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Abstract
The spreading of an oil slick on calm water surface and in the presence of shallow water waves was simulated in laboratory conditions. A long channel provided with a mechanical waves generator was filled with tap water, and the spreading rates of different types of crude oils released instantaneously were measured on the surface of calm water. The experiments were repeated at various dynamic conditions of the water surface modeled with the waves generator. The spreading rate of oil in the direction of wave propagation were usually greater under the wavy conditions as against the calm water conditions. The measured spreading rate increments due to gravity wave action were usually higher than the surface drift velocities predicted by the Stokes theory. It has been confirmed that the velocity of an oil slick increases exponentially with the wave steepness. However, physical properties of crude oil such as viscosity, surface tension and specific gravity do not significantly influence the surface drift of spilled oil induced by the shallow waves.