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 ~89% surfaced, ~5% entered (by dissolving or as microdroplets) deep plume (>900 m), ~6% dissolved biodegraded between 900 m 40 m. Subsea dispersant application reduced surfacing by ~7% evaporation volatiles ~26%. By 2011, total oil, ~41% evaporated, ~15% was ashore in nearshore (<10 m) sediments, ~3% removed responders, ~38.4% water column (partially degraded; 29% shallower 9.4% deeper than ~2.6% sedimented waters >10 (including 1.5% after 2010). Volatile soluble fractions that did not evaporate end leaving residual to disperse potentially settle. Model estimates were validated comparison field observations floating atmospheric emissions.