Chemical additives to control oil spills: a state-of-the-art summary. Interim technical report, August-December 1973

The interim technical report summarizes the state of the art of using chemical additives to improve the control of oil spills at increased current velocities of up to 10 knots. The report presents the current and prospective states of the art in the following areas of oil/water two-phase flow: (1) reduction of oil/water interfacial drag; (2) oil slick gellation; (3) increase of oil/water interfacial stability; and, (4) promotion of oil droplet slick coalescence. An extensive bibliography is included with this report that contains most work conducted to date on the subjects of oil slick behavior, oil spill containment and removal, and modification by additives of oil properties.