OILTRANS is based on the LTRANS code base which was built to simulate oyster larvae. The LTRANS model was designed to predict the movement of particles based on advection, turbulence and larval behaviour. The LTRANS code was adapted to simulate the mechanical spreading and physical fate processes of oil particles. OILTRANS expanded the processes governing particle transport to include; mechanical spreading of oil slicks, wind drift, stokes drift, langmuir circulation and shoreline beaching.