Intercomparison of oil spill prediction models for accidental blowout scenarios with and without subsea chemical dispersant injection

Scott A. Socolofsky; E. Eric Adams; Michel C. Boufadel; Zachary M. Aman; Øistein Johansen; Wolfgang J. Konkel; David Lindo; Mads N. Madsen; Elizabeth W. North; Claire B. Paris; Dorte Rasmussen; Mark Reed; Petter Rønningen; Lawrence H. Sim; Thomas Uhrenholdt; Karl G. Anderson; Cortis Cooper; Tim J. Nedwed

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.05.039

Intercomparison of oil spill prediction models for accidental blowout scenarios with and without subsea chemical dispersant injection

Scott A. Socolofsky, E. Eric Adams, Michel C. Boufadel, Zachary M. Aman, Øistein Johansen, Wolfgang J. Konkel, David Lindo, Mads N. Madsen, Elizabeth W. North, Claire B. Paris, Dorte Rasmussen, Mark Reed, Petter Rønningen, Lawrence H. Sim, Thomas Uhrenholdt, Karl G. Anderson, Cortis Cooper, Tim J. Nedwed

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92 Scopus citations

Abstract

We compare oil spill model predictions for a prototype subsea blowout with and without subsea injection of chemical dispersants in deep and shallow water, for high and low gas-oil ratio, and in weak to strong crossflows. Model results are compared for initial oil droplet size distribution, the nearfield plume, and the farfield Lagrangian particle tracking stage of hydrocarbon transport. For the conditions tested (a blowout with oil flow rate of 20,000 bbl/d, about 1/3 of the Deepwater Horizon), the models predict the volume median droplet diameter at the source to range from 0.3 to 6. mm without dispersant and 0.01 to 0.8. mm with dispersant. This reduced droplet size owing to reduced interfacial tension results in a one to two order of magnitude increase in the downstream displacement of the initial oil surfacing zone and may lead to a significant fraction of the spilled oil not reaching the sea surface.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	110-126
Number of pages	17
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	96
Issue number	1-2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.05.039
State	Published - Jul 15 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Oceanography
Aquatic Science
Pollution

Keywords

Chemical dispersant
Droplet size distribution
Lagrangian particle tracking
Model prediction
Multiphase plume
Subsea blowout

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10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.05.039

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Socolofsky, S. A., Adams, E. E., Boufadel, M. C., Aman, Z. M., Johansen, Ø., Konkel, W. J., Lindo, D., Madsen, M. N., North, E. W., Paris, C. B., Rasmussen, D., Reed, M., Rønningen, P., Sim, L. H., Uhrenholdt, T., Anderson, K. G., Cooper, C., & Nedwed, T. J. (2015). Intercomparison of oil spill prediction models for accidental blowout scenarios with and without subsea chemical dispersant injection. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 96(1-2), 110-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.05.039

@article{1b8010473132443a9a20894222550389,

title = "Intercomparison of oil spill prediction models for accidental blowout scenarios with and without subsea chemical dispersant injection",

abstract = "We compare oil spill model predictions for a prototype subsea blowout with and without subsea injection of chemical dispersants in deep and shallow water, for high and low gas-oil ratio, and in weak to strong crossflows. Model results are compared for initial oil droplet size distribution, the nearfield plume, and the farfield Lagrangian particle tracking stage of hydrocarbon transport. For the conditions tested (a blowout with oil flow rate of 20,000 bbl/d, about 1/3 of the Deepwater Horizon), the models predict the volume median droplet diameter at the source to range from 0.3 to 6. mm without dispersant and 0.01 to 0.8. mm with dispersant. This reduced droplet size owing to reduced interfacial tension results in a one to two order of magnitude increase in the downstream displacement of the initial oil surfacing zone and may lead to a significant fraction of the spilled oil not reaching the sea surface.",

keywords = "Chemical dispersant, Droplet size distribution, Lagrangian particle tracking, Model prediction, Multiphase plume, Subsea blowout",

author = "Socolofsky, {Scott A.} and Adams, {E. Eric} and Boufadel, {Michel C.} and Aman, {Zachary M.} and {\O}istein Johansen and Konkel, {Wolfgang J.} and David Lindo and Madsen, {Mads N.} and North, {Elizabeth W.} and Paris, {Claire B.} and Dorte Rasmussen and Mark Reed and Petter R{\o}nningen and Sim, {Lawrence H.} and Thomas Uhrenholdt and Anderson, {Karl G.} and Cortis Cooper and Nedwed, {Tim J.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 Elsevier Ltd.",

year = "2015",

month = jul,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.05.039",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "96",

pages = "110--126",

journal = "Marine Pollution Bulletin",

issn = "0025-326X",

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Socolofsky, SA, Adams, EE, Boufadel, MC, Aman, ZM, Johansen, Ø, Konkel, WJ, Lindo, D, Madsen, MN, North, EW, Paris, CB, Rasmussen, D, Reed, M, Rønningen, P, Sim, LH, Uhrenholdt, T, Anderson, KG, Cooper, C & Nedwed, TJ 2015, 'Intercomparison of oil spill prediction models for accidental blowout scenarios with and without subsea chemical dispersant injection', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 96, no. 1-2, pp. 110-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.05.039

TY - JOUR

T1 - Intercomparison of oil spill prediction models for accidental blowout scenarios with and without subsea chemical dispersant injection

AU - Socolofsky, Scott A.

AU - Adams, E. Eric

AU - Boufadel, Michel C.

AU - Aman, Zachary M.

AU - Johansen, Øistein

AU - Konkel, Wolfgang J.

AU - Lindo, David

AU - Madsen, Mads N.

AU - North, Elizabeth W.

AU - Paris, Claire B.

AU - Rasmussen, Dorte

AU - Reed, Mark

AU - Rønningen, Petter

AU - Sim, Lawrence H.

AU - Uhrenholdt, Thomas

AU - Anderson, Karl G.

AU - Cooper, Cortis

AU - Nedwed, Tim J.

PY - 2015/7/15

Y1 - 2015/7/15

N2 - We compare oil spill model predictions for a prototype subsea blowout with and without subsea injection of chemical dispersants in deep and shallow water, for high and low gas-oil ratio, and in weak to strong crossflows. Model results are compared for initial oil droplet size distribution, the nearfield plume, and the farfield Lagrangian particle tracking stage of hydrocarbon transport. For the conditions tested (a blowout with oil flow rate of 20,000 bbl/d, about 1/3 of the Deepwater Horizon), the models predict the volume median droplet diameter at the source to range from 0.3 to 6. mm without dispersant and 0.01 to 0.8. mm with dispersant. This reduced droplet size owing to reduced interfacial tension results in a one to two order of magnitude increase in the downstream displacement of the initial oil surfacing zone and may lead to a significant fraction of the spilled oil not reaching the sea surface.

AB - We compare oil spill model predictions for a prototype subsea blowout with and without subsea injection of chemical dispersants in deep and shallow water, for high and low gas-oil ratio, and in weak to strong crossflows. Model results are compared for initial oil droplet size distribution, the nearfield plume, and the farfield Lagrangian particle tracking stage of hydrocarbon transport. For the conditions tested (a blowout with oil flow rate of 20,000 bbl/d, about 1/3 of the Deepwater Horizon), the models predict the volume median droplet diameter at the source to range from 0.3 to 6. mm without dispersant and 0.01 to 0.8. mm with dispersant. This reduced droplet size owing to reduced interfacial tension results in a one to two order of magnitude increase in the downstream displacement of the initial oil surfacing zone and may lead to a significant fraction of the spilled oil not reaching the sea surface.

KW - Chemical dispersant

KW - Droplet size distribution

KW - Lagrangian particle tracking

KW - Model prediction

KW - Multiphase plume

KW - Subsea blowout

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U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.05.039

DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.05.039

M3 - Article

C2 - 26021288

AN - SCOPUS:84931571875

SN - 0025-326X

VL - 96

SP - 110

EP - 126

JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin

JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin

IS - 1-2

ER -

Intercomparison of oil spill prediction models for accidental blowout scenarios with and without subsea chemical dispersant injection

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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