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Svejkovsky J, Hess M, Muskat J, White J. Aerial remote sensing of sub-sea dispersant injection effects during the Deepwater Horizon (MC-252) oil spill. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 191:114958. [PMID: 37087827 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, subsea dispersant injection (SSDI) was utilized for the first time in an effort to reduce the amount of oil reaching the sea surface and thus potentially decrease its environmental impact and enhance responders' safety. Since then, controversy has developed about SSDI's effectiveness. Most of the analysis is based on modeling, with some models concluding SSDI significantly reduced surfacing oil volumes, and others predicting that processes unrelated to the dispersant caused most of the subsurface oil retention. This study utilized a multispectral aerial sensor image time series to correlate the surface area covered by freshly upwelled oil with changes in SSDI rates, accounting for an approximate 4 hour oil rise time lag. A significant negative correlation was found between oil-covered surface area and SSDI rates, providing direct observation support that the technique did reduce the amount of surfacing oil around the wellhead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Svejkovsky
- Ocean Imaging Corp., 13976 West Bowles Ave, Suite 100, Littleton, CO 80127, USA.
| | - Mark Hess
- Ocean Imaging Corporation, Littleton, CO, USA
| | - Judd Muskat
- Office of Spill Prevention and Response, California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - James White
- Ocean Imaging Corporation, Littleton, CO, USA
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2
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Boufadel MC, Özgökmen T, Socolofsky SA, Kourafalou VH, Liu R, Lee K. Oil Transport Following the Deepwater Horizon Blowout. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2023; 15:67-93. [PMID: 35773215 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-040821-104411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 was the largest in US history, covering more than 1,000 km of shorelines and causing losses that exceeded $50 billion. While oil transformation processes are understood at the laboratory scale, the extent of the Deepwater Horizon spill made it challenging to integrate these processes in the field. This review tracks the Deepwater Horizon oil during its journey from the Mississippi Canyon block 252 (MC252) wellhead, first discussing the formation of the oil and gas plume and the ensuing oil droplet size distribution, then focusing on the behavior of the oil on the water surface with and without waves. It then reports on massive drifter experiments in the Gulf of Mexico and the impact of the Mississippi River on the oil transport. Finally, it concludes by addressing the formation of oil-particle aggregates. Although physical processes lend themselves to numerical modeling, we attempted to elucidate them without using advanced modeling, as our goal is to enhance communication among scientists, engineers, and other entities interested in oil spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel C Boufadel
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey, USA;
| | - Tamay Özgökmen
- Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Scott A Socolofsky
- Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Vassiliki H Kourafalou
- Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Ruixue Liu
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey, USA;
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
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3
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French-McCay DP, Robinson H, Bock M, Crowley D, Schuler P, Rowe JJ. Counter-historical study of alternative dispersant use in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 180:113778. [PMID: 35659664 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113778] [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: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Recent completion of oil fate modeling and a mass budget of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill allows for a counter-historical study using quantitative Comparative Risk Assessment (CRA) methodology. Novel application of subsea dispersant injection (SSDI) during the response reduced surfacing oil, volatile organic carbon emissions, and oil on shorelines. The effectiveness of that application, and potential alternatives had dispersant not been used or been used more aggressively, were evaluated by modifying and comparing the validated oil fate model under different SSDI strategies. A comparison of mass balance results, exposure metrics, and CRA scoring for Valued Ecological Components (VECs) shows the value of SSDI in achieving risk reduction and tradeoffs that were made. Actual SSDI applied during the DWH oil spill reduced exposures to varying degrees for different VECs. Exposures and relative risks across the ecosystem would have been substantially reduced with more effective SSDI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Deborah Crowley
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, USA.
| | - Paul Schuler
- Clean Caribbean & Americas, Oil Spill Response Ltd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA.
| | - Jill J Rowe
- RPS Ocean Science, South Kingstown, RI, USA.
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4
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Wang Q, Lü Y, Li Q. A review on submarine oil and gas leakage in near field: droplets and plume. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:8012-8025. [PMID: 34837615 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17586-0] [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: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill remains the largest catastrophic release of oil and gas into the deep sea. The irrupted oil and gas substantially impact a marine ecosystem, cause human injury, and have high societal opinions. Therefore, understanding the transport and dispersion of subsurface hydrocarbon provides an imperative substratum for the practical assessment and response of marine oil spill accidents. In this review, we summarize the major advances since the Deepwater Horizon accident, with emphasis on the observation and modeling of the droplet and the formation and dynamics of the plume. Additional complexity including more than the investigation of gas-saturated oil at high-pressure and the effect of Earth's rotation on near field plume is also outlined. We end with a few outlooks on key priorities for more precisely estimations on future oil spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuyan Wang
- Country College of Pipeline and Civil Engineering, China University of Petroleum, No. 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao, 266580, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuling Lü
- Country College of Pipeline and Civil Engineering, China University of Petroleum, No. 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao, 266580, People's Republic of China.
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Storage and Transportation Safety, China University of Petroleum, No. 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao, 266580, People's Republic of China.
| | - Qigui Li
- Country College of Pipeline and Civil Engineering, China University of Petroleum, No. 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao, 266580, People's Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Storage and Transportation Safety, China University of Petroleum, No. 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao, 266580, People's Republic of China
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5
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The effect of pressure variation on droplet size distribution of dispersed oil under simulated deep-water conditions. Heliyon 2021; 7:e06291. [PMID: 33748451 PMCID: PMC7966848 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Droplet size distribution of dispersed oil in deep-water is critical to the transport and biodegradation of spilled oil in deep-sea. Few studies have focused on the effects of pressure on chemically dispersed oil through experiments. This study thus simulated how the crude oil homogenously pre-dispersed by Corexit 9500A using baffled flasks would behave after being exposed to deep-water conditions. Key factors included dispersant-to-oil ratio (DOR), mixing energy (energy dissipation rate and Kolmogorov microscale), and pressure (up to 150 bar). The variations of pressure were demonstrated to have insignificant effects on the size distribution of pre-dispersed oil. Both the average and medium droplet sizes were correlated negatively with DOR and mixing energy in an established model with a p-value ≤ 0.0011. The log-normal and log-logistic distributions provided a reasonable fit to simulate the droplet size distribution. The two parameters of log-logistic distribution were dependent on DOR and mixing energy with a p-value < 0.005. The results would be valuable to advance the understanding of the behaviours and trajectories of chemically dispersed oil under deep-water conditions. The research helped provide more scientific evidence to improve the understanding of dispersed oil behaviours under high pressure and support deep-sea oil spill research and potential extension of the existing results from shallow water to deep water conditions.
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6
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Faillettaz R, Paris CB, Vaz AC, Perlin N, Aman ZM, Schlüter M, Murawski SA. The choice of droplet size probability distribution function for oil spill modeling is not trivial. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 163:111920. [PMID: 33340907 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111920] [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: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The droplet size distribution (DSD) formed by gas-saturated oil jets is one of the most important characteristics of the flow to understand and model the fate of uncontrolled deep-sea oil spills. The shape of the DSD, generally modeled as a theoretical lognormal, Rosin-Rammler or non-fundamental distribution function, defines the size and the mass volume range of the droplets. Yet, the fundamental DSD shape has received much less attention than the volume median size (d50) and range of the DSD during ten years of research following the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) blowout. To better understand the importance of the distribution function of the droplet size we compare the oil rising time, surface oil mass, and sedimented and beached masses for different DSDs derived from the DWH literature in idealized and applied conditions, while keeping d50 constant. We highlight substantial differences, showing that the probability distribution function of the DSD for far-field modeling is, regardless of the d50, consequential for oil spill response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Faillettaz
- University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, FL 33149, Miami, USA; Ifremer, STH, F-56100 Lorient, France.
| | - Claire B Paris
- University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, FL 33149, Miami, USA.
| | - Ana C Vaz
- University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, FL 33149, Miami, USA
| | - Natalie Perlin
- University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, FL 33149, Miami, USA
| | - Zachary M Aman
- Centre for Energy, School of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, WA, Australia
| | - Michael Schlüter
- Institute of Multiphase Flows, Hamburg University of Technology, Eißendorfer Straße 38, 21073 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Steven A Murawski
- University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, 140 7th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
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7
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Brandvik PJ, Davies E, Leirvik F, Johansen Ø, Belore R. Large-scale basin testing to simulate realistic oil droplet distributions from subsea release of oil and the effect of subsea dispersant injection. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 163:111934. [PMID: 33412410 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Small-scale experiments performed at SINTEF, Norway in 2011-12 led to the development of a modified Weber scaling algorithm. The algorithm predicts initial oil droplet sizes (d50) from a subsea oil and gas blowout. It was quickly implemented in a high number of operational oil spill models used to predict fate and effect of subsea oil releases both in academia and in the oil industry. This paper presents experimental data from large-scale experiments generating oil droplet data in a more realistic multi-millimeter size range for a subsea blow-out. This new data shows a very high correlation with predictions from the modified Weber scaling algorithm both for untreated oil and oil treated by dispersant injection. This finding is opposed to earlier studies predicting significantly smaller droplets, using a similar approach for estimating droplet sizes, but with calibration coefficients that we mean are not representative of the turbulence present in such releases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emlyn Davies
- SINTEF Ocean, Marine Environmental Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Frode Leirvik
- SINTEF Ocean, Marine Environmental Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Øistein Johansen
- SINTEF Ocean, Marine Environmental Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Randy Belore
- SL Ross Environmental Research Ltd., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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8
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Cooper C, Adams E, Gros J. An evaluation of models that estimate droplet size from subsurface oil releases. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 163:111932. [PMID: 33418342 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111932] [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: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Droplet size substantially affects the fate of oil released from deep subsea leaks. A baseline dataset of volume-median droplet diameters (d50), culled from ~250 laboratory observations, is used to validate seven droplet-size models. Four models compare reasonably well, having 95% confidence limits in d50 of ~±50%. Simulations with a near-field fate model (TAMOC) reveals that the four best-performing models, with d50 of 1.3-2.2 mm, agree similarly with observed fractionation of petroleum compounds in the water column during June 4-July 15, 2010. Model results suggest that, had a higher dose of dispersant been applied at the wellhead during Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWH), the d50 would have dropped by an order of magnitude, reducing surfacing C1-C9 volatiles by 3.5×. Model uncertainty is found to be substantial for DWH-like blowouts treated with chemical dispersants, suggesting the need for further droplet-size model improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric Adams
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Jonas Gros
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, RD2/Marine Geosystems, Wischhofstrasse 1-3, D-24148 Kiel, Germany
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9
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Xie Z, Li Z, Li J, Kou J, Yao J, Fan J. Electric field-induced gas dissolving in aqueous solutions. J Chem Phys 2021; 154:024705. [PMID: 33445907 DOI: 10.1063/5.0037387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Gas dissolution or accumulation regulating in an aqueous environment is important but difficult in various fields. Here, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to study the dissolution/accumulation of gas molecules in aqueous solutions. It was found that the distribution of gas molecules at the solid-water interface is regulated by the direction of the external electric field. Gas molecules attach and accumulate to the interface with an electric field parallel to the interface, while the gas molecules depart and dissolve into the aqueous solutions with a vertical electric field. The above phenomena can be attributed to the redistribution of water molecules as a result of the change of hydrogen bonds of water molecules at the interface as affected by the electric field. This finding reveals a new mechanism of regulating gas accumulation and dissolution in aqueous solutions and can have tremendous applications in the synthesis of drugs, the design of microfluidic device, and the extraction of natural gas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Xie
- Institute of Condensed Matter Physics, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Zheng Li
- School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Jingyuan Li
- Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jianlong Kou
- Institute of Condensed Matter Physics, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Jun Yao
- School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Jintu Fan
- Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-4401, USA
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10
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Gros J, Arey JS, Socolofsky SA, Dissanayake AL. Dynamics of Live Oil Droplets and Natural Gas Bubbles in Deep Water. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:11865-11875. [PMID: 32856452 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b06242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Explaining the dynamics of gas-saturated live petroleum in deep water remains a challenge. Recently, Pesch et al. [ Environ. Eng. Sci. 2018, 35 (4), 289-299] reported laboratory experiments on methane-saturated oil droplets under emulated deep-water conditions, providing an opportunity to elucidate the underlying dynamical processes. We explain these observations with the Texas A&M Oil spill/Outfall Calculator (TAMOC), which models the pressure-, temperature-, and composition-dependent interactions between oil-gas phase transfer; aqueous dissolution; and densities and volumes of liquid oil droplets, gas bubbles, and two-phase droplet-bubble pairs. TAMOC reveals that aqueous dissolution removed >95% of the methane from ∼3.5 mm live oil droplets within 14.5 min, prior to gas bubble formation, during the experiments of Pesch et al. Additional simulations indicate that aqueous dissolution, fluid density changes, and gas-oil phase transitions (ebullition, condensation) may all contribute to the fates of live oil and gas in deep water, depending on the release conditions. Illustrative model scenarios suggest that 5 mm diameter gas bubbles released at a <470 m water depth can transport methane, ethane, and propane to the water surface. Ethane and propane can reach the water surface from much deeper releases of 5 mm diameter live oil droplets, during which ebullition occurs at water depths of <70 m.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Gros
- RD2/Marine Geosystems, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Wischhofstrasse 1-3, D-24148 Kiel, Germany
| | - J Samuel Arey
- ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences Inc., Annandale, New Jersey 08801, United States
| | - Scott A Socolofsky
- Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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11
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Zhang J, He H, Yang S. Plume dynamics and dispersion characteristics in oil horizontal release from damaged submarine pipeline. Chin J Chem Eng 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2020.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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12
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Socolofsky SA, Gros J, North E, Boufadel MC, Parkerton TF, Adams EE. The treatment of biodegradation in models of sub-surface oil spills: A review and sensitivity study. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 143:204-219. [PMID: 31789156 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradation is important for the fate of oil spilled in marine environments, yet parameterization of biodegradation varies across oil spill models, which usually apply constant first-order decay rates to multiple pseudo-components describing an oil. To understand the influence of model parameterization on the fate of subsurface oil droplets, we reviewed existing algorithms and rates and conducted a model sensitivity study. Droplets were simulated from a blowout at 2000 m depth and were either treated with sub-surface dispersant injection (2% dispersant to oil ratio) or untreated. The most important factor affecting oil fate was the size of the droplets, with biodegradation contributing substantially to the fate of droplets ≤0.5 mm. Oil types, which were similar, had limited influence on simulated oil fate. Model results suggest that knowledge of droplet sizes and improved estimation of pseudo-component biodegradation rates and lag times would enhance prediction of the fate and transport of subsurface oil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A Socolofsky
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America.
| | - Jonas Gros
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America.
| | - Elizabeth North
- University of Maryland, Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD 21613, United States of America.
| | | | - Thomas F Parkerton
- ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Spring, TX 77339, United States of America.
| | - E Eric Adams
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States of America.
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13
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Brandvik PJ, Storey C, Davies EJ, Johansen Ø. Combined releases of oil and gas under pressure; the influence of live oil and natural gas on initial oil droplet formation. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 140:485-492. [PMID: 30803669 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Both oil droplets and gas bubbles have simultaneously been quantified in laboratory experiments that simulate deep-water subsea releases of both live oil (saturated with gas) and additional natural gas under high pressure. These data have been used to calculate particle size distributions (50-5000 μm) for both oil and gas. The experiments showed no significant difference in oil droplet sizes versus pressure (from 5 m to 1750 m) for experiments with live oil. For combined releases of live oil and natural gas, oil droplet sizes showed a clear reduction as a function of increased gas void fraction (increased release velocity) and a weak reduction with increased depth (increased gas density/momentum). Oil droplets were reduced by a factor of 3 to 4 during simulated subsea dispersant injection (SSDI) and no significant effect of pressure was observed. This indicates that SSDI effectiveness is not dependent on water depth or pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chris Storey
- SwRI, Ocean Simulation Labs, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | | | - Øistein Johansen
- SINTEF Ocean, Marine Environmental Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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14
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Uttieri M, Nihongi A, Hinow P, Motschman J, Jiang H, Alcaraz M, Strickler JR. Copepod manipulation of oil droplet size distribution. Sci Rep 2019; 9:547. [PMID: 30679674 PMCID: PMC6346107 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37020-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Oil spills are one of the most dangerous sources of pollution in aquatic ecosystems. Owing to their pivotal position in the food web, pelagic copepods can provide crucial intermediary transferring oil between trophic levels. In this study we show that the calanoid Paracartia grani can actively modify the size-spectrum of oil droplets. Direct manipulation through the movement of the feeding appendages and egestion work in concert, splitting larger droplets (Ø = 16 µm) into smaller ones (Ø = 4–8 µm). The copepod-driven change in droplet size distribution can increase the availability of oil droplets to organisms feeding on smaller particles, sustaining the transfer of petrochemical compounds among different compartments. These results raise the curtain on complex small-scale interactions which can promote the understanding of oil spills fate in aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Uttieri
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy. .,CoNISMa (National Interuniversity Consortium for Marine Sciences), Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Rome, Italy.
| | - Ai Nihongi
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, 53204, USA
| | - Peter Hinow
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, 53201, USA
| | - Jeffrey Motschman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Houshuo Jiang
- Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - Miquel Alcaraz
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08015, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - J Rudi Strickler
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, 53204, USA
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