Chemical dispersion of oil. Comparison of the effectiveness results obtained in laboratory and small-scale field tests

Abstract Field tests are of major importance for dispersant product evaluation in addition to laboratory effectiveness studies. To investigate the correlation between laboratory and large-scale field tests, two series of small-scale sea trials were initiated by the Norwegian Oil Pollution Control—Research and Development Program. The field tests comprised the application of seawater-diluted dispersants as well as neat application from a boat. A total of six dispersants were tested on four oil types. An attempt was made to correlate the field test results with three laboratory test methods. Results showed that there is poor correlation between effectiveness results obtained from three different laboratory test systems, and between results from field and laboratory tests. There was, however, a fairly good correlation between the mean results from the three laboratory tests and the field tests. Efforts should be made to improve the simulation offield conditions in laboratory procedures before it is possible to make a valid mathematical model which is able to predict dispersion effectiveness under given conditions. Furthermore, the methodology and reproducibility offield tests of dispersant effectiveness should be improved.