Oil droplet formation from underwater releases with and without the presence of gas at various dispersant-to-oil ratios: Implications for herders and dispersant effectiveness when oil reaches the surface

The droplet size distribution of oil is critical for determining the pathway and fate of spilled oil, as droplet size can influence persistence in the water column. The goal of this project is to determine how much dispersant to apply for an effective response to an oil leak from an underwater pipeline in Canadian waters. The project will simulate an oil leak from an underwater pipeline and evaluate the impact of an underwater oil blowout, which will aid in responding to underwater oil spills.