Oil fate and mass balance for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

Based on oil fate modeling of the Deepwater Horizon spill through August 2010, during June and July 2010,-89% of the oil surfaced,-5% entered (by dissolving or as microdroplets) the deep plume ( 10 m) sediments,-3% was removed by responders,-38.4% was in the water column (partially degraded; 29% shallower and 9.4% deeper than 40 m), and-2.6% sedimented in waters 10 m (including 1.5% after August 2010). Volatile and soluble fractions that did not evaporate biodegraded by the end of August 2010, leaving residual oil to disperse and potentially settle. Model estimates were validated by comparison to field observations of floating oil and atmospheric emissions.

Automated summary

According to oil fate modeling of the Deepwater Horizon spill, the majority of the oil either surfaced or entered the deep plume sediment. A small percentage was removed by responders, and a portion remained in the water column. Non-volatile and soluble fractions degraded by the end of August, leaving residual oil to potentially settle. The model estimates were validated through field observations of floating oil and atmospheric emissions.