A Tale of Two Spills: Novel Science and Policy Implications of an Emerging New Oil Spill Model (original) (raw)
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Environmental …, 2011
The various complex forms of transport as well as many other fate processes ongoing in the marine water column require research for the understanding and prediction of impacts of deepwater releases on the marine ecosystem. Such research is useful for assessing the context and limits of future deepwater oil and gas development in the Gulf of Mexico. The Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf represents the first oil spill occurring at significant depth, *5,000 ft (1,500 m). It is also the first situation where dispersants were directly added to the hydrocarbon effluent from the wellhead in efforts to disperse the droplets over a large volume of the water column. In this regard, this perspective is an original work in that it provides an in-depth analysis of gaps and needs, which will guide future work in the field. Preliminary reports have led to a variety of images that highlight new physiochemical phenomena whose comprehensive understanding will be needed in assessing the oil and associated hydrocarbon chemical fate and environmental impact. Camera images of the oil and gas entering the water at depth and subsurface remote-operated vehicles have revealed droplet clouds and hydrocarbon plumes suspended thousands of feet below the surface moving horizontally with the water currents. Although preliminary, these and other observations are sufficient to piece together new hypothetical deepwater chemodynamic processes and phenomena that have yet to be fully understood. This position article focuses on unique and new research issues raised and relevant to this spill specifically. The ultimate fate of the oil constituents is a very broad subject. Our objective was concerned with the deepwater spill-initiating event. We focused on selected fate processes associated with the oil and dispersant chemodynamics from the blowout point, on the seabed, in the water column upward, and finally, into the marine surface mixed layer. An observation-conceived, process-based, mass balance-crafted engineering science predictive tool is proposed. It is needed for forecasting, projecting in anticipation of and managing the next spill, and answering the question ''where does it all go?''
Oil fate and mass balance for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2021
Based on oil fate modeling of the Deepwater Horizon spill through August 2010, during June and July 2010, ~89% of the oil surfaced, ~5% entered (by dissolving or as microdroplets) the deep plume (>900 m), and ~6% dissolved and biodegraded between 900 m and 40 m. Subsea dispersant application reduced surfacing oil by ~7% and evaporation of volatiles by ~26%. By July 2011, of the total oil, ~41% evaporated, ~15% was ashore and in nearshore (<10 m) sediments, ~3% was removed by responders, ~38.4% was in the water column (partially degraded; 29% shallower and 9.4% deeper than 40 m), and ~2.6% sedimented in waters >10 m (including 1.5% after August 2010). Volatile and soluble fractions that did not evaporate biodegraded by the end of August 2010, leaving residual oil to disperse and potentially settle. Model estimates were validated by comparison to field observations of floating oil and atmospheric emissions.
Marine pollution bulletin, 2018
Oil spill model simulations of a deepwater blowout in the Gulf of Mexico De Soto Canyon, assuming no intervention and various response options (i.e., subsea dispersant injection SSDI, in addition to mechanical recovery, in-situ burning, and surface dispersant application) were compared. Predicted oil fate, amount and area of surfaced oil, and exposure concentrations in the water column above potential effects thresholds were used as inputs to a Comparative Risk Assessment to identify response strategies that minimize long-term impacts. SSDI reduced human and wildlife exposure to volatile organic compounds; dispersed oil into a large water volume at depth; enhanced biodegradation; and reduced surface water, nearshore and shoreline exposure to floating oil and entrained/dissolved oil in the upper water column. Tradeoffs included increased oil exposures at depth. However, since organisms are less abundant below 200 m, results indicate that overall exposure of valued ecosystem component...
Analysis of Environmental and Economic Damages from British Petroleum’s Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2010
This study examines the environmental and economic damages caused by British Petroleum's (-BP‖) Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the spring and summer of 2010. 1 The process of oil exploration and production is extremely challenging, offering significant rewards that are offset by equally significant risks. The world's demand for energy is constantly growing, thereby leading to extraordinary efforts and gigantic investments by energy companies to find new supplies of oil. The $365 million Deepwater Horizon was an offshore drilling unit designed to operate in waters as deep as 8000 feet, and to drill down 30,000 feet. 2 The Deepwater Horizon was drilling an exploratory well about forty-one miles off the coast of Louisiana, when on April 20, 2010, an explosion killed eleven workers and began the release of massive amounts of oil into the Gulf. 3 The well * Professor of Economics (retired), Louisiana Tech University. In addition to numerous academic achievements, including as a Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Economics and Finance, Dr. Lawrence C. Smith's background includes work as a roughneck and derrick man on offshore oil and gas rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.
Ecological Indicators, 2020
in the Northern Gulf of Mexico and resulted in a deep-sea plume of petroleum hydrocarbons and a marine oiled snow sedimentation and flocculent accumulation (MOSSFA) event. It is hypothesized that recovery will occur when the contaminated sediment is buried below the biologically active zone of 10 cm. Recovery rate can be inferred from the similar Ixtoc-1 blowout and sub-surface oil release that occurred in the Bay of Campeche, Mexico in 1979-1980. In 2015, sediment chemistry effects from the Ixtoc-1 were found at 2.4-2.8 cm sediment depth at stations within 81 and 273 km away. Trends of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentration, macrofauna family-level diversity, and the nematode to copepod ratio with sediment depth supports the interpretation that the benthic community has not yet recovered from the Ixtoc-1 spill. Based on a sedimentation rate of 0.072 cm/year, the Ixtoc-1 benthic community will recover in 103 more years beyond 2015. Recovery around the DWH will occur in 50 years based on an average sedimentation rate of 0.2 cm/year. These rates demonstrate that benthic recovery in the deep sea is very slow.
The Threats from Oil Spills: Now, Then, and in the Future
AMBIO, 2010
The ongoing oil spill from the blown-out well by the name of Macondo, drilled by the ill-fated rig Deepwater Horizon, has many features in common with another blowout in the Mexican Gulf that happened three decades ago. Then the oil gushed out from the Ixtoc I well drilled by the Sedco 135-F semi-submersible rig. In the years between these catastrophes, the source and nature of oil spills have undergone large changes. Huge spills from tankers that ran aground or collided used to be what caught the headlines and caused large ecological damage. The number and size of such accidental spills have decreased significantly. Instead, spills from ageing, ill-maintained or sabotaged pipelines have increased, and places like Arctic Russia, the Niger Delta, and the northwestern Amazon have become sites of reoccurring oil pollution. As for blowouts, there is no clear trend with regard to the number of incidences or amounts of spilled oil, but deepwater blowouts are much harder to cap and thus tend to go on longer and result in the release of larger quantities of oil. Also, oil exploration and extraction is moving into everdeeper water and into stormier and icier seas, increasing potential risks. The risk for reoccurring spills like the two huge Mexican Gulf ones is eminent and must be reduced.
ChemSearch Journal, 2012
On 20thApril, 2010, Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred at the Gulf of Mexico, United States of America where large amount of oil spilled in to the water as a result of wellhead blowout from the rig. The spill marked as the largest oil spill ever in the USA and causes large impacts to the marine species and the surrounding environment which could last long after the spill. Petroleum consists of aromatic hydrocarbons (such as monocyclic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), which causes lethal and sub lethal toxic effect to the marine life and public health. The impact of the spill causes death and injury to many marine flora and fauna which could result to the disturbance of the ecosystem and may take long time before it recovers to its normal condition. Various methods were used to rescue the environment and the species but some methods (such as chemical dispersants, hot water) have side effects to wild life. Before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a number of oil spills occurre...
Environmental effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: A review
Marine pollution bulletin, 2016
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill constituted an ecosystem-level injury in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Much oil spread at 1100-1300m depth, contaminating and affecting deepwater habitats. Factors such as oil-biodegradation, ocean currents and response measures (dispersants, burning) reduced coastal oiling. Still, >2100km of shoreline and many coastal habitats were affected. Research demonstrates that oiling caused a wide range of biological effects, although worst-case impact scenarios did not materialize. Biomarkers in individual organisms were more informative about oiling stress than population and community indices. Salt marshes and seabird populations were hard hit, but were also quite resilient to oiling effects. Monitoring demonstrated little contamination of seafood. Certain impacts are still understudied, such as effects on seagrass communities. Concerns of long-term impacts remain for large fish species, deep-sea corals, sea turtles and cetaceans. These species and their...