Development and verification of deep-water blowout models

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Oceanography

Background:

• Deep-water oil and gas releases present unique challenges for environmental modeling.
• Understanding multiphase plume behavior is crucial for predicting the fate of released substances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model deep-water gas and oil releases using plume theory, thermodynamics, and mass transfer.
• To compare deep-water blowout behaviors with those observed in shallow and moderate water depths.

Main Methods:

• Application of conventional plume theory.
• Incorporation of thermodynamics and mass transfer calculations.
• Analysis of multiphase plume dynamics, including gas dissolution and hydrate formation.

Main Results:

• Deep-water plumes lose buoyancy due to gas dissolution and hydrate formation, limiting plume rise.
• Oil slick formation is influenced by droplet surfacing in variable currents.
• Shallow water blowouts exhibit distinct behaviors, with plumes reaching the surface and creating radial flow.

Conclusions:

• Deep-water blowout plume behavior is significantly different from shallow water scenarios.
• Buoyancy loss mechanisms are key factors in deep-water plume termination.
• The study provides a comparative review of theories and behaviors for different water depths.