account for the spreading behavior of waxy crude oils in cold waters – including the observed
retardation and eventual termination of spreading at certain oil film thicknesses. This peculiar behavior is not
predicted by traditional spreading models for oil on calm water (i.e. viscous-gravity spreading models), but may
occur due to non-Newtonian oil properties caused by precipitation of wax at low temperatures. To clarify the
spreading behavior of such oils, SINTEF has conducted a series of laboratory experiments with a range of waxy
oil mixtures. The present paper contains analyses of data from these experiments, including favorable comparisons
with calculations by a proposed improved surface spreading model.
calm water to account for the spreading behavior of waxy crude oils in cold waters – including the observed
retardation and eventual termination of spreading at certain oil film thicknesses. This peculiar behavior is not
predicted by traditional spreading models for oil on calm water (i.e. viscous-gravity spreading models), but may
occur due to non-Newtonian oil properties caused by precipitation of wax at low temperatures. To clarify the
spreading behavior of such oils, SINTEF has conducted a series of laboratory experiments with a range of waxy
oil mixtures. The present paper contains analyses of data from these experiments, including favorable comparisons
with calculations by a proposed improved surface spreading model.