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Brandvik PJ, Leirvik F, Hofstad KH, McKeever TJ. Simulating dispersion of oils from a subsea release comparing mechanical and chemically enhanced dispersion - An experimental study of the influence of oil properties. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 195:115479. [PMID: 37683392 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
The main objective with subsea mechanical dispersion (SSMD) is to influence the fate of an oil spill in the marine environment by significantly reducing oil droplet sizes from subsea release of oil. Earlier studies have indicated that the capability of SSMD to reduce oil droplet sizes is comparable to subsea dispersant injection (SSDI). Earlier testing of SSMD has mainly used a low viscus paraffinic oil. Focus for this study was to study SSMD and SSDI effectiveness using five oil types spanning out a wide variation of relevant oil properties. Effectiveness was quantified as the reduction in oil droplet sizes measured by a Silhouette camera. Testing of the two technologies were completed in the same experiment on a simulated subsea release. The results show a variation in effectiveness for both technologies as a function of oil properties. SSMD and SSDI showed comparable effectiveness for all oils tested.
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Qi Z, Wang Z, Yu Y, Yu X, Sun R, Wang K, Xiong D. Formation of oil-particle aggregates in the presence of marine algae. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023; 25:1438-1448. [PMID: 37424387 DOI: 10.1039/d3em00092c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
After an oil spill, the formation of oil-particle aggregates (OPAs) is associated with the interaction between dispersed oil and marine particulate matter such as phytoplankton, bacteria and mineral particles. Until recently, the combined effect of minerals and marine algae in influencing oil dispersion and OPA formation has rarely been investigated in detail. In this paper, the impacts of a species of flagellate algae Heterosigma akashiwo on oil dispersion and aggregation with montmorillonite were investigated. This study has found that oil coalescence is inhibited due to the adhesion of algal cells on the droplet surface, causing fewer large droplets to be dispersed into the water column and small OPAs to form. Due to the role of biosurfactants in the algae and the inhibition of algae on the swelling of mineral particles, both the oil dispersion efficiency and oil sinking efficiency were improved, which reached 77.6% and 23.5%, respectively at an algal cell concentration (Ca) of 1.0 × 106 cells per mL and a mineral concentration of 300 mg L-1. The volumetric mean diameter of the OPAs decreased from 38.4 μm to 31.5 μm when Ca increased from 0 to 1.0 × 106 cells per mL. At higher turbulent energy, more oil tended to form larger OPAs. The findings may add knowledge about the fate and transport of spilled oil and provide fundamental data for oil spill migration modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixin Qi
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.
| | - Zhennan Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.
| | - Yue Yu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.
- National Maritime Environmental Monitoring Center, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Xinping Yu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.
| | - Ruiyang Sun
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.
| | - Kaiming Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.
| | - Deqi Xiong
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.
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Sun R, Jin Y. Pilot Scale Application of a Ceramic Membrane Bioreactor for Treating High-Salinity Oil Production Wastewater. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12050473. [PMID: 35629800 PMCID: PMC9144106 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12050473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The offshore oil extraction process generates copious amounts of high-salinity oil-bearing wastewater; at present, treating such wastewater in an efficient and low-consumption manner is a major challenge. In this study, a flat ceramic membrane bioreactor (C−MBR) process combining aerobic microbial treatment technology and ceramic membrane filtration technology was used to treat oil-bearing wastewater. The pilot test results demonstrated the remarkable performance of the combined sequential batch reactor (SBR) and C-MBR process, wherein the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4+−N) removal rates reached 93% and 98.9%, respectively. Microbial analysis indicated that the symbiosis between Marinobacterium, Marinobacter, and Nitrosomonas might have contributed to simultaneously removing NH4+−N and reducing COD, and the increased enrichment of Nitrosomonas significantly improved the nitrogen removal efficiency. Cleaning ceramic membranes with NaClO solution reduces membrane contamination and membrane cleaning frequency. The combined SBR and C−MBR process is an economical and feasible solution for treating high-salinity oil-bearing wastewater. Based on the pilot application study, the capital expenditure for operating the full-scale combined SBR and C−MBR process was estimated to be 251,717 USD/year, and the unit wastewater treatment cost was 0.21 USD/m3, which saved 62.5% of the energy cost compared to the conventional MBR process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronglin Sun
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Theory & Technology for Environmental Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China;
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Water Pollution Control and Water Safety in Karst Area, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Yue Jin
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Theory & Technology for Environmental Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China;
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Water Pollution Control and Water Safety in Karst Area, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-773-589-6340
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Farkas J, Nordtug T, Svendheim LH, Amico ED, Davies EJ, Ciesielski T, Jenssen BM, Kristensen T, Olsvik PA, Hansen BH. Effects of mine tailing exposure on early life stages of cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus). ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 200:111447. [PMID: 34102163 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mining and processing of minerals produce large quantities of tailings as waste. Some countries, including Norway, allow disposal of mine tailings in the sea. In this study we investigated the impacts of tailings from a calcium carbonate (CaCO3) processing plant on early live stages of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Fish eggs (3 days post fertilisation; dpf) were exposed for 48 h to three concentrations of tailings, nominally 1 mg L-1 (low, L); 10 mg L-1 (medium, M) and 100 mg L-1 (high, H); with L and M representing concentrations occurring at tailing release points. Results show that tailings rapidly adhered to eggs of both species, causing negative buoyancy (sinking of eggs) in M and H exposures. While tailings remained on egg surfaces in both species also after exposure termination, adhesion seemed more pronounced in cod, leading to larger impacts on buoyancy even after exposure. Tailing exposure further induced early hatching and significantly reduced survival in M and H exposed embryos in both fish species, and in cod from the L exposure group. Moreover, tailing exposure caused reduced survival and malformations in larvae, potentially related to premature hatching. This study shows that mineral particles adhere to haddock and cod eggs, affecting egg buoyancy, survival and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Farkas
- SINTEF Ocean, Climate and Environment, Brattørkaia 17C, 7010, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Trond Nordtug
- SINTEF Ocean, Climate and Environment, Brattørkaia 17C, 7010, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Elettra D Amico
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Biology, Høgskoleringen 5, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Emlyn J Davies
- SINTEF Ocean, Climate and Environment, Brattørkaia 17C, 7010, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Tomasz Ciesielski
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Biology, Høgskoleringen 5, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bjørn Munro Jenssen
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Biology, Høgskoleringen 5, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Pål A Olsvik
- Nord University, Universitetsalléen 11, 8026, Bodø, Norway
| | - Bjørn Henrik Hansen
- SINTEF Ocean, Climate and Environment, Brattørkaia 17C, 7010, Trondheim, Norway
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Brakstad OG, Altin D, Aas M, Skancke J, Nordtug T, Farkas J. Attachment of APAM to mineral particles in seawater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 758:143888. [PMID: 33333302 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Polymer injection is used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) when an oil field ages and the pressure in the reservoir decreases, or for oil fields with heavy oil. By polymer injection, the viscosity of the water injected for pressure support is increased by mixing with a high concentration of a polymer solution. Polymers used in EOR operations are often high molecular weight polyacrylamides, including anionic polyacrylamide (APAM), which may subsequently enter the marine environment with produced water releases. Since seawater (SW) contains mineral particles (MPs) in low concentrations, and polymers like APAM are known to flocculate MPs, we investigated if APAM at different concentrations (0.5-10 mg/L) would attach and flocculate MPs, when these occurred in concentrations relevant for oceanic SW (1 mg/L). Two types of MPs, diatomaceous earth and kaolin, were exposed to fluorescence-tagged APAM (APAM-TAG). A low-energy carousel system with natural seawater (SW) was used for incubation of MPs and APAM-TAG at a temperature relevant for the Norwegian Continental Shelf (13 °C). Attachment to MPs and aggregates of these were analysed by fluorometry and fluorescence microscopy. Particle analyses showed that only minor fractions of the MPs aggregated. When samples were separated in steel filter with a mesh size of 20 μm, APAM-TAG was mainly measured in the flow-through fraction (<20 μm), and the results therefore showed that the polymer mainly remained in the water-phase, or was attached to small particles (<20 μm). For the small fraction of APAM attaching to aggregated MPs, attraction to kaolin was higher than to diatomaceous earth, and fluorescence microscopy analyses confirmed the presence of fluorescent particles at the higher APAM concentrations. MPs at concentrations relevant for oceanic SW are therefore not expected to significantly contribute to sedimentation of APAM dissolved in the water column.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marianne Aas
- SINTEF Ocean AS, Environment and New Resources, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jørgen Skancke
- SINTEF Ocean AS, Environment and New Resources, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Trond Nordtug
- SINTEF Ocean AS, Environment and New Resources, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Julia Farkas
- SINTEF Ocean AS, Environment and New Resources, Trondheim, Norway
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Henry IA, Netzer R, Davies EJ, Brakstad OG. Formation and fate of oil-related aggregates (ORAs) in seawater at different temperatures. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 159:111483. [PMID: 32892918 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the formation and fate of oil-related aggregates (ORAs) from chemically dispersed oil in seawater (SW) were investigated at different temperatures (5 °C, 13 °C, 20 °C). Experiments in natural SW alone, and in SW amended with typical marine snow constituents (phytoplankton and mineral particles), showed that the presence of algae stimulated the formation of large ORAs, while high SW temperature resulted in faster aggregate formation. The ORAs formed at 5 °C and 13 °C required mineral particles for sinking, while the aggregates also sank in the absence of mineral particles at 20°. Early in the experimental periods, oil compound accumulation in ORAs was faster than biodegradation, particularly in aggregates with algae, followed by rapid biodegradation. High abundances of bacteria associated with hydrocarbon biodegradation were determined in the ORAs, together with algae-associated bacteria, while clustering analyses showed separation between bacterial communities in experiments with oil alone and oil with algae/mineral particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid A Henry
- SINTEF Ocean AS, Environment and New Resources, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Roman Netzer
- SINTEF Ocean AS, Environment and New Resources, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Emlyn J Davies
- SINTEF Ocean AS, Environment and New Resources, Trondheim, Norway
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