Large-scale oil spill simulation using the lattice Boltzmann method, validation on the Lebanon oil spill case

- The lattice Boltzmann method was applied to oil spill modelling.
- The best lattice and relaxation time model were found.
- Flux limiting interpolation techniques were evaluated to speed up the computation.
- The model was validated on the Lebanon oil spill case.
- Several advantages compared to similar oil spill models were identified.

This paper tests the adequacy of using the lattice Boltzmann method in large-scale oil spill modelling, such as the Lebanon oil spill. Several numerical experiments were performed in order to select the most appropriate lattice and to decide between the single- and two-relaxation time models. Large-scale oil spills require simulations with short computational times. In order to speed up the computation and preserve adequate accuracy of the model, five different flux limiting interpolation techniques were compared and evaluated. The model was validated on the Lebanon oil spill with regard to the oil-slick position and concentrations in the sea, and the beaching area on the coast. Good agreement with satellite images of the slick and field data on beaching was achieved. The main advantages of the applied method are the capability of simulating very low oil concentrations and computational times that are by an order of magnitude shorter compared to similar models.