On the possible long-term fate of oil released in the deepwater horizon incident: estimated by ensembles of dye release simulations

Maltrud, Mathew E. ; Peacock, Synte L. ; Visbeck, Martin

Los Alamos National Laboratory

关键词: 02 Petroleum;    Dilution;    Computerized Simulation;    Environmental Impacts;    Drilling Rigs;   

DOI  :  10.2172/989015
RP-ID  :  LA-14424
RP-ID  :  DE-AC52-06NA25396
RP-ID  :  989015

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

We have conducted an ensemble of 20 simulations using a high-resolution global ocean model in which dye was continuously injected at the site of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig for two months. We then extended these simulations for another four months to track the dispersal of the dye in the model. We have also performed five simulations in which dye was continuously injected at the site of the spill for four months and then run out to one year from the initial spill date. The experiments can elucidate the time and space scales of dispersal of polluted waters and also give a quantitative estimate of dilution rate, ignoring any sink terms such as chemical or biological degradation.