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FluOil—A Tool for Estimating the Transport and Deposition of Oil-Particle Aggregates in Rivers

Fact Sheet 2025-3055
Prepared in cooperation with the Inland Oil Spill Preparedness Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lake Superior State University, and Natural Resources Canada
By: , , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20253055

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Abstract

The FluOil tool was developed to help with planning and early response for oil spills in rivers where subsurface oil-sediment interactions result in the formation of oil-particle aggregates (OPA). The turbulence and variable velocity associated with water flowing within a natural stream channel creates the conditions needed for an oil slick to break up into small droplets and mix in the water column, collide with sediment or organic detritus, and form OPA. This process is similar to what occurs due to wave action along a shoreline. The FluOil tool estimates how fast OPA travel downstream in rivers as well as when and where they may deposit. The FluOil tool relies on pre-existing channel hydraulic data along with user-specified OPA characteristics of size, settling velocity and critical shear stress to compute OPA transport. It is important to know where OPA are transported and accumulated for understanding potential impacts on drinking water intakes, burial of sensitive habitat beds, potential toxicity to benthic organisms, and prolonged sheening from resuspension and breakup. OPA tend to accumulate with fine-grained (silt and clay) sediment deposits (“mud” or “muck”) in backwater areas, oxbows, side channels, pools, and other slow-moving reaches of rivers during low flows. Deposited OPA can be resuspended during high flows, driving continued environmental impact concerns that may extend beyond typical oil spill response timelines.

Plain Language Summary

The FluOil tool helps oil spill planners and responders estimate how fast and far oiled sediment (called oil-particle aggregates [OPA]) can travel in rivers during an oil spill, and where it may settle out on the riverbed. The user interface makes it easy to run the tool for a range of river flow conditions and OPA characteristics.

Suggested Citation

Fitzpatrick, F., Roland, C., Vaughan, A., Zhu, Z., Soong, D., and Sortor, R., 2026, FluOil—A tool for estimating the transport and deposition of oil-particle aggregates in rivers: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2025–3055, 6 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20253055.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

ISSN: 2327-6916 (print)

Table of Contents

  • Why a FluOil Tool?
  • How Does FluOil Work?
  • Additional Information about FluOil Data Inputs
  • FluOil Tool Outputs
  • Adjustments for the Environment
  • Limitations and Constraints
  • Background on Oil-Particle Aggregates Transport and Deposition in Rivers
  • Why Care about Oil-Particle Aggregates in Rivers?
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title FluOil—A tool for estimating the transport and deposition of oil-particle aggregates in rivers
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2025-3055
DOI 10.3133/fs20253055
Publication Date January 07, 2026
Year Published 2026
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Central Midwest Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Description Report: 6 p.; Data Release
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Additional publication details